The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-04-16
From Charleston.

SANFORD arrived III Moreneau frld0y from
off Charleston. with information of the entire
sttact, which commenced at 8 O'Clock, and
lasted three hours, The. Keokuk passed
above Fort Sumpter, there she met. the OBJ
structions, at which tins terrific firing
was kept up on both sides, when she receiv.
ed a SHOT that passed through her between
wind and water, from which she sunk in IL
hours.
The Nahant was within two hundred yards
Of Fort Sumptcr in the action, and received
shot at the Junction of the turret with the
deck, which prevented the turret from re-
yolving, and rendered her useless for .hc
time. The Ironsides received lb0, shots,
sustaining no damages, further than the star
ting Of g few bolts.
The rest Of the feet is injured and haul
ed off the reconnaissance being accomplish.
ed, which was to ascertain the, locality Of
the distractions. Our entire loss was two
killed and several wounded. As the San-
ford left, some IRON clads we're going to blow
up the keokuk. :.
The sho. WAS from rihed cannon Of heavy
calibre, Captain Rhine, her commander, re-
ceiyed a confusion on the leg from flying
/ fragment Of his vessel, which only slightly
laned him. Twelve Of the men were wsun-
ded, together with Acting Ensign Mcintosh,
who had charge of one Of the guns His
Injuries are supposed to be fatal,
The next nornins, finding il impossible
to save the vessel, Captain Rhinds called q
tug, which took all his men on. board A
few minutes. thereafter the KeolSuk sank
| The persons, belonging to the ship lost all
their private effects. ,..a.... .r
On Wednesday the squadron rema,ued at
anchor in the main ship channel
II is said the number of men in our fest
was only about LOO, with fifty guns, while
the enemy had. it is reported, at least 300
guns, the b,st in tho forts. The injuries to
the vessels, excluding the Keokuk, are re-
CURED but q short time for repairs. Casnaltie
among our men were remarkably few, inc'u-
! ding one killed and three wounded on tho
Keokuk.
The advantages is, our flee being in pos
session of the narrows, the circuit OF the
blockade is but two-thirds the former dis.
lance. None of the batteries fired upon our
vessels until they reached the vicinity Of the
main fort.
WASHINGTON, April l2.--Steamer Flam-
bean arrived hero this afternoon with dis
patches from Admiral Dupont to the Gov
ernmens -sa "a. N
The reports Of the commanders had not
been received up to the time of departure of
the Flaumbeau on Wednesday night.
From other than official sources it is learn.
ed that the vessel composing the fleet adj van.
cod on Charleston on the 7th and in the fol-
lowing order.
Wehawken. Capt. Rodgers. Passaic,
Capt. Draydon; Montauk. Capt Worden
Pasapsco, Capt. Ammen; Ironsidcs; the
flag ship, Commodore Turner. with Admir-.
raj Dupont and his staff on hoard; next fol.
lowed the Catskel, Capt Geo Rodgers
Naugatuck, Capt. Fairfax Nsnant, Capt.
Downer and Keokuk, Capt Rhinds. In
this order they proceeded up in the main
Ichannel ae
Arrived within 1900 yards OF the msir
forts, the Iron Sides became unlnanagesblc,
owing to the tide and narrowness Of the
channel, and was therefore. obliged to drop
anchor to prevent drifting ashore
Owing to these circumstances she signal
ed her consorts. to disregNd her motions.
The remainder Of her squadron continued
on its course and soon came within easy
range of the rebel shore.
From all points the DISTINCTIONS Of the
channel from Fort Sumpter to Fort Moultrie
iinterfsred with the progress Of our ships, in
consequence of this, and the position of the
Ironsides as above stated, the plan Of oper.
atoms was dcrangcd. and the space Of man
Towering being only from five hundred to
one thousand yards, the vessels were obi
ged to prepare at once, engage tbs forts and
the adjacent batteries. The signals has
been made for anchor at half-past three
o'clock in the p. m. by the Ironside, but the
Rebels had previously opened FIRE on the
leading vessels.
The contest is reported as in the highest
degree exciting, presenting fearful scene
of fire belching from all points in the land
and water. a continuous roar Of cannon, In
the coarse of 80 or 40 minutes the Keokuk
was in sinking condition, and was obliged
to Withdraw from the fire and seek an n
chorage below the range Of the enemy's
guns.
! A few minutes afterwards, all the vessels
Withdrew, from signal Of the flag ship, il
being deemed impracticable to continue any
further hostilities.
Pie Keokuk was Within 500 or 600 Yards
Of Fort Sumpter, and was completely rid
died. She was struck from all the batteries
within range, at least 30 times in thirty min.
utes.
New York, April 1.-THE following
dispatches has been received from GENTLE
man on board the Mary Sanford:
| MoREHEAD CRY, N. c., April 10th, via
Fortress Monroe, April 1--we passed
through the feet of Charleston on Thurs
day, 9th inst, 10 8. m, weather clear and