'tMMB HtetJESS,
PUBLISHED DAILY (SUNDAYS EXCEPTED.)
BT JOHN W. FORIVEY.
OFFICE, Eo. 11l SOUTH FOURTH STREET.
WIIK DAILY PRESS,
' EiOHTBBSf Cbktr Pkß'Wfek, payable to the Carrier.
-•Mailed to Subscribers out of the City at Eight Dollars
fPsa AhhitMi Poub Dollars poh Six Months, Two Dol*
•tjARS for Thrbb Months—invai iably in advance for the
time ordered. . / •" _
[ <!fc# ta .A.dvertlaemants Inserted at the usual rates. Six
lines constitute a square.
TUB TRI-WEEItIiY PRESS, "
; Mailed. to Subscribers out of the City at Four Dollars
-Pbr Amjra, in advance.
SPRING; MILLINERY.
SPmNG MILLINERY.
The undersigned has now open-a
HANDSOME STO.GK OF
.RIBBONS, SILKS, CRAPEsj
ILLUSIONS AND LACES.
Also, a splendid assortment .of /•. ■-
TRENCH FLOWERS,
Oansletlng of fino HOSES, EOSE BUDS, ttno GRAPES,
and FRUITS,
Ail of the most fashionable shades and styles.
* A :.OT OP "
RIBBONS..AND MOWERS
Of last season's importation, will-be
CLOSED OUT VERY CHEAP.
M. BBBNHEIM,
No. ISO CHESTNUT STREET.
mh3o-2ui , , . ' - -
STRAW GOODS, 1853.
FRENCH FLOWERS,
- ’ LACES AND RIBBONS,
or THE LATEST FASHIONS,
JUST OPENED
THOS. KENNEDY * BRO.’S,
HO. 733 CHESTNUT Sireet, below EIGHTH.
mU3I-2m
SPRING 1863.
BROOKS & ROSENHEIM,
(Late Rosenheim, Brooks, & Co.),
*fo. 431 MARKET STREET, North Bide,.
Hare HOW Open, and are daily making additions thereto,
A handsomJs variety op
RIBBONS. BONNETS,
MISSES’ AND CHILDREN’S HATS, FLOWERS,
AND
Sr
MILLINER! BOOBS IN GENERAL,
to which the attention of the trade is respoetfolly soli
cited. mhis-2m
ijsrTi MISSES O’BRYAN, 1107 WAL
tf#SL'Si)NTJT Street, will open PARIS MILLINER?:
THE SPRING, on THURSDAY, April. 9th;
1863. ' api-lm*
1863. R 1 B sons
. AND '
MILLINERY GOODS.
«L. DANNENBAUM & 00.,
No. 87 North SECOND Street,
Have now open a large and admirably-assorted stock
of the above goods. ’
: . MERCHANTS.and MILLINERS
Will find inducements in,;sf!/fes and prices uneanalled in
this market. • mhl7-lm*
1863 spring 1863
WOOD, iS GARY.
No. .725 CHESTNUT STREET,
Have now in store.a" complete stock of
STRAW AND MILLINERY GOODS,
INCLUDING
(STRAW HATS AND BONNETS.
MISSEB’ AND CHILDREN’S STRAW GOODS.
FANCY-AND CRAPE BONNETS.
FRENCH FLOWERS, RIBBONS, &c,
To whichthey respsc'rfnlly invite the attention of Mer*
ohantsandMilUn'fers; .
CASH BUYERS wtil find special advantage In examin
ing thisstock before purchasing, fe2B-2m
LL I XIR Y _
JOSEPH HAMBURGER,
- 535 South SECOND Street,
Has now open a large stock of Ribbons, ArtiflcialFlowers,
&c., to which he respectfully invites the attention of
Milliners and Merchants. Goods received daily: from
auctions. - mh24-2m*
T7IGHTH-STREET RIBBON STORE,
No. iijV Nbrth’ElGßTH Street.
