Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-21
THE FIRST ATTACK ON CHARLESTON.
REPORT OF SECRETARY WELLES.

In response to resolution of the House Of Representa-
tves the Secretary of the Navy has made interesting
report the efficiency Of lronclad vessels This re-
port also gives much valuable information regarding the
failure the attack upon Charleston by Gen. Hunter and
Admiral Dupont.
inquiries that made in the resolution of inquiry have
the honor state that the order OF the President dated
April 49, 1868 directing Rear Admiral Dupont to remain
in the bay at Charleston and prevent the enemy from
erecting batteries Morris Island duly
but not obeyed The teeRraphic order Of the Pre-
sdent dated 18th April, directing Rear Admiral Dupont
aud Gen Hunter to take the batteries on Morris Island
and Sullivan Island, far this Department
is advised obeyed, attempted TO be obeyed by Rear
Admiral Dupont The order of the Secretary Of the Navy
directing Rear Admiral Dupont to cooperate with Gen.
Gilmore not obeyed"
Major Gen Hunter, in letter to the President refer
ring to the attack by the iron.cads upon Charleston
attack in which, the nature of the plans Of Admiral
Dupont the army had active part, says that the
morning after the attack the army ready to proceed
to take possession of Morris Island and Fort Sumter
would have been rendered unenabe in two days fire."
Gen Hunter adds On the afternoon after the iron
clad attack Fort Sumter the troops ON Folly Island
only ready to Lighthouse Inlet but
almost in the act final having been made
boas ready and the men under arms for crossing when
they recslled hoped merely temporarily by the
OF Admiral Dupont that he had resolved to
retire, and that consequently could expect no assist
ance from the navy Immediately the Admiral was waited
upon by officer Of nay staff who represented the for
wadness of preparations tor crossing the evidently
unprepsred condition of the enemy to receive u.s. while
any delay that intentions understood would
give the enemy time to erect upon the southern end of
Morris Island commanding Lighthouse Inlet those works
which had heretofore neglected To these considera
tons earnestly and deliberately urged, the Admrals
swer was that he would not give another shot"
The Department has information as to who devised
the plan OF attack Fort Sumter by Rear Admiral Du
pont on April 7h 1862 but has doubled that
originated and belonged exclusively to that officer.
The testimony of naval and military officers relation
To the iron cads forms large part OF the Secretarys
port Rear Admiral Porter says that no better proof
wanting the ability of the West to supply all demands
Of the Government for iron sides than is given in those
building at Cincinnati He remarks that in six months
can have feet of vessels which will protect the Ohio and
rivers agant the fleets OF the world He also
his opinion 10 favor of iron clads for habor de-
fence Rear ADMIRAL Godsborough not so confident He
declares that but d erent has been reached
and holds that the cency intrinsic merit OF any iron
clad intended for the for coast purposes is to be
estimated according to her strength throughout part
Of the hull Every iron-cad should be and for har-
Dor defence unprovided with guns and might be used for
interior river operations in country like in
OF maritime difficulty He believes iron clads TO be
open to serious objections; that there is marked de.
fcency OF ability for general naval operations, being
suitable for smooth water barbor than for
We should, however, profit by eIpe rience He regards
the Ironsdes efficient than it's predecessors
Breadier Gen. Barnard, having examined the subject
of armored and turreed vessels applied after Ercssons
designs particularly harbor defence, expresses his
opinion that they furnish the best solution of the pract
csbty Of vessels for this purpose The Dictator and the
Potsn he says successfully contend against ship