The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-04-28
ACCOUNT OF THE AT
TACK ON CHARLESTON.

The enemy are now beginning to let the truth
come out, which proves that they we're badly
whipped in their late attempt to take Charleston.
It win be seen that they had made preparation to
/ use q land force in case they were successful in
passing the Forts The correspondent of the
/ Nsw York Tribune, who on board the Ad-
| mirafs flagship during the bombardment, fur
aishes the following interesting particulars:
The iron-eiad squadron, conveyed by number
of gunboats, arrived off Charleston on the morn
| ing of the 5th inst. In the course of the after
noon the channel across the bar was buoyed out
by the coast survey steamer Bibb and the Keokuk.
| 1t was intended to cross the bar that afternoon,
but high wind arose, which induced Admiral
! Dupont to postpone crossing till the next day.
Toward evening the Patapsco stood in close to
| Light-H House Inlet, to protect the buoys. 1t was
expected that she would draw the fire of the rebel
batteries, but she anchored inside and remained
unmoested all night.
| In the evening, the Admiral issued his order of
battle. The plan of the attack was to move the
iron-clad squadron up the main ship channel
! without noticing any fire of the Morris Island
batteries, steer directly to Fort Sumter and engage
its northwest face, at distance of 600 or 800
! yards, the fire to be aimed at the centre en-
brasures The line of battle to be as follows
Weehawken, Passaic, Patapsco, New Ironsides,
| Catskill, Nantucket, Nahant and Keokuk.
squadron Of reserve, consisting of the Canaan
dagua, Housotonick, Huron, Unidila, and
Wissahicon was to form outside Of the bar, pre-
pared to come, it necessary, to the support Of the
iron -clads.
Early on the morning of the 9th inst Admiral
Dupont and staff transferred their quarters from
the steamer James Adger to the ironsides.
About o'clock a general signal to get under
way given. Some fears were entertained OF
grounding when crossing the bar, but all the ves-
sells got over safely and came to anchor directly
opposite Light-House Inlet. 1t was deemed
necessary to await the ebb tide in order to dis
cover more readily the Instructions. The fleet was
pected to be able to move to the attack at ]
| o'clock, p M, but at that time thick fog had
risen, conceang the shore lines, the guidance of
which the pilots, among whom were three coored
volunteers and Robert Small required for safe
steering. The Admiral then reluctantly post
poned the attack to the next day.
During the day brigade of Gen. Ferry's
division worked its way up Folly Island, estab-
lished itself close to the beach and opened COM
munication with the feet. No portion of the land
force got to the point of attack, and all
were obliged to play the part of ear-witnesses.
Nothing was done during the remainder of the 9th.
On the morning of the 7th the fog was still
thick, but by o'clock it had nearly cleared
away, and there was no further cause for delay of
the attack. Up to II o'clock preparations for the
conflict continued on all the iron clads.
At p. the pilot of the flagship at last de-
clared himself ready to move. The signal to get
under way was made, and at fifteen minutes before
the whole feet was in motion in the order given
above. At p o'clock the batteries Morris
Island had been passed by the first four Monitors
without drawing the fire of the enemy. Shortly
before three o'clock the Irensides showed dis
obedience to her rudder, her bow swinging to the
strong ebb tide and threatening to bring her On
the shoals to her right. She was, therefore, COM
PEELED to to anchor to stay her course.
Meantime the first four Monitors had continued
on towards the fort.
The enemy allowed the Weehawken to come
within FIVE hundred yards of Fort Moultrie,
when two shots across her bow from this fort
opened the action
The Ironsides had again got under way and ap-
preached within 1900 yards of Fort Sumter,
when she became once more unmanageable and
was again obliged to drop anchor. The Monitors
ahead of her had then reached the convergng
point of the fire of Cummings Point battery,
Fort Sumter, Fort Moultre and work between
Fort Moultrie aad Moultrieville known as Battery
Bee
A sheet Of fame and volumes of smoke, ex-
tending from Morris to Sullivan's Islands, inau
gurated what has been undoubtedly the most
terrific cannonade of the whole war; if, indeed, it
was ever equalled in the history of the world.
perfect torrent of shot aud shell was poured
upon the Monitors, wrapping them sometimes
almost in spouts of water thrown up by the
striking projecties.
The Monitors continued their way, replying
vigorously from their batteries to the enemy.
They passed the north east face of Fort Sumter,
but when they came its angle with the north
western face, they made out at a short distance
three distinct lines eF distractions, consisting of
floating logs, with torpedoes attached, and net
works of cabels held perpendicularly in the water
by weights.
The Patapsco got foul of of them and
could not make her screw work for some fifteen
minutes, but finally got clear. A torpedo ex-
ploded close to the bow of the Weehawken, with
out, however, doing any damage.
The vessels all steering very heavily, the mar
row passages through the line of obstructioos
could not be reached After several vain attempts
the four vessels turned about and steamed back,
down the harbor, all the while sustaining heavy
FIRE, and responding with their guns as vigorously
as they could.
Damage done to tie Iron CIdds.-The Patap-
SEQ had her 200 FOUNDER Parrott gun disabled by
its own recoil early in the action The turret OF
the Passaic was bent in, and cramped her ll-inch-
gun so as to prevent its working. Shortly after
ward, her turret stopped revolving, aud she lost
all offensive power.
The Ironsdes had, meantime, yainly struggled
to come closer to Fort Sumter The rebel gun
ners 6ndiD0 her r. yed mark pied her fraaly - ifh