We would, inform our. customers, and the ladies gene
rally, that' this day a full and aery superior
stock-of MILLINERY AND STRAW GOODS, for the
(Spring and Summer seasons, which we are prepared to
Offer, wholesale and retail, at the most reasonable prices.
No. 4 CORD-EDGE RIBBONS, all colors, $1 per piece.
No. 5 CORD-EDGE RIBBONS, all colors, $1.26 per
VELVET RIBBONS, every width, superior
*«BLACK VELVET RIBBONS, with white edges,
«very width, at last season’s prices. •
BONNET RIBBONS, plain and fancy, every shade.
Width, and Quality—an immense variety to suit all
tastes
BONNET SILKS of every shade, plain and plaid.
BONNET CRAPES, LACES, ILLUSIONS, BLONDES,
FLOWERS, a superb variety,
at the ;usual prices. - ' , . ‘ . •« . „
STRAW BONNETS, the. fashionable shape, m braid,
split straw, and hair; white, gray, and black.
INFANTS’ HATS%AND..CAPS,\ every new design, all
craaiitieß.
LADIES’AND CHILDREN’S SHAKER HOODS.
THE BEST NEW’ YORK AND FRENCH BONNET
FRAMES, lower than they can be bought elsewhere, by
the dozen or single.
Give us a call. . SICHEL & WEYL,
mh27-lm * • No. 10T North EIGHTH Street.
CARPETS ASI) OIL-CLOTHS.
BOH-ST. carpet warehouse.
JOS. BLACKWOOD,
-833 ARCH STREET.
TWO DOORS BELOW NINTH (South Side!,
. IS NbW.HECEIVTKO
FOR BPRIIG TRADE,
.A rich and extensive assortment of
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CARPETINGS.
Of the best makes,
.■Embracing all the new styles, which are offered
AT LOW PRICES FOR CASH.
mhl3-2m.
JDST RECEIVE I), ,
3,00 0 BOLLS
CANTON MATTINGS,
Whioh we invite the attention of the trade.
M'CALLUM & OO.;
NO. 509 CHESTNUT STREET,
EMOV A L .
J. T. DELACROIX,
bat remoTed Us
STOCK OF OARPETI.NGS,
yrom 4.-T South FOURTH Street, to his
PfE W ST ORE,
1 N0,'37 SOUTH SECOND STREET,
“Where he offers to his old customers, and purchaser*
generally, a LARGE AND DESIRABLE STOCK OF
CARPETINGS,
Of U 1 grades, and best Known makes.
OIL CLOTHS,' MATTINGS, AND WINDOW SHADES.
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL,
■ AT THE LOWEST PRICES.
J. T. -DELACROIX,
No. 37 SOUTH SECOND STREET, above Chestnut
Xnhf)-8m 1 '
Q.LEN ECHO MILLS,
M’OALLUM & CO.;
HANDYAOTUBBRS, IMPORTERS, AND DEALERS.'
609 CHESTNUT STREET,
(Opposite Independence Hall,)
OAR P E T I N a Si
OIL CLOTHS, Sto,
W, have now on Land an extensive stock of CARPET.
SNOB, of Oar own and other makes, to whtoh we call
ILe attention of oaeh and short-time buyers. fel6-Sm
BEWINC MACHINES.
gEWING MACHINES.
THE "BLOAT” MACHINE*
WITH GLASS PRESSER FOOT,
NEW STYLE HEMMER, BRAIDER,
And Other valuable improvements.
,S- 'ALSO, ' i
THE TAGGART & FAER MACHINES,
E. corner NINTH and CHERRY Streets.
gINGER’S
SEWING MACHINES,
for Family Sewing and Manufacturing Pnrposes.
810 CHESTNUT STREET.
lalS-Sm ■
MAO KER E L, HERRING, SHAD,
ATX * e , . ’
3,000 Bbls Mass. Nob. 1,3, and 8 Mackerel, late-cauiht
grt fish, in assorted packages.
