The National tribune., 1896-03-05

WHICH, -AbihllaA ltdbASlNh VA
posed himself, says:
"a more intrepid spirit never walked
this earth in human form; his steadiast
soul knew no such thing as fear; witness
the sublime daring with which he pushed
off in his barge, and pulled through a
heavy sea and q tremendous fire of
shells. TO the Passaic under Fort Moul-
trie."
Succeeding this first battle Of Admiral
Dahlgren were various desultory opera
tions, when the details Of second attack
were arranged with Gilmore for July IL.
The Admiral had five monitors in,
when Gilmore made signal that he was
not ready July Is violent storm set
in, and Gen. Gilmore telegraphed that
his batteries were flooded,
THE SECOND ATTACK.
However, about noon, Admiral Dahl
gren hoisted his flag on the Montauk,
and led up the channel, followed by the
turrets Patapsco, Nantucket Kaatskill,
Weehawken, and Ironsides
The Montauk anchored abreast of
Wagner and fired the first gun, which
was succeeded by the fire Of the other
vessels.
The guns of the fort, being overpower-
ed by the weight of metal, did not respond
with spirit, and at I p. m., as the tide
began to flow, the Montauk closed in
--steadily until she anchored at 800 yards
When it was SO dark that there could
be no help from the vessels, as they might
kill friend as well as foe in the obscurity,
Gen. Gilmore ordered an assault, and
was repulsed with severe loss
This needless loss Of life may be at
tributed to Gillmore's want of proper
force, and to the mistake he made in
postponing the assault until it became SO
dark that the navy could not cooperate.
The night of July %, Gen. Gilmore
advanced bis batteries, and asked to have
them covered by fire for sortie at day
break.
So at sunrise Admiral Dahlgren was
off Wagner on the Weehawken, with ali
his ironclads, and opened fire.
In the afternoon Gilmore telegraphed |
that his operation had succeeded, and |
thanks for the very efficient fire of the |
vessels
1t is not possible, or within the scope
of any one article, to follow day by day,
and month by month during nearly two
years, the incessant activity Of the feet
under command of Admiral Dahlgren.
They were engaged almost without
intermission in shelling the enemy, and
were always ready to cooperate and
cover any sortie made by the army.
/ have not mentioned tie preceding
engagements on account Of any special
significance oyer Others, but rsther be-
cause they marked the beginning of this
prolonged, harassing and herculean task,
and also to show the nature of the In
essant warfare demanded.
There were, however, serious compli- |
cations that arose, of which no mere
recital Of warlike measures can give an
idea.
INsUPERABLE DIFFICULTIES
In the first place, the climate told |
with terribly depressing and dangerous |
effect on unacclimated troops.
At times nearly the entire fighting |
force was seriously crippled by sickness
and Admiral Dahlgren was himself |
very iii during some months.
He notes in bis journal, abiding to
the weakening effect Of this illness
"Nothing but the actU, has kept me up" |
Add to the debilitating effect of
climate the atmosphere Of the iron
clads, which was 50 terribly oppressive
as to make it almost impossible to pre-
serve life in them.
In fact, it was found necessary to re-
lieve the crews every few weeks and |
assign them for recuperalion, TO other
vessels.
Then, the blockade Of 50 great extent
of coast as was maintained, involved in- |
cessant vigilance.
England was constantly sending out |
upon the high seas, swift armed cruisers /
under the rebel flag, to destroy our com
merce and to t3ke supplies to rebeldom.
The moment, however, that Admiral |
Dahigren's feet entered the harbor, this
trade ceased at Charleston, for the port
was sealed from the Outside world.
No more blockade running, no more
prize money there.
But it was in attempting combined
operations off Charleston, as connected |
with the command Of Gen Gilmore that
Admiral Dablgrcn experienced the
greatest difficulties
1t was.a long time before Admiral
Dahlgren understood that the libellous |
attacks Of the press, made upon him at |
one period, could be instigated BY the
General Of the allied Union forces, and |
when he was finally forced 70 acknowl-
edge the treachery, lie considered tie
general interests Of the country as para
mount to every other issue, and held bis |
peace before the Nation until the close |
Of the war.
All through lis command, in desisting
from making an assault with his IRON
clads, he acted strictly under the views
and instructions of the Denaftu,ant