The National tribune., 1896-03-05

NdNy III uOluS cO, OlliClstlf NiieSS- h'
Department takes this occasion to ex
press to you its appreciation of youl
services, and of those who have been
associated with you, in the efficient
blockade of the coast and harbor, at q
central and important position of the
Union, and in the work of repossessin2
the forts, and restoring the authority and
supremacy of the Government in the
insurgent States"
As it was never considered judieious
to risk the only seagoing ironclad
squadron of the Union without pros.
pect of adequate results, let us consider
more closely the situation.
THE OFFENSIVE PowEE
and capacity of Wagner, Sumter, and
Moultrie, with the heavy batteries OF
Bee and Beaurega,d that fanked Moul-
trie on either hand, had been we'll es-
tablished in action with the ironclads of
the 23d and 31st of August, and LIST,
9TH, and Sth of September, 1868, when
the whole power of the Ironsides and
five monitors, were expended on them
without effecting any permanent injury,
when a council Of officers unanimously
affirmed "that neither Moultrie nor
johnson was reducible by the ironclads
present, unless supported by the army"
The various distractions, the position
of entanglements. the line of floating
buoys, that reached from Sumter to
Moultrie, with torpedoes attached; were
dangerous impediments, barring the prog
ress of the ironclads.
Many of these Instructions were held
a fathom or more below the surface, and
were almost impossible of detection, and
their locality was always closely watched
by the rebels.
A sad experience showed how fatal
these torpedoes were, making at that
period new and comparatively un-
tried phase of warfare.
In spite of all precautions the navy
sustained in this way many losses.
Not onl y was the narrow entrance to
the harbor for several miles fortified
with a continuous chain of batteries
mounting heavy guns, but the interior
channels were also completely OBJ
structed.
In addition to this continuous chain
OF batteries, the torpedoes, and other OBJ
structions, there were three rebel iron
clads with rihed cannon.
1t will be seen that vessels attempt
ing to enter the harbor of Charleston
were entrapped in a cUL-de-sGc, where
they were enfiladed by heavy batteries
and were placed in the very focus of their
fire.
The Union force of five ironclads was
engaged with the rebel batteries from
the 10th of July TO the 23d of August
on l6 occasions, so that they were all
more or less disabled ami in serious need
of repair.
Within a period of "A DAYS the iron
clads and gunbcats had cannonaded
Fort Wagner on % occasions, and yet
this fort repulsed with loss a persistent
assault by our troops.
One can readily understand why it
was the constant ard concurrent opinion
Of the best naval officers and artillerists,
that Charleston could not be taken bv
purel y naval attack without the sustained
cooperation Of the army. And in keep
ing with this state of affairs were the
views of the Navy Department.
Had Admiral Dahlgren sent the IRON
clads into the inner harbor, he would
have deprived the land forces on Morris
Island of needed auxiliary, by placing
his vessels where there could be no CO.
operation.
GTLLMaRE's CONDUCT.
Gen. Gilmore has made the most sur
prising written statements as to the plans
agreed upon between Admiral Dahlgren
and himself.
These alleged plans Admiral Dahl
gren distinctively denied, and made
clear and accurate written recapitulation.
OF what was actually proposed and ac-
cepted.
Gen. Gilmore, in what he AYERS, con-
stantly qualities his own conditions and
assumes that his part was fulfilled, which
was not the case, even had the asserted
agreement been made.
Nor were such plans as he mentions
ever proposed to the Navy Department
for lis acceptance.
II is regretable TO have to say SO, but
there was no basis Of truth in them.
But 1t Is not my present purpose to
more than allude TO these false assertions
Of Gen. Gilmore, which are fully met
and contraJicted specifically in the
Memoir Of Admiral Dahlgren.
Twill close this painful subject by the
mention Of one instance which has been
Ctei at al 10