3,000 Bfcl*. New Eastport, Fortune Bar, and Hall&x
Lnbee, Scaled, and No. 1 Herrin*.
150 Bbls. hew Mess Shad.
350 Boxes Herkimer County Oheese, sm.
In ttore and /or sale by MURPHY St KOONS.
I»U-U flo. 140 North WHABYM,
gH.IPLBY, HAZARD. &
HUB SPRING STOCK IS NOW Alt
s' BANGED.
a o s i
AT LOWER PRICES THAN PRESENT COST OP IM-
JOHN T. BAILEY & 00.
BAGS AND BAGGING
OP EVERY DESCRIPTION,
NO. 113 NORTH FRONT STREET,
WOOL BAGS FOK SALE.
iaSS-dm
006 ARCH street*
SHIRTS,'WRAPPEKS, AND STOCKS.
JTHE FINE SHIRT EMPORIUM,
Nos. 1 AND 3 NORTH SIXTH STREET.
JOHNC.ARRISON;
(l-'OUMKUI.V ,T. BURR MOORE. )
IMPORTER AND MANUFACTURER OP
GENTLEMEN’S FURNISHING GOODS
IN GREAT VARIETY AND AT MODERATE PRICES.
N. B. —Particular attention given to the making of
Shirts, Collars, Drawers, Ac. apS-6ra
■TUNE SHIRT MANUFACTORY. ;
The subscriber would invite attention to his
. IMPROVED CUT OF SHIRTS, .
Which he makes a speeialtyin his business. Also, con
stantly receiving- ' . .
NOVELTiIS FOR GENTLEMEN’S WEAR.
J. W. SOOTT,
GENTLEMEN’S FURNISHING STORE,
No. 814: CHESTNUT STREET,
ja2o-tf Four doors below the Continental.
IREN’S AND BOYS’ WEAR.
PHILADELPHIA.
GERMANTOWN. PA.
VOL. e.-tNO. 217.
COMMISSION HOtrSES.
HUTCHINSON,'
No. 112 CHESTNUT STREET,
COMMISSION MERCHANTS,
' ■ FOB THE SALE OF __ .
PHILADELPHIA-MADE GOODS,
mhSl-6m * ■- ,f
80,000 DOZEN
PORTATION.
THOS. MELLOB <6 00.,
40 AND 43 NORTH THIRD STREET,
Pnii.Annr.PHTA.
GENTS’ FURNISHING GOODS.
FINE SHIRT AND WRAPPER DEPOT,
AN ELEGANT ASSORTMENT OF
GKff T S ’ FHR IN' IS HING GOODS,
. AT MODERATE PRICES.
POUR PREMIUMS AWARDED POR
G. A. HOFFMANN,
Successor to \V. W. KNIGHT.:
006 ARCH STREET. 60G.
ap6*mws3m.
CLOTHING.
Fine Clothing,
Muclc up early, for
; Spring and Summer Sales,
. now ready,
WANAMKER & BROWN,
“OAK HALL,”
S. E. cor. 6th & Market.
DESIRABLE
PROPERTY
. FOS .
INVESTMENT.
PRICES
..SURE TO ADVANCE.
CASSIMERES.
NEW DTAGONOLS.
NEW MIXTURES.
NEW COLORS.
. NEW G-4 COATINGS.
NEW 6-4 HELTONS,
IABIES* CLOAKINGS.
BOYS’ CLOTHING READY-MADE.
BOYS’ AND MEN’S CLOTHING MADE TO ORDER.
COOPER & conard;
ap4-tf ; S. E. corner NINTH AND MARKET Sts.
JOHN -KELLY, JR.,
TA ILO R ,
HAS REMOVED FROM 1022 CHESTNUT STREET,
EDWARD P. KELLY’S,
143 South THIRD Street,
Where he presents to former patrons and the public
the advantages of a STOCK OF GOODS, edualif not su
perior, to any in the city—the skill and taste of himself
and EDWARD P. KELLY, the two best Tailors of the
city—at prices much lower than any other first-class esta-*
blishment of the city. apl-tf
•RLACK CASS. PANTS, .^5.50,
U At 704 MARKET Street.
