New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-14
CHARLEsTON.

The attack on the Rebel defenses of Charles
ton harbor which the Nation so impatiently and
hopefully expected, has been made aud has
failed 1t began on the 9Th of this month, Ad-
mral Dupont with nine iron-clad vessels
opening fire on Sumter and MOultrie, about 3
in the afternoon. A little before 8 the feet
withdrew and the action ceased. II had been
holly contested on both sides not more than
three quarters of an hour, but during that
time five out of the nine iron. clads were disa-
bled by the enemy's fire, and one Of them so
badly injured that she sank next morning. The
whole expedition has returned to Port Royal
and Charleston remains for the present in Reb-
el hands
The causes of this repuse are not far to
seek. They may be summed up in the general
statement that the iron-clads were Of INSULT
cent strength for the work expected OF them
The New Ironsides, Admiral Duponts flagship,
early became unmanageable, and for the most
part was spectator of the contest though ex-
posed to its perils. She appears to DO unques-
tionably the strongest Of the nine-haying been
bit sixty or seventy times without material in.
jury--and, if she would steer, would DO the
most effective. The turret Of the Passaic was
disabled by a single shot. The Nantucket, the
Nahant, and the Patapsco we're so seriously in
jured as TO be unable to renew the contest.
The Keokuk was riddled by ninety shot and
finally sunk. On the whole iron-clad feet were
mounted just thirty-two guns. In the Rebel
batteries were about three hundred. Against
this enormous disproportion there could be no
hope of success except in the invulnerabilisy of
tho armored vessels, and when that failed. de-
feat became inevitable.
1t is to be remembered that this is the first
time that iron.clad ships have been exposed TO
a heavy fire from shore batteries at short
range-the only decisive test of their strength.
Enough is now known to show that they need
considerable alterations, but by no means
enough to prove them failures. The expert
ence Of this contest will. of course, be used
to improve them in all possible ways before it
is renewed.
The strength of tho Rebel defenses is evil
IDENTIFY enormous. In addition to the concen.
trated fire which the fleet was compelled to
sustain in approaching and attempting to pass
Fort Sumter, they were met by obstacles in
tho channel of the most difficult kind. With
vessels SO manageable m the iron-clads, it |
was impossible to steer through the narrow /
passage left between piles and torpedoes and
the other internal contrivancos that blocked
the way, and it was perhaps equally impos-
sible, under such fire, to attempt to remove
them. IL is obvious enough that some means
must be devised to render the monitors more
easily handled before they can penetrate the
labyrinth Of such an approach. 1t is equally |
evident that they failed from no lack of skill
Dr. courage on the part Of their pilots and |
Three Of tho former were
negroes, one of them the black hero, Robert |
Smalls, whose exploit with the Planter was
me Of the brilliant episodes Of the war.
No effort was made by the land forces under
Zen. Hunter to cooperate in the attack. The
lumber of his troops is wildly Devastated, in
me account at seven thousand. Without under
aking to say what it really was, it may
afely be put much higher than that, but the
etter of Gen. Hunter shows that his army
vas only expected to occupy the forts In case
hey were captured by the naval force.
Admiral Dupont, who commanded the Ma
ional feet is second to no officer in tho Navy
a experience, ability and determined courage,
nd was supported in bis gallant attempt BY
many commanders of high reputation. All that
nen could do to insure success he and they
ave done, and we may be sure no one feels
hs disappointment of defeat more keenly than
hey. Probably the splendid victory OF Admi-
al Dupont at Port Royal made this success
eem more certain to those who knew less OF
Is difficulties. But the Nation will gratefully
enombes that with peH aud qntgisd vessels, |