Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-04-22
The Attack on Charleston.


In response TO resolution Of the House
Of Representatives, the Secretary Of the
Navy has made an interesting report relative
to operations for the capture Of Charleston.
From this document 1t appears tina, in May,
1862. Admiral Du Pont was advised BY the
Navy Department that It was determined to
capture Charleston, and that the War De.
partment had sent instructions to General
Huuter. who was assigned to the command
Of ten thousand men. The Admiral was in
formed that the capture rested solely on the
service Of the Navy. Du Pont replied that
he would endeavor to execute the wishes Of
the department, but wanted more vessels
Daring the same month the Secretary advises
the Admiral to abandon the attack on Charles.
ton, II 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 previ-
Gus confidential correspondence, repeated his
regret that the Admirars views we're not un-
derstood by the Department before the event
took place, for had they been known matters
would undoubtedly have beed orderes diff
ierently. Resr Admiral Dahlgten had soli-
cited the opportunity Of making the attack
on Charleston, but the Secretary says he was
compelled to refuse him, because he supposed
what he sought as privilege Rear Admiral
Du Pont claimed as q right. Had the latters
distrust of the monitors been known the en-
terprise would have been committed to anoth-
er. The Secretary says:
az In response to certain specifc inquiries
that are made 10 the resolution of ina liry, |
have the honor to state that the order Of the
President, dated April Is, 1868, directing
Rear Admiral Du Pcnt to remain in the bay
at Charleston, and prevent the emmy from
erecting batteries on Morris Island was duly
acknowledged, but was not obeyed.' The
telegraphic order of the President, dated 18th
April, directing Rear Admiral Dl Pont and
Cen Hunter to take the batteries on Morris
Island and Sullivan Island was never, SO far
as this Department is advised obeyed. or at
tempted to be obeyed, by Rear Admiral Du
Pont.
The order OF the Secretary Of the Navy
directing Rear Armiral Du Pout to cooper
ate with Gen. Gilmore was not obeyed.
Major General Hunter, in letter to shs
President, referring to the attack by the iron
clads upon Charleston, an attack in which,
from the nature of the plans Of Admiral Du
Pont. the army had no active part, says that
on the morning after the attack the army was
ready to proceed to take possession of Nor
! tAs i,Ahnu, duu urt Ousntet WOuiu nave oeeu
rendered untenable in two days FIRE.
Gen Hunter adds "On the afternoon after
the iron-clad attack on Fort Sumter, the troop,
on Folly Island were not only ready to cross
Lighthouse Inlet, but were almost in the act
a final reconnaissance having been made
boats ready and the men under arms for eros
sing when they were recalled, as hopeC
merely temporarily, by the announcement o
Admiral Du Poni that hs had resolved to re-
tire, and that. consequently, we would ex'
pect no assistance from the navy. Immedi-
steiy tho Admiral was waited upon By an
officer of my sfaG. who represented tho for
wardness of our preparations for crossing, the
evidently unprepared condition of the enemy
to receive US, while any delay, now that our
intentions were understood, would give the
enemy time 10 erect upon the southern end
of Morris Island, commanding Lighthouse In
let, those works which we had heretofore neg
lected. To these considerations, earnestly
and elaborately urged, the Admiral's answer
was that she would not give another shot"
The Department has no information az to
who devised the plan Of attack on Fort Sum
ter by Rear Admiral Dupont on April 7.
1868, but has never doubted that il was ORR
ginated and belonged exclusively to that OFF,
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