BLACK CASS. PANTS, $5.50, At 704 MARKET Street.
BLACK CASS. PANTS, $5.50, At 7W MARKET Street.
BLACK CASS. PANTS, $5.60. At 704 MARKET Street.
BLACK CASS. PANTS, $5.50. At 704 MARKET Street.
GRIGG & VAN GUNTEN’S,: No. 704 MARKET Street.
GRIGG & VAN GUNTEN’S, No. 704 MARKET Street.
GRIGG & VAN GUNTEN’S, " No. 704 MARKET Street.
GRIGG & VAN GUNTEN’S, No. 704 MARKET Street.
GRIGG: * VAN GUNTEN’S, No. 7C4 MARKET Street.
,mh22-6m
FURNITURE, &c.
P U UNIT U R B .
A LARGE ASSORTMENT,
W. & J. ALLEN & BROTHER,
1309 CHESTNUT STREET.
fIABINET FURNITURE AND BIL
LIARD TABLES.
MOORE & CAMPION,
- Ho. 301 SontE SECOND Street,
In connection with their extensive Cabinet business, are
now manufacturing a superior article of
BILLIARD TABLES,
and have now on hand a full supply, finished with the
MOORE & CAMPION’S IMPROVED CUSHIONS,
which are pronounced by all who have used them to be
■uperior to all others.
For the quality and finish of these Tables, the manu
facturers refer to their numerous patrons throughout the
Union, who are familiar with the character of their
wor *. mhs-6m
PAPER HANGINGS.
PHILADELPHIA
PAPER HANGINGS.
HOWELL & BOURKE,
CORNER OF
FOURTH AND MARKET STREETS,
MANUFACTURERS OF
PAPER HANGINGS
AND WINDOW CURTAIN PAPERS,
Offer to the Trade a LARGE AND ELEGANT ASSORT
MENT OF GOODS, from the cheapest Brown Shook to
the Finest Decorations..
N.E. COR. FOURTH AND MARKET STREETS.
N. 8.-Solid Green, Blue, and Buff WINDOW PA
PERS of every trade. fel7-2m'
XTEW GOODS! NEW GOODS!—WE
“L; are daily receiving from factory hew patterns of
WALL PAPERS, to which we-invite the attention of
dealers in Paper Hangings..
..in our retail department we have paid special atten
tion to tasteful designs suiting Philadelphia taste.
Rooins ,P a Pered by selected men.and -warranted to give
satisfaction. JOHN H. LONGSTRETH,
a,pb-lm« N0.,1g North.THIRD Street. .
E R R’S ~ \
FURNISHING, CHINA AND GLASS ESTABLISH
■■ ' ■ MENT, ■
CHINA HALL. 5«9 CHESTNUT STREET,
DIRECTLY-OPPOSITE INDEPENDENCE BALL, PHILADELPHIA.'
Hotels, restanrante, and shipping supplied. China
and glass packed in a proper manner.
N. B.— China decorated to order; also, initials and
eresfce elegantly engraved on table glass.
Order, by mail promptly attended to. mhl7-lm
®|V JJ-'tisg,
The Rebels, Forty Thousand Strongs
vauve Agninst lire Federal Fosition of
Suffolk—They. are Shtllcd by the Guh«
boats and Retreat Five Miles—The Attack
Expected to be Renewed—General Keyes
in C.ommand of our Forces. -
[Special Correspondence of Tlie Press] : v
April 12,
e - a y ,
For-a week past we had various' indications- that'
the rebels contemplated: an attack upon this post' in
force $ perhaps anticipating that" all our available
troops had been sentto Charleston* and that success
would be easy. How* delusive - the anticipation
proved youhave doubtless already learned 1 by tele
graph } and it ismy purpose now simply to give you
such details of the c-mrute .as came under my ,own
observation. ’ -
About four o’clock yesterday (Saturday); after-'
noon, the long roll waß beaten, and* instantly the
• startling news spread from mouth to mouth that an-*
immense force of - the enemy was approaching the
town. The excitement which , prevailed among the
civic portion ; of our population, for a-while, defies -
description. Women and children ran wildly about,.
