Evening star., 1863-04-13
LATEST FROM CHARLESTON,
Thrilling Details Of the Combat.
THE ENGAGEMENT TERRIFIC.
FORT SUMTER BADLY PEPPERED.
THE kEokIx RIDDLEDAND SUNK
THE ERICSSON iRON.CLADs NOT IN.
JJRED.

JJRED.
BALTIMORE, April 12.-rhe gunboat Flam-
beau arrived at Old Point on Saturday after
neon. bringing the officers of the iron-clad
he kuk, which was disabled at the engagement
al harlest and sunk the next day.
FIcm participants in the engagement we
gather the following interesting particulars:
The feet, after leaving Hilton Head, endez-
,oused in the mouti, of the Edisto. Syeral
days Were here occupied in gathering vessels
ard making the final arrangements, issuing
orders, apd otherwise arranging for the great
combat. All being completed, the fleet left in
attachments. and assembled of Charleston on
Sunday, the 5th instant. The iron-clad fleet
crossed the bar and entered Charleston harbor
on Monday.
The Keokuk. drawing less water than any of
the others, was sent in front to find the channel
and replace the buoys. Proceeding up the main
ship channel the keokuk found an easy and
unobsiructed entrance, with full eighteen feet
OF water lis the shallowest place. more than has
ever before been found on Charlesto ton bar. The
buoys We're replaced without difficulty, the
Tsbels offering no opposition
The keokuk returned to the fleet, and on the
morning OF the eth the order was given to the
iron.c clads to enter the harbor. The order was
to proceed in single file or in line ahead. The
Weehawken W as the leading vessel, having in
front ol her scow, and between thu scow
and herself the Ericsson torpedo pxploder, or
"Deyll," rs it has been called.
The lronsides. with Admiral Dupont on
board, was the fifth in the line and the keokuk
was the last. In this order the bar was passed
in safety and without detention. The orders
given te the commanders Of the various YES
sals was to keep on straight up the harbor un-
til they came within thousand yards of the
forTs and then to attack, directing their efforts
principally against Fort Sumter.
In this order the fleet moved on steadily and
gallantly up towards Fort Sumter and Moul-
withholding hajr
they got we'll up into the harbOr. The Iron
sides stopped Oft Fort Meultrie, and let go her
anchor, 1t being dangerous to take her up
further on account of her drawing over fifteen
feet OF W ater. At this moment there seemed to
BE- a temporary misunderstanding, and from a
fort erected on the middle ground the fire Of
IRON four to five hundred guns was concen-
trated upon the devoted vessel. Sudl fire has
perhaps never been eQualed in the history of
the world 1t was met by the officers of the
heoknk with heroic fortitude. Whilst the balls
We're striking her at the rate of one every
second her guns We're worked with yigor and
preris on- and their weight and force We're al
ready making their mark upon the walls of the
Sumter
1t soon, however, became apparent that the
heokuk had none of the impregnability of EricS-
sons Monitors. That. in fact, as an IRON lad
she was a failure The rebel balls seemed to
penetrate her as easily as though a wooden
vessel
The portfolios or shutters of her turrets he :
came Iammed, and her guns perfectly unman-
agtahle. During the thirty minutes she re-
manned under this concentrated fire, 100 shot
struck her. ninety of which we're water line
sEets, or such rs would cause her to sink in a
sea way. In fact, she was perfectly riddIrd
Her flag was shot into tatters, and the whole
OF her .s sides sid badly bruised or pierced. Per-
celvlng the severe injuries she had received, ,
the Admiral signalled her TO retire out of action
and anchor beyond range.
This was safely accomplished The Moni-
tors Nahant and Catskill had moved mp to the
IL lnl, l. md L.,
ter.
The Ironsides and other vessels, and at lon
ger distance, We're dividing their attention be.
tween Forts Moultrie and Sumter Into and
On the latter fort heavy fire was thus poured
and it Is believed not without effect.
The engagement was kept up from one until
lonr o'clock, when, in obedience to the Admi-
rails signal, the fleet retired slowly receiving
and returning the rebel fire until they an chorsd
out OF range, within the bar.
The Weehawken was assigned the important
duty, which was faithfully performed in the
midst OF the fight, TO examine and if possible to
hre the distractions which the rebels have OK
tended across the harbor from Forts Sumter
and Moultrie. Protected by the scow and the
Devil in front OF her, she pushed straight mn
towards the distractions.
1hey were found to consist OF a network OF
chains and cables stretched across the harbor
over which 1t was impossible for the Weehaw-
ken TO run without fouling her propeller and
which she found it impossible to force
TO this net work the rebels are supposed to
have suspended topedoes and other submarine
explosives.
Having completed the examination. and fast.
ed the impossiblity OF working up the harbor
until means are devised for the removal of
these obstructions, the Weehawken returned
and reported To the Admiral, who then ordered
a dlscohtinuance of the conflict.
IL is believed that the damage done TO Fort
Sumter by our fire was serious. So far as it
showed externally it consisted in two eInbra-
sures being knocked into one. and numerous
yU iC hal
few hours more pounding would convert into
a serious breach.
What damage and loss OF life was sustained
IN the interior OF the fort is net, OF course
known. but it Is believed to have been con-
siderable. Fort Moultrie was also we'll ham
mered. and at least one gun was dismountad
Beyond the sinking of the Keokuk, the DAM
age to the iron -clads was very slight, not more
than would require twerty- -fours TO repair,
They all came out OF the contest in fighting
trim, and able to have continued the conflict
mad II been desirable. The 1ronsides was hit
frequently, but, besides having enc port shut
ter damaged, was uninjured. Our informant
heard OF no serious casualties on board any OF
the vessels except the keokuk. This vessel sunk
next morning about one thousand wards from
Morris Island beach She had thirteen wound
ed, two of whom, including Acting Ensign
NJ Mc1ntosh, will die.
The Devil was not lost, as stated by the rebel
dispatches. When the Weehawken returned
from the reconnaissance of the distractions,
the scow she had in tow broke loose and
grounded off Morris Island.
The rebels, thinking it dangerous affair,
peppered away at it, thinking it was the
"Devif' or something worse: but our informant
assures us the "Devil' is safe, and will yet be
made use of against the rebels.
The affair might be summed up thus: we
have entered Charleston harbor, made a sue
cessful reconneiss sance, engaged the rebel forts
for three hours. damaged Sumter pretty seri-
ously, lost one vessel, and have had Il crowning
proof OF the inVulnerablity OF the monitor
fleet
The foregoing is made up from an interesting
account furnished to the Baltimore American
by an eyewitness, who was in the fight
THE FORCE OF OUR IKoN-CLAp FLEET
The following is a brief statement OF the actual
force OF officers, men and guns engaged in the
attack on Charleston. The iron. clads are all
Ericsson monitors, save the New Irons ides and
the heokuk: Officers and
Tons. Guns. Men.
lronsides .3,ia6 II $50
Montauk Sc4 100
Passaic. ........ sal = IOD
Catskill. .......... S4 100
Wpphav ken SS1 1no