Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-04-11

The first adventures came to the
monitor Weehawken, which ran close
up to some Instructions in the channel
between Sumter and Moultrie and got
in the first shot. Finding his ship in
danger Of being shared by the obstruc-
tons. the captain turned her about,
fighting from the stern. As the ves-
sci turned a torpedo exploded under
her bow, but did no serious damage.
Dupont's flagship. Ironsides, proved
unwieldy in action. She steamed
within 1900 yards of Sumter, but was
at the mercy Of the current, which
carried her directly over a torpedo
holding 1000 pounds Of powder and
connected with Battery Wagner by an
electric wire. The Confederate elec-
trician in Wagner was accused Of
treachery for not sending her to the
bottom, but the wire was proved to
be tout Of order" at the time.
The Keokuk q Floating Wreck.
While the Ironsides lay drifting in
the current Moultrie directed all its
fire upon her. This was answered by
a broadside, the only shots fred at
Moultrie. Meanwhile the other ships
ran their course up to the distractions,
opened fire as directed and only re-
the attack in the morning. But dayA
light revealed the fleets hopeless con-
dition, and the battle was postponed.
The purpose of the attack on the 7th
was to reconnoiter the channel and
test the ships. All the ship command.
ers agreed with the admiral that the
forts were stronger than ironclad
ships.
The Weehawken was struck fifty.
three times and her deck smashed 80
that the water ran through, while her
turret could scarcely be revolved, ow-
Ing to the dents of heavy blows. The
Passaic received thirty-dve hits, one
gun was disabled and the turret jam.
med 50 as to be immovable. One rife
shot broke eleven plates Of the turret
and upset the pilot house. The Pa
tapsco was struck forty-seven times.
The Nantucket was struck ffty-one
times and her turret was disabled.
The Nahant received thirty.six shots,
and her turret was disabled. The Mon.
tauk and Catskill were hit many times,
but not disabled. The Ir0nsides was
hit ninety-five times, but with little
damage During the battle the balls
could be distinctly seen in their course
with the naked eye
Slight Effect on the Fort.
The ironclad fire damaged Fort Sum-
ter in few places, particularly on the
outer wall or sea front. where two
monitor shells from fifteen inch and
eleven inch guns struck together. max
ing a crater six feet high and eight
feet wide. In another place the para
pet was loosened for space Of twen-
ty-five feet. The ironclads fred ISL
shots at the fort. and ffty-6ve hit the
mark.
Sumters guns fred $40 shots. and
the surrounding batteries fred 1899.
Out of 1900 shots fred at the IRON
clads 500 landed on the vessels, and
six out Of nine ships were practically
disa bled In action. The vessels stood
of 1900 to 1.40O yards from Sumter
and a greater distance from the other
batteries. The Federal shots were
a rebuke to their critics. And some.
including prominent and influential Of.
fcers, didn't want to fight an "aboli.
ton war;"
All Of the executive excursions to
camp had been we'll timed. This may
or may not have been due to delibera-
ton. One thing Mr.. Lincoln could al
ways depend upon. "even bank on
that was the popular affection for and
imperishable faith in "Old Abe"
OF Mr.. Lincoln absent the soldiers
could have bitter" thoughts. Face to
face he was always Father Abra-
ham," The writer was present on the
three occasions cited and we'll remem-
bers that Mr.. Lincoln's appearance
somehow always allayed that bitter
feeling.~
Little "Tad" on Horseback.
1t was new view Of "Father Abra-
ham" which the army had that su-
perb April day on the broad slopes Of
Stafford. The president, Mrs. Lincoln
and Tad" had been at the front three