Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-04-18
to commence, Sumter must yield, or become

TO commence, Sumter must yield, or become |
pile of rubbish.
From the deck of the Wechawken the
north least wall of the fort was very distinctly
visible with glass, the distance being a
fraction less than two miles. examined 1t
very closely, and the holes in 1t could not
have been lees than from two to three feet
deep. At one point three of the embrasures
on this front appeared as if knocked into
one This, it should be remembered, is not
on tho front Of the fort where the combined
attack was made, but on that side where
our vessels merely fred as passing compf-
ment to the enemy in going in and out from
their positions. Captain Rodgers remarked,
on hearing expressions of surprise at the
amount OF damage visible, that the damage
on this front was trihing, compared with
the holes bored into the northwest front of
the fort.
CONDITION OF OUR VESSELS.
The Ironsides, and each and all of the
seven Monitors are, Mt the moment / write,
in as good, if rot better, condition for a
renewal of the fight than they were at first.
On six of them not soul was injured, and
the men and machinery has been tested
under heavy fire. The vessels are covered
with the scar of war, deep identations, holes
| through their smoke stacks, &c, but not
one of them received any injury that could
! bc regarded as rendering them less servicea
bic. Even the Nahant, which was most
roughly used, was ready for action at one
o'clock, a little difficulty in the working of
her turret having been remedied by the
mechanics sent here for that purpose. This
was the vessel on which three men were
wounded by the flying Of some broken bolts
in the pilot house.
The Patapsco steamed off alone to Port
Royal yesterday afternoon, and the Wee
hawken, which was longer under fire than
any other vessel, was not injured in the
least, so far as her condition for service was
concerned.
They will all return to Port Royal to-mor-
row, and ii is to be hoped that the President
will Immediately send here commanders
who not only believe that Charleston can
be taken, but sympathize with the truly
loyal of the land when they declare that
charleston must be taken
FATE OF RAFT.
The Ericsson raft that Captain John
Rodgers of the Weehawken took with him
IN the fight, using it as a torpedo catcher,
was yesterday cut loose by him, its fasten-
ings having become deranged, and floated
in towards the Cummings Point Battery
about the time he was expecting the order
to move forward. AS it t!oated up it was
watched by the people along shore, and
when ii finally grounded it was laughabc
TO soc how careful they were in approaching
it, the impression being that it was an
internal machine of some description OF
other. At first q crowd assembled on the
beach around it, and viewed it on all sides
. nn one daring TO venture upon it. Attel
about a half hours inspection, one fellow
! do
pole across the surf and lighted on the raft
lie at first moved about very carefully
inspecting all portions of it, and finally
BEGAN to strut about on it, as much as tc
say who's afraid ~ When those on shore
, saw that there was nothing to fear about
twenty followed him, and commenced tc
draw up the chains to which the torpedo
, grapnels were attached. Why the raft wa,
+ not anchored when cast loose, instead o.
being voluntarily thrown into the hands o
, the rebels, do not know.
DESTRUCTION OF THE KEoKUK.
The i'll fated steamer Keokuk, which wa'
expected to induce the Government to rcpu
r diatc the Ericsson Monitors, still lies on iii,
5 shore of Folly Island, part Of the smok,
5 stack being still visible. The necessity o
destroying this vessel to prevent the rebel
from raising it, is all that detains the flee
= here. 1t was the intention yesterday tina
r the whole fleet should leave at IL o'clocl
this morning, but the arrgngemcnents TO
blowing her up have not yet been com
e. plcted.
This evening or tomorrow morning she i
J to be blown up with one of the Ericsson
l RATS and torpcdocs, used precisely as it wa
! intended they should have been used in re
I moving the distractions in the harbo- G
G Charleston. They were, however, afraid t
d use it against the enemy, and they ma
probably be afraid to use it in this cas-
} also.
'. THREE DAYS AFTER THE FI0HT.
e Orr CHARLESTON BAR, April 10, 1861
/ We are still lying off Charleston bar, an
. the lronsides, the Mortau&, Weehawker
/ Catskill, Nahant, Nantucket and Passaic az
r holding their positions in line of battl
Y along the shore of Morris Island, the leadin
c vessel being less than two miles from Foi
Sumter, There they have laid since tn
fight on Tuesday, wholly inactive. TIL
Patapsco left on Wednesday for Port Roya
e The feeling in the fleet at this failure t
i renew the attack on Fort Sumter is mo.
V intense. l have heard quite number {
e officers assert that they feel themselves pc
e sonally disgraced and express the hope "th;
4 man should be sent to take command
4 the fleet"
e 10 BE SENT TO FARRAGUT.
= Ii is now understood that the entire iron
\ clad fleet are to be sent down to join Farr,
y CUTS squadron, and participate in operation
: on the Mississippi, The effect of this al
! nouncement on the officers and men h,
= been quite cheering, as they have abandone
!. all hope of reaping honors in connectio
with this squadron.
The delay Of the feet here is altogeth,
= on account of the arrangements making IL
:, the destruction OF the Keokuk. The st
= has been rather rough for the work, and
has not yet been accomplished, though hop,
are entertained that it will be to day. II
q rebels are building battery IN the beac
{ opposite the wreck, and they are allowed I
=, progress with the work without interrul
:, tion. An occasional shell would stop the
= but the order is not to fire, as it woul
4 only have the effect Of irritating ii
cnemy,N