with no apparent-purpose but to add to-the con
fusion. Men of ordinary intelligence and large fami
lies looked as though - frightened’Outof; their wits,’,
and-there was unusual-bustling,.and shouting; and*
packing up of goods.
General Peck hurried forth from his-headquarters
sprang into his saddle, and dashed ofTat a tremen
dous pace. Turning the first street corner, his horse
stumbled,- and the- General was--thrown, to the
ground; and considerably injured. In - consequence
of this most untimely accident, he was-compeiledio
use a carriage, in which he was-driven rapidly from
point to point, and from which the necessary orders
were rapidly issued.
The rebels were approaching .the works- by two
roads, and apparently in divisions of equal strength.-
One of the divisions came-forward* by, the- South
Key road, and the other came-by the Western.road.
They were about three miles distant, and had*
emerged from,the cover of the woods in line of bat
tle.' A body of our troops, including cavalry, moved
out about half a mile from the workV to meet them,
and some skirmishing ensued. The casualties on
our side were few, and the enemy, who suffered con«
siderably from the fire of our gunboats on Narise
mond river, did not seem inclined to approach much,
-nearer the town, which is encircled with well* con
structed lines of breastworks, and has likewise seven
forts.
606.
Afrlength, about dusk, they were compelled to give
way before the brisk shellings to which the gunboats
treated them, and retired rather precipitately to*, a
distance of five miles. Their numbers are not defi
nitely known. Numerically they are, perhaps,
Btrongerthan us. Colonel Gregg, of the llothdYew
York Regiment, estimates that they were fifty thou
sand strong,
Previous to their retreat,, a notable incident, illus
trating the accurate aka pf our sharpshooters, oc
curred. The rebels had got possession of one of our
abandoned signal stations, outside of the te»jyn, and
one of them mounting to the top of it—a,, height of
about a hundred feet—began to: wave-a flag, as
though transmitting some message. Captain Arnold,
taking four sharpshooters of his command, proceed-,
ed to a position about eightyrfive rods from thesta
, tion,-where the rebel cavalry could not reach them.
One: of the men then “drew a bead” and pulled
trigger. As tlie smoke curled. away, we could see
the rebel fall irom the tower, and whirl downward
through the air like a log, tlie signal-flag fluttering
behind him. No more rebels were seen to climfeto
the top of the station during the day.
Before the skirmishing had commenced. General
Peck ordered all the women and children to
leave the town—an order which it is almost needless
to say most of them had anticipated. ;
The troops / slept upon their arms last night. At
two o’clock this afternoon, asl write this, theenemy
are again in sight. It is their, purpose, if possible,
to attempt the capture of both Norfolk and this
post.. If: they should be rash enough to atteinptto
carry the works here by assault, they will be re
pulsed with great slaughter.
Gen. Keyeß has arrived here from Norfolk, andis in
command of the troops. Gen. Peck’s injuries are
notvery severe.. He is riding around in a carriage
to-day.
Gapt. Bowditch,;6f commissary of sub
sistence, was killed on Wednesday. .He was riding
upon a train of cars which in some manner ran off
the drawbridge. S.
COL. KIMBALL ACCIDENTALLY KILLED.
Suffolk, April 12.—Colonel Kimball, of the 9th
New. York V olunteers (Hawkins’ Zouaves); is dead.
He was accidentally shot. Oapt. Graham,
SKETCH OF COLONEL KIMBALL.
Acting Colonel Edgar A. Kimball, reported killed,
was a native of Vermont, and for many years wag
connected with the New York Herald establishment.
At the breaking out of the Mexican war he received
a commission as captain in the 9th/Regiment United
States Infantry (regulars),- dating from March 8,
1847. .He was brevetted major for gallant and meri
torious conduct in : the battles of Contreras v-and
Churubusco. The brevet was datedfrom August 20,
1847, and was awarded in August, 1848. He also be
came distinguished, in the battle' of Chepultepec.
Those who knew Major Kimball need not be told
how braveand undaunted a maa he was when the
music was the roar of the battle. It was he who
ascended the summit of Chepultepec with Colonel
Seymour, of Connecticut, and with him struck down
the Mexican flag thatßoated there, and planted the
starß and stripes place. . It was a splendid act,
and won the admiration of the gallant soldiers who
saw it, as it did the applause of the country when it
heard of it. His regiment'was disbanded on the
26th of August, 1848, and Major Kimball left .the
service and received an appointment in the New
York custom house.
The breaking out of the rebellionbrought from, his
Srivacy the subject of our sketch, and on-the 13th
ay of May, 1861, he was commissioned, maior of
the 9th New York State Volunteers; better known
as/the Hawkins Zouaves. The regiment, which
was enlisted for two years’ service, was first sent to
Fortrcas Monroe and afterwards to Newport News,
where it formed a portion of the late General Mans
field’s brigade. In August, 1861, in company with
the Turner Rifles, the command went on an expedi
tion up the Peninsula, after which they, were trans
ferred to Fortress Monroe. When General Burn-:
side organized his North Carolina expedition the
9th New York Volunteers was one of the regiments
selected, and was attached'to General J. C. Parkes 5
brigade, the 3d of that division. It will be remem
bered that at the battle of Roanoke, on February 7,
1862, Major Kimball led the ,9th Zouaves along the
causeway at a double quick to storm the rebel works,
which were-carried at H \the point of the bayonet.
This was one of the most charges during the
war. From the account it would seem to have been
the most daring .onset in that action, bo fearfully
crowded as it was with and splendid-deeds.
Itwas'regarded by one writer as the turning point
of the action. While the Massachusetts 21st and 51st
New York charged the battery to the right, the left
wiDg of Hawkins’ Zouaves, with Major Kimball,
charged up the road in the face of the works, at which
the panic-stricken rebels fled, and the place was
taken, the Massachusetts and New York colors
floating from the parapet, amid cheers that.Bhook
the forest. George F. Betts, the lieutenant-ccdonel
of the regiment, having resigned his command. Ma
jor Kimball was promoted to the Vacant position,
with a commission dated from February 14,1862, ana
awarded March 1,1862. On the 14th of March, 1862,
he took part in the -battle-of- Newbern, acquitting
“himself nobly. On the 2d of April, 1862 ; the colonel *
of the regimentwas appointed acting brigadier gene
ral of the Ist brigade, 3d division, 9th Army corps, and
theßubjectofoursketch was placedin command of the
9th Regiment New York Volunteers. This position
he held from that date to the time of his death. He
also took part in the reduction of Fort Macon, April
25, 1862. Shortly after the seven-days battles the
command,with others, was ordered to the Peninsula,
thence to Fredericksburg, which was held until some
time after the battle of Cedar Mountain/ in August
last. Colonel Kimball participated in the battles of
South'Mountain, September 14, 1862, and Antietam,
September 17,186*2, in General Rodman’s division.
At Fredericksburg, December 13,1862, he served in*
General Burn&’ division, of the Ninth army corps,
then under General Wilcox, in General Sutnner’B
right grand division. At4he beginningof February
last, or about the end of January, the Ninth army
corps was moved to Newport News and placed under
the command of General Wm. F, Smith. Thence it *
proceeded to its present destination under the com
manders who now have it in charge. Colonel Kim
ball, however, was at Suffolk when he was killed.
Col. Kimball was Democratic in politics, but liberal,
enlightened, and tolerant. He was for some years
the printer (for printing is his trade) and editor of
the Woodstock;(vt.) Age, which journal he.lcft to
raise a company in the late Colonel Ransom’s New
England or 9th United States Regular Regiment, at
the outbreak of our war with Mexico. During the
Administrations of Pirrce and Buchanan— we be
lieve both—he held the appointment in the New
York custom-houße, the duties of .which post he dis
charged with faithfulneßß and integrity.
From memoranda kept by Captain J. H. Upton,
secretary of the American Shipmasters l Association,
we have arranged the following list of captures by
the rebel privateers:
By Privateer Savannah. —Brig Joseph, Myers, May
fey* Steamer Nashville.—Ship Harvey Birch, Nelson,
November 19. . v--. x ,„
By Privateer. Sumpter.—Brig. Albert Adams, Cou
sins, July 3, sugar; brig,Benjamin.Dunning,-Farney,
July 3, sugar; brig Cuba, J. G. Foster,. July.l, sugar;
hark Eben Dodge, Hoxie; schooner Golden Rocket, Pen
dleton, July 4, in ballast; bark LouisaKilham, White,
July 3, sugar: brig Macliiae, Shoppey,. July 3, sugar;
brig Naiad, Chase, July 2, sugar; hark West Wind,
Saunders, July 4, sugar; bark Neapolitan, Burdett,
Feb. S; schooner DanielTrowbridge, W. H. Morrow.
By Privateer Winslow. Schooner Transit, H.
Knowles; schooner Herbert, Martin.
By Privateer Calhoun.—Schooner John Adams, C.
B. Areial, May —, oils; schooner Mermaid,;Soper, May
—.oils; brig Panama, Cook, May 24. oils.
By Unknown Privateer.—Schooner A. B, Thompson,
J. M. Small, in ballast; brig B. T. Martin,'
French; brig Hans trir Balch; Matthews, sugar,-Ac.;
brig Lydia Frances, Campbell; schooner T
By Steamer St. - Nicholas.—Schooner Mary Pearce,
June—, ice; schooner Margarett, June —, coal; hrig
Monticello, Hopkins, June 29, coffee. - ;
_By Privateer Jeff. Davis.—Schooner Enchantress,
Devereaux, July 8, miscellaneous; schooner J. R. Wat
son, Eldridge; schooner S. J. Waring, Smith, July 8,
miscellaneous.
By Privateer Eoit.o—Schooner Mary GoodelVMcGil
vey, July 9, sugar; brig Mary E. Thompson, Havener,
July 9, miscellaneous; brig John Welsh, Fifield, July 6,
lumber. •
By Ihvateer Alabama.— Bark-Alert, Church, Oct.
lo; brig Alabama, Oct. ship Benjamin Tucker, Sept.
—; ship Brilliant, Geo. Hager, Oct. 3, miscellaneous
sc i r » P°t. —; schooner Crenshaw, Nelsou-
Oct. 26 ; hvi g Chastelain e.. Warren, Jau. 23. brig D ad, •.
kirk, Johnson; bark EUsba Dunbar, Davidß. Giffor, -
Sept.; IS; ship. Golcen Eagle, Swift; bark Golden liule''
Whitebury, Jam-26; G. “B. Hatteras, PartridgeVsliip'
Levi Starbuck, Mellen, • Dec 12; -bark Lamplighter,
Bardingvbark Laurcttc, Wells; ship Lafayette;.Small;.
Manchester; ship OcmuJgee. ship Ocean'
Rover, Oct, ; bark Olive Jane, Kallock, Feb. 21; bark
Parker Cook, FnJton, Nov. 36; schooner Palmetto, 0 H.
Belaud, Feb. 27; schooner Starlight, Oct. —: shipThos.
B. Wales, Lincoln, Dec. 13; hark .Virginia, s. R.Tilton,
Bent. 17; Wave. Crest; schooner Weathergnage, Oct.
Oct. —; ship John A. Park; ship.BetliialThayer.
By Privateer Florida.— Schooner Aