Evening journal., 1910-10-05

luPont was given the thanks Of Con-
yress, the highest honor TO which a
naval officer can attain, and on the
9Th OF July following, when the grade
vas established by law, he was COM
nissioned as Rear Admiral in the
Navy.
"A brief consideration Of the attack
lpon the Charleston forts by the
ronclads under Admiral duPont's
will furnish a further ex-
position Of his ability and character.
"Sullivan's Island stretches north
ward and eastward from the entrance
o Charleston harbor. On the other
iide Norris Island reaches southwark.
md the main ship channel in 1853
-an parallel with that shore until
nearly up with Sullivan's Island.
where II turned westward towards the
narbor. At the northern end Of Nor
ris Island we're Fort Wagner and Bat
terry Gregg. Sumter lay In mid
entrance On Sullivan's Island were
Battery Bee (the inner posiuon), Fort
Moultrie. Battery Marion and Fort
Beauregard. There we're some minor
batteries. These defenses we're arm
ed with more than two hundred gums
according to the report of General
/ Beauregard, of large calibre and
many OF them rihed. Most OF the guns
bore upon the channel, and the Con-
fedsrates mad placed marks 10 snow
the exact range at every POINT of "
proach. The channel was completely
! obstructed on a line Joining Forts
, Sumter and Moultrie, where an assail-
/ ing feet would be held under the guns
OF the forts.
''For the attack DUPONT had under
his command the ironclads New Iron
sides (nag ship and Keokuk and
seven monitors, mounting twenty-five
guns I'm all, counting one broadside
only Of the New Ironsides. or these
guns one-third we're of Is inches and
the remainder IL inches calibre, she'll
guns. A
"The problem OF successful attack
proved to be different from that at
Port Royal where the ships could
readily pass within the Bay and take
the forts in rear. II differed also
from the conditions IN the Mississippi
and at Mobile Bay, where the OBJ
structions did not fully close the pass
age. When the attack was made at
Charleston, II was found that the
forts must be silenced before the OBJ
structions could be removed sufficient
ly for the fleet to enter the harbor.
Admiral dupont had made ample
reconnaissance Of the vicinity ana
twice attacked Fort McAllister in the
Great Ogeechee River, using one
monitor at first and afterwards three.
The Admiral reached the conviction,
largerly from the results Of the at
tacks on Fort McAllister and examin-
alton of the forts at the entrance OF
Charleston, that the works could be
reduced and Charleston taken only by
Joint operations Of the Army and
1 Navy. He recommended to the gov
ernment that a large force OF the
/ Army be placed on James Island, west
of Norris Island, from which posi-
ton artillery could attack the forts
I'm rear, when the feet could remove
obstructions and take possession OF
the harbor. General Beauregaro, a
military engineer, in command OF the
defenses, had discovered the same
weakness, reported II and asked TOT
additional regiments at about the time
duPOnt's view had marked the ROAD
TO success. Had the plan been adopt
ed, Charleston harbor would nave
passed into Union hands IN the spring
Of 1863
Island route was not available. inc
NAVY Department desired a naval at
tack. and enthusiastic admirers Of the
monitors. at Washington, insisted that
those vessels could pass into and out
oF Charleston harbor without defeat.
Admiral dupont then reported his in
tention TO attack In force and try out
the question.
: "The Admirars order for the attack
| directed the fleet to pass through the
entrance and fre upon the northwest
or inner face of Sumter. In that
!, position the feet could assail Sumter
D in the rear, flank all the forts on Sui
= uvan's Island and be screened from
J. the fire Of those on Morris Island
Q Accordingly, on the afternoon Of April
Z. 1868. the feet of nine vessels
5 ascended the main channel. the mas
/ shin in the center Of the column. Th'
- Weehawken led, under command Q
y Tohn RODGERS. whose conduct haf
~ nlaced him in the front rank OF ses
fobters Where in battle any mar
=. could 20. Rodgers would 60 pu,
81 r,,bar his vessel drew near the line OF or
d. ohstructions stretching from Su1ss' ss.
ms 80 MouItrie. Rodgers saw tnat ~
60 ~ - - Vas fmpracticables anu -
nd nd stopped his ship near near. w Within easy
OF maus - the ensmy's guns As nc
ed rause sesse1s arrived their captains
lt onerved otner their condition and joined 10
s % 1Dse sttack without attempting to
q nierce the distractions
Il sIn ascending the channel, the n<x
a ship passed in water so shoal tnaf spc
fcontinued on Page Teal