The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-05-14
The Attack on Charleston.

day examining the bars IN channels, the wind being
TOO nigh 10 cross that evening. The Admral's plan
was 10 sail directly ID and attack the northwest face
or Fort Sumter at from GOO 500 yards 1t
O'Clock on Monday morning the signal was given "a
advance, but IN consequence Of "a fog, they were
oblged 10 postpone the intended attack until the
next day. During the afternoon, one Of Gen
Furres's brigades worked its way up Folly Island
and established communication with the feet but no
portion Of the land forces got into the attack On
the 7th, at - p NJ, feet got under way, passed
Morris Island batteries, without being fred upon
pushing right towards Fort Sumter The IrO2Siges
worked badly, and in consequence Of the was
Obliged 10 anchor two three times. Fort Moutrie
opened first the TIeehalcien which was then
within 500 yards Of Cummings Point. The battery
OF sumter, and battery AFTER battery, Immediately
followed, and the action became general and terrific
The Monitors still pushed on, replying vigorously
They passed the northeast face Of Fort Sumter when
they discovered that there three lines Of ob-
structions, holding tOrpedOes one Of which exploded
but did no great damage Finding il imuossbIe TO
pass the distractions they turned the steamers down
the harbOr. The PGtnDScO's 200 pounder became
disabled The PGSS1ic'S was bent that the vessel
was practically out Of use. The other boats conin-
ued their 10 the northeast face Of Fort Sumter
bat also stopped by obstructions and turned
back after being under fire for three quarters of au
hour. All the Monitors were ordered back and at
o'clock, the entire feet was out of range and the
action ceased.
Admiral Dupont intended to renew the attack next
day, but ascertainng that the heOI'ui and Passrjc
were entirely disabled, and others partially so. con-
cluded 10 desist in which resolution he sustained
by all the commanders.
There were II large holes inside Fort Sumter,
apparently running through the walls. Our entire
firing only amounted TO $50 rounds When the cor
respondent left, two Monitors sailed to Port Royal,
and others were 10 follow.
The Times account says that our ships were ex-
posed to a cOncentrc fire from four different points
Ii was unparalleled in the history OF warfare Dur
ing the fight not less than $500 shots were fired by
the enemy, l6O being counted every single minute.
New YORK, April I3-The Times SAYS that the
result Of the reconnaissance Of Charleston shows the
utter insuffciency Of the ron-c!ad feet to take
Charleston alone
New YORK, April 13.-Tt appears that in the re-
OF Charleston harbor by the iron-cads
the -NItaat received 80 wounds. several being bad
fractures. The PGSSaic also wounded in her
tuTre and pilot house. The .NaHtucetS turret was
so Jared that it could not be used rendering her
l5-nch gun useless. None OF the other Monitors
were disabled. The ReObu6 received 80 shots, 10
of them penetrating her at water mark. She was
kept afoat till the next morning and then sunk on
the bar with colors flying.
The IRON CLADs AT CHARLEsTON.-Th S. +. BuL-
lefin gives the following account:
The attack upon the fortifcations in Charleston
harbOr by the Federal iron clad fleet, Of which
accounts have been received 10y telegraph, is of
the most important events Of the Although
vessels partially iron clad have been used 10y the
Government for nearly a year and "A half this is
really the first contest where the best and heaviest
ordnance has been tried against such vessels upon
grand scale. Forts Sumter and Moutrie were fur
lIshei wiki lO-inch rified guns manufactured with |
view 10 being used against mailed sbios, and |
doubtless also with the improved elongated steel ball,
designed 10 pierce the heaviest The feet con-
sisted OF 10 vessels nine Of which took part in the
contest, the LrORstdeS becoming unmanageable from !
he currents and the narrOwness OF the channel /
Tine attack commenced; says an account: " signal .
Iad been made tor action at half-past > O'Clock in
ne afternoon by the IrOHSideS, but the rebels previ-
usly opened fire the leading vessels The ,
combat Is represented to have been in the highest
egree exciting, presenting fearful sceue-fre bel
owing from all points Of land and water there being
continuous of cannon" In the course of
% 40 minutes the KeObuF being in a sinking
ondon, was obliged to Withdraw from the flag ship,
being deemed impracticable to continue further
OstIlitIes.' According TO this account. thirty
Jrty minutes sutficed disable the iron clad fleet,
ousistiug of the powerful vessels which have I
ct been constructed by the United States The
rOHsiIes, 1t i true. took part, yet it be
Oubted As TO what would have been the result in
er case had she been within close range The heO-
Ub - was within 500 or 500 yards Of Fort Sumter,
I'D was completely riddlei.' She was struck
all the batteries at least 90 times in 80 minutes
IS to the amount Of damage caused TO the other
els Of the feet, the country l. not likely TO be
lforme1 for some time TO come yet it Is not unlike
,, III view OF their speedy withdrawal, that they
ere considerably disabled.
Even with the mpagTe accounts which have come
hand, it must be apparent that iron cllds are,
ON this time forward, TO be considered in new
ght--as totally inadequate 10 the reduction OF for
counted with the heayieS, improved rife cannon.
ere was fleet Of nine iron armOrei vessels, expos
y but little surface to euemy'S shot, which 1t
al required year more 20 prepare, driven away
80 minutes time, being completely ridiled
nd sunk. Fort Sumter was mounted with powerful /
inch ordnance, yet this will soon be OutlOne,
ld uuquesJOuably scme II our Monitors were armed |
it'll greatly superior guns-tho>e Of l0-lnches cali
e. In the capture Of New Orleans ships, by
, means well protected able TO pass the torti-
cations below the city without serious loss but now
e best vessels-,h1se completely covered with iron
cannot stand fire OF half an hour
What Is the lesson Of all this; Simply that can
III are being founded capable of penetrating and /
,stroying iron plated ships. But for the Obsruc
,ns in the channel leading TO Charleston, our ves
Is might have passed Fort Sumter and thrown shot
the city The country has been for the past year
ending large sums Of money III perfecting ordnance
ii vessels, and 1t is only by such trials as that
lich has taken place that their practical utility can
learned. Our ships have been sent to Charleston,
ID have failed in accomplishing what expected.
some persons this Is considered a great disaster
the country not 30, however, with the rejecting
rtion Of the public. The repulse was nothing for
was an attack with inadequate means-wIth means
tirely experimental in their CharacteT-tor when
g war broke out in the United States, very little
IS known in respect iron clad ships or heavy
iuauce, and each step since has been IN the dark
e Government has been compelled to build vessels
ter such plans as were deemed best 1t could not d
md still. England and France were turning out b
IN the navy-yaris, TfGrriOrS and Les GtoTeS, I
i we knew not the hour when the country might ,
called upon TO meet such ships. 10 be uupre- q
red, 10 leave our sea ports exposed Inc
srrinGc raid caused the country to build H0HoFS-
ey have answered u certain purpose, but nave not
It public expectation. They are. however, the only