The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-04-17
The Attack upon Charle,tou.

heohuk WHICH WAS u1ehDleO IN tne
engagement at Charleston and sunk
next day. From the participants
in the engagement we gather the
following interesting particulars.
Tie fleet after leaving Hilton
Head rendezvoused in the mouth
OF the Edisto. Several days were
occupied 10 gathering the vessels
and making arrangements, issuing
orders and otherwise arranging for
the great combat. All being com
pleied the fleet left in detschments,
and assembled off Charleston, Sun
day the 5tb instant. The iron-ol lad
feet crossed the bay and entered
Chsrleston hsrbor on Monday. The
Keokuk dra wing less water than any
OF the others, was sent in first tc
find the channel, and replace the
buoys. Proceeding mp the main
ship channel the Keokuk found al
easy and uuobstructed entrance
with full eighteen feet oil water in
the ehallowo't places more than has
ever before been found on Charles
ton bar. The buoys werc replaced
without difficulty, the rebels offer
ing no opposition.
The Keokuk returned to ths
feet and on the morning of the 7th
the order was given Tor the iron cla IL
to enter the hatbor. The order was
to proceed in single file or in line a.
head. The Weehawken was the
leading vesse! having in front OF her
scow and then between the scow
and herself Ericson's torpedo eyplo.
der or Devil" as it has been call
ed. The lronsidcs with AdmirsI
Dupont on board was the fifth in lioe
aud the Keokuk ths last. In ,hi.
order the bar was passed in safety
without detention.
The order given to the comman-
deIs OF the various vessels was te
keep on straight up the hsrbor un
Till they came within one thousand
yards of the fort and then to attack
directing their efforts principally O.
gaiDst Fort Sumter. In this order
.he fleet moved on steadily up toward
Forts Sumter ard Moultrie the rob
els withholding their Fl i:e until they
get well into the harbor. The Iron
sides stopped of Fort Moultrie and
let go her anchor it being dangerous
to take her further mp on account o
her drawing over fifteen feet. A
this moment there seemed to DO {
tenn porsry misunderstanding and al
the iron clads except the Weehauk
en- and Keokuk gathered about tn,
Iron sides supposing she had grouuc
ed and needed assistance.
They were however soon signal
ed to go into action. The keokul
Kept inward until she led the lin,
and advanced to within 400 yard
nf Sumpter against whose grant,
walls exc buried her heavy sho
with rapididy, The rebels concen
trated their fire on the Keokuk whicl
sssumed TO lead in the attack. From
Sumter, Moultrie, Batteries Beaure.
gard on Cummings Point, the fire O
four or five hundred guns were con
: centrated in a terrible hail upon tn
], devoted vesael.' Such fire ha,
never perhaps in the history OF tn
world been ,qnaled. 1t was met b.
the officers OF ne Keokuk with lie
roic fortitnde whilst the balls wer
5 striking her at the rate of one ever
, second! Her guns were worke
8 with vigor and precision and tie
T weight and force were already ma
king their mark upon tho walls c
Sumter.
1t soon however became sppar
ent she had none OF the impregna
g bility OF Ericsson's Monitors;that i
|, fact as an iron clad she wac fail
uie The rebal balls seemed t. pc
citrate her as easily as il wood
J. en- vessel The rort-holcs or shu,
ters Of CIR turrels became jamme
,e and her guns practically unscrvi
" ceable. During the thirty minute
she remained under thia concen,rt
y ted fire one hundred shot struck h,
j. ninety OF which were water lir
y shots or such as would cause her
" leak in a sea wsy--in fact she W,
/. perfectly riddled. Prrceiving II
" severe I'M njuries enc had receive,
+" Admiral signaIed her to retire o,
Il OF action and anchor beyond ran.
n. This Was safely accomplished.
id In the meantime the Monito
II Nshant aud Caiskill. had moved
=, the support of the Keokuk and el
u gagged Fort Sumpter. The lrol
8 sides and other vessels at long
n range were dividing their attentiC
n between Moultrie and Sumter. L
\, 10 and on the latter fort hea,
- fire was then poured. and it is b,
H. lieved, not witout effect. The e.
a gagement was kept up from one Il
Id four o'clock. when the feet retir,
i, slowly, returning tho rebel fire uni
they anchored ont Of range with
the bar. The Weehawken was a
g. signed the important duty, whi'
IT. was faithfully performed, 10 Il
In midst OF the fight, to examine an
= il possible, to fire. the obslructio
" which the rebels have extend,
J. across the harbor from Fort Sum