Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-04-15
THE ATTACK ON CHARLESTON.

THE ATTACK ON CHARLESTON.
The Mercury Of the 9th has the follow
ing account of the opening attack upon
Charleston
AT last, the long period Of doubt and de-
lay is at an end; and this goodly city, girs
died with the fiery circle of its batteries,
stands confronted with the most formidable
Armada that the hands of man have ever
put afoat.
The FIRST scene in the novel drama of the
war, which, we trust, is to add new lustre
to the fame Of Charleston, has closed. Let
us render thanks to the Lord of Hosts that
the result, thus far, has been one Of proud
triumph to our country. As yet, however,
we have but entered upon the ordeal. It
will be for the next few days totell the tale
of our sad disaster, or complete success.
In view of the reticence which (for rea-
sons Of military policy has heretofore mark
ed our illusions to the presence of the iron-
clad feet, review Of the events Of the
week will not bo out Of place. Aboutnoon
on Sunday last the first intelligence was
flashed to the city from Fort Sumter, that
the turrets of the far.famed Monitor gun.
boats were looming up against the south
eastern horizon. During the afternoon the
entire feet hove in sight. Eight Monitors,
besides the frigate Ironsides and twenty
seven wooden war vessels, took up their po-
siiou just beyond the bar. AS the news
became bruited about the city, very many
of our non combatant population (previous.
ly incredulous of dangerl made hasty pre-
parations to depart; and every train that
has left che city since has gone heavily laden
with the eleventh. hour refugees and their
effects. ~,
Sunday night passed quietly by. Mon.
day morning brought us reports of the
movements of transports up the Stono River,
and the debarkation Of a considerable force
of Yankee troops on Coles Island. But
throughout Monday and Monday night, the
armored feet held its position beyond the
bar. On.Tuesday morning it was observed
that another Monitor had arrived, making
a force Of no less than ten iron.elad vessels,
including the Irousides.
At2 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, dis
patch from Fort Sumter announced that
these scn vessels had crossed the bar, and
were cautiously steaming inward-the fore
most one having at that time reached a
point about three thousand yards from the
Fort. The next news was brought to US,
an hour later, by the dull detonation Of the
first gun from Fort Moultrie, which was i'm
mediately answered by a heavy report and
a cloud of white smoke from the turret of
one Of the Monitors. At ten minutes after
three, the enemy having come within range,
Fort Sumter opened her batteries, and, al.
most simultaneously, the white smoke could
be seen putting from the low sand hills of
Morris and Sulli1an's Islands, indicating
that the Beauregard Battery, on the left,
and Battery Wagner on the extreme right,
had become engaged. Five of the iron.
clads, forming in line Of battle in front of
Fort Sumter, maintained a very rapid return
Ere, occasionally burling their Is inch shot
and she'll against Fort Moultrie and the
minor batteries, but all directing their chief
efforts against the east face of Fort Sum-
ter. Gradually, but visibly, the distance
between the attacking vessels and the Fort
was lessened, and as the enemy drew near
er the firing became hot and almost contin.
uous 3. s.,y -
About half past four o'clock, the battle
became fierce and general, The scene at
that hour, asviewed from the Battery prom.
enade, was truly grand. Battery Bee had
now mingled the hoarse thunder ofits guns
in the universal din, and the whole expanse
of the harbor entrance, from SulliYan's Is.
land to Cumming Point, became enveloped
in the smoke and constant flashes of the
conflict. The iron.clads kept constantly
shifting their position, but, whichever way
they went, their ports, always turned to the
battlements of Sumter, poured forth their
terrible projectiles against the walls of that
famous stronghold. Ever and anon, as the
huge shot were ricochetting towards the
mark, the water was dashed up in vast sheets
of spray, towering far above the parapet of
the Fort, while the wreaths of smoke con.
stantly ascending from the barbette guns
showed how actively the artillerymen of the
post were dischargiug their duties. In the
foreground, our own stauuch little iron. clads
the Palmetto State and Chicora, could be
seen steaming energetically up and down
their chosen fighting position, evidently i'm
patient to participate in the fray.
Up to this time the frigate Ironsides had
borne very conspicuous part in the fight
Her long hull lay at the distance, apparent
ly, of q mile from our batteries, and her
tremendous broadsides were more than once
ftly answered by broadsides from the Fort
1t soon became apparent that she was una
BILE to stand the severe fire directed against
her. Steaming rapidly Southwark, she
gave Fort Sumter few parting shots and
withdrew from the action. The Keokuk, a
double turreted Monitor, soon after followed
her example; and before FIVE o'clock the
firing had evidently begun to slacken. The
remaining Monitors, however, still kept up