Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-04-14

81 an end: end this rOodly city, girdled with
the frey circle Of its batteries, stands c%onfront'
ed with the most formidable armada that the
hands Of man have ever put ahoat.
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 rs render
thanks to She Lord Of Hosts thai the result
thus far, has been one Of proud triumph 70 our
country. As yet, however, we have Dut en-
tered anon the ordeal. Il viii be for the ne1i
few davs 70 tell the tale Of our sad disaster, or
complete success.
v;stsrv noIicvl has heretofore marked our allu-
s;ons "a tbs presence Of the iron-clsd feet, a
review of she events Of the week VIII not be out
Of place. About noon on Sunday last the first
Intelligence was flashed 70 the city hom Fort
Sumter, and the turrets Of she far famed mont
tor gunbosts were looming up against the south
eastern horizon. During the afternoon the en-
tire aeet hove il sight. Eight monitors, besides
the figate Ironsides, and t~wenty-seven wooden
war vessels, took up their position just beyond
the bar. As tie news became bruited about the
city. very many Of our nOn-cOmbatsnt popnla-
ton previously incEedulous Of denger) made
hasty preparations 80 depart; and every train
that has left the city since, hiss gone heavily
laden with the eleventh hour refugees and their
effects.
Sunday night passed quietly by. Monday
morning brought NJ reports Of the movements OF
transports mp the Stone river, and the debarka-
ion Of a considerable force of Yankee troops
On Coles island But throughout Monday and
Monday night. the armored feet held its posi-
ton beyond the bar. Ga Tuesday morning j
was observed that another monitor hsd arrived,
making g force Of no less than ten HOn-clad
vessels, including the Ironsides.
A. e--~ ofa1oam IN Yueedav RffarnO0u q dis
patch from Fort Sumter announced that these
ten vessels had crossed the bar, and were eau
tiously steaming iuward-the foremost one hay
ing aftbst time reached a point about three thou
sand wards from the fort. The next news was
brought 10 us, an hour later, by she dull detona'
ton Of the FIRST gun from Fort MOultrie, which
was Immediately answered by a Heavy report and
8 cloud Of white smoke from the turret OF one
OK the monitors. AT ten minutes after three
the enemy having come within range, For
Sumter opened her batteries, and, al
NEST simultaneously, the white smoke could
be seen putting from the low sand bills
Of Morris and SulhvaR's islands, indicating that
the Besuregard battery on the left, and Battery
Wsgner on the extreme right bad become en-
reQed. Five Of the iron clsds, forming in lIue
of battle 10 front of Fort Sumter, maintained a
very RAPID return FIRE, occasionally hurting then
I5-iueh shot and shell against Fort MOultrie and
the minor batteries, but alhiiTeciing their chief
efforts arsinst the east face Of Fort Sumter.
Gradually, but visibly, the distance between the
attacking vessels end the Fort was lessened, aud
as the enemy drew nearer the firing became hot
and almost continuous.
About hslfpsst four o'clock the battle became
fierce end general The scene at thst hour, as
viewed from The Battery promenade, was truly
grand Battery Bee bad now mingled the hoarse
thunder OF its guns in the universal din aud
&c whole exDanse Of the hsrbor entrances, from
SulEvan's island to Cummings point, became
enveloped ia the smoke and cons ant flashes o.
the conflict T~hsiron-cleds kept constantly shift
ing their position, but, whichever way they went,
their ports. always turned toward the battle
ments Of Sumter, poured forth their terrible pro
ieetles against the walls Of that famous strong
hold Ever and anon, az the huge shot went
ricochetting towards the mark, the water was
dsshedsup in vast sheets Of spray, towering tar
above thee srspet Of the Fort, while The wrealhs
of smoke constantly ascending rom The barbette
guns showed how actively the srtlleymen Of
The post were disehsrging their duties. In the
foreground, our own launch little Ifon-clsds,
he Pslmetto State snd Chicora, could be seen
stsaming energeEcally mp and down their eho-
son fighting position, evidently impatient to
participate in the fray.
Up to this time the figate Ironsides bad
born s very conspicuous part ia the light der
long hill lay at the distance, apparently, of a
mile from our batteries, and her tremendous
broadsides were more tbau once fly answered
BY broadsi1es rem the fort. 1t soon became
apparent mat shs was unable to stand the Sc
we're fire directed against her. Steaming rapidly
southwark, she gave Fort Sumter 3 lew parting
shots and withdrew from the action. The keo-
lrnk-e double t~urretted monitor, s0en afsr fol
$3.50 81 M-Erwr Era n1nNnnk fhn
firing have evidently begun to slaeken. Tn re-
naming monitors, however, still kept up the
bombsrdmsat aud our forts and batteries replied
with undiminished slschty. At quarter after
five, P n the monitors begsa TO retire, and at
half past FIVE the enemy fred the last snot Of the
engagement
Gratifying as were the general results Of the
fght, the late hour at which it closed preeluded
the possibility Of our receiving the full details
from the forts. A. dispatch from Fort Sumter
informs rs that the Ironsides and Keokuk were
both very roughly handled, and retired seriously
injured. The Ksokuk had her Gag shot down
her boat shot sway, three holes in her smoke
stack and a portion Of her bow shot of. The
practice of our gunners was most credit
able. Nearly every shot struck soma one
Of the iron-clsds, but with what effect
is not known. Fort Sumter was struck
thirty four iimes. One Of our guns was
dismounted, but otherwise the fort is in good
condition. Fort Moultrie was uniujared. The
casualties at FortSUmter were +: 8 drummer boy,
named Ahrens. mertsHy wounded two men
severely wounded, and three others slightly
injured At Fort Moultrie, one man WAS acci-
dsntally hurt by q fall from the flagstaff, on
which be was replacing our flag, which had
been shot away. We learn that be afterwards
died. Two small houses on the back beach OF
Sulivan's islsnd.were demolished by the enc
my's FIRE
After their withdrawal from the action, the
enemy's iron-clRds anchored of Norris Island,
they now lie. Many think that the tight
will be renewed at daybresk this morning but
up 70 the time at which We write g A NJ all is
quiet The reports we get from he Stono river
say chat the enemy's transports still remain in
the streem. Doubtless the Yankee generals in
tend, before venturing upon q and attack, to
await the issue Of the struggle between Their
ships and our batteries.