The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-02

ade was not as eIectiye as Is requi,td
by international law. In other words,
the ports were lawfully opened 70 com.
merce If neutrals were SO disposed Ia
the United States congress itself the
right TO blockade any seapOrts was Wig.
oroGsly disputed.
The south, of course. claimed that
the blockade was 81 failure. Not hav.
ing navy they made no serious Mt
tempt TO make good their contention
in this respect ~ galveston. In Au-
gust. Il Confederate shore battery fred
into the blOckader South Carolina. II
had no other result than to cause the
plucky commander of the ship to lay
closer TO shore and toss shells NJ the
battery. regardless OF the town behind
II. In October. however, there was a
spirited action OF the mouth Of tho
Mississippi between several blockadors
and the Confederate ironclad Manls
sas. The ram got I'm stroke which
sent the Federal ships about their busi-
ness, but was so badly damaged her
self that she had to retreat. Some of
the Federal ships grounded and were
attacked by wooden river boats which
the Confederates had converted into
wurshlps. One OF the ships was aban-
ioned and the rest got away, The
blockaders on the gulf coast were
very vigilant. About the close OF the
first year they were organized into two
divisions. one called the East Gulf
squadron and the other the West Gulf
squadron.
The Warships' Attacks on the Coast.
The two successes OF the navy in
battle during the year were not gained
| by vessels assigned TO duty ms block.
| Rders. They were won by naval ex.
| petitions fitted out specially to make
ronquests on the coast. On Aug. 2S-2o
| the leet commanded by Commodore
Stringham sailed up 10 the North Car
olina coast Mt Hatteras and bombarded
Forts uatteras and Clark. which
guarded the channel TO Pamlico sound.
BY clever stroke ia sailing he
brought his vessels into position 20
| that they concentrated their fire upon
the forts. but escaped the missiles
which the Confederate guns hurled at
them. This was the first naval victory
Of importance I'm the war. 1t was also
| the first success at arms of importance
which the north could boast
! A few weeks later Il still greater OK,
pedition under Commodore 5. f.. Du.
pont attacked the forts at the entrance
TO Port Royal sound, South Carolina
using very much the same tactics tha,
won the day for Stringham at HalteraS
Dupont so handled his ships that they
suffered very little from the guns nj
the forts which they attacked Thes,
were two in number-Forts Walker anC
Beauregard. They stood on opposit,
sides of the very narrow channel.
Dupont's success at Port Royal lee
Immediately TO the capture Of Beau
fort. an important seaport. From thi
base Dupont explored the coast o
South Carolina and Georgia to tn
south aud occupied several points .
strategy which would serve the Fed
erals in future attack upon SavaI
nah.
Confederate Victories on Land.
On land the Confederatcs easily bor
Off the honors of the year in substaT
tial results from fighting excepting
western Virginia.
General Bcauregard's stroke in cal
turing Fort sumter was the beginning
That took place In April Two montl
after that General j. B. Magrudcr r.
pulsed NJ Biz Rcthel va.. n Fc1cri