The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-20
The Efficiency Of IrOn.clad Vessels.
Commodore BupOnrs Attack on Fort
Sumter.

/ the documents is letter from Rear
| Admiral Porter in which he says M
better proof is wanting Of the ability
the West to supply all demands Of th'
Government for iron-sides than is giycT
in those building at Cincinnati They
can, he remarks, be built better there
| than in the workshops of the North
and in six months we can have a flee
Of vessels which will protect the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers against the fleets
Of the world He also expresses hi:
opinion in favor OF iron-clads for harbOl
defense.
Rear-Admiral Goldsborough says that
but an Indifferent success has been
reached. The efficiency or intrinsic
merit of any iron-clad intended for the
ocean or for coast purposes, IS to be es
timated according to her strength
throughout every part Of the hull
Every iron clad should be a ram, and
for harbor defense unprovided with
guns, might be used for interior river
operations in a country like our own, in
case Of maritime difficulty. He be
lieves our iron-clads to be open to Sc
rious objections, that there Is a marked
deficiency Of ability for general naval
operations: being more suitable fol-
smooth water harbor than for sea ser
vice. We should, however, profit by
expesienee. He regards the Ne10 Iron
sides as more efficient than its prede
cessors
Brigsdier-General Barnard having ex,
Il 4 !
turreted vessels,applied after Ericsson
design, particularly as a harbor de-
tense, expresses his opinion that they
furnish the best solution Of the practi-
cability Of vessels for this purpose The
Dictator and the Puritan can success
fully contend against any ship afioat
The subject Of iron-elads also eRters
into the events before Charleston.
1t appears that in May, 1862, Admiral
Dupont was advised by the Navy De-
partment that it was determined to
capture Charleston, after certain other
things should take place, and that the
War Department had sent instructions
to Gen. Hunter, who was assigned to
the command Of ten thousand men.
The Admiral was informed that the
capture rested solely on the service OF
tho navy, and this was committed Il
his hands to execute, the confidence oil
the Department being reposed in his
zeal ability and energy.
Admiral Dupont, on the oath OF
January, replied that he should en-
deavor to execute the wishes of the
Department, but he wanted more YES
sells for the attempt at capture.
The Secretary Of the Navy during the
same month, advised the Admiral to
abandon the attack on Charleston, il
he deemed the number of iron-clads
insufficient to render the capture
certain.
After the unsuccessful attack had
been made, the Secretary of the Navy,
referring to previous confidential cor
respondence, repeated his regret that
the Admiral's views were not under
stood by the Department before the
event took place, for had they been
known. matters would undoubtedly
have been ordered differently.
Rear Admiral Dahlgren had solicited
the opportunity of making the attack
on Charleston, but the Secretary SAYS.
he was compelled to refuse him because
he supposed what he sought rs a privi-
lege Rear Admiral Dupont claimed as a
right "The duty" he continues, was
confided to you, who had made the sub
iect a study, and had it in hand for
more than a year If prior to the de-
monstration Of the 7th Of April you had
not confidence in the monitor vessels,
and their amount, as the Department
understands you have minated to
others, it IS to be regretted that you did
not make known your distrust of their
capacities to the Department itself be-
fore any demonstration was attempted. y
On the 3rd of June last Admiral Du-
pont was informed officially that the
Government was unwilling to relinquish
all further efforts upon place which
has been so conspicuous in the Rebel
lion, and which continues to stimulate
treason and resistance to the laws.
"From the tone of your letter" the
Secretary says, ait appears your iudg-
ment is in oppositin to renewed at
tack on Charleston, and in view of this
fact it has been concluded to relieve
you, and order Rear Admiral Foote to
be your successor"
Owing to the i'll health of the latter,
Admiral Dahlgren was appointed to
the feet before Charleston. Admiral
Dupont preferred charges against Chief
Engineer Sinners, who had reported
that Admiral Dupont had but a poor or
Indifferent opinion of the iron-clads.
Sinners was arraigned before naval
court, which, after the examination of
witnesses, recommended that he be
discharged from arrest The documents
are very voluminous, and relate to these
and kindred subjects.
In response TO certain specific inqui-
ries that are made in the resolution of
inquiry, have the honor to state that
the order of the President dated April
18th, 1868, directing Rear-Admiral Du-
pcnt to remain in the bay at Charles
ton, and prevent the enemy from erect
ing batteries on Morris Island" was
duly acknowledged, but not obeyed.
The telegraphic order Of the President,
dated l4th of April, directing Rear
Admiral Dupont and General Hunter
TO take the batteries on Morris Island
and Sullivan Island, was never, so far
as this department is advised. obeyed.
or attempted to be obeyed, by Rear
Admiral Dupont
The order of the Secretary Of the
Navy, directing Rear Admiral Dupont
to cooperate with General Gilmore was
not obeyed
Maior-General Hunter in a letter to
the President referring to the stack by
the iron-clads upon Charleston, an at
tack in which, from the nature of the
plans Of Admiral Dupont, the army had
no active part, says, that on the morning
after the attack the army was ready to
proceed to take possession of Morris
Island, and Fort Sumter would have
been rendered untenabIs III two days
fire.
General Hunter adds" On the az
ternoon after the iron-clad attack on
Fort Sumter, the troops on Folly Island
were not only ready 10 cross Light house
Inlet, but were almost in the act, a final
reconnaissance having been made, boats
ready, and the men under arms for
crossing when they were recalled, as I
hoped merely temporarily, by the an
nouncement Of Admiral Dupont thathe
had resolved to retire, end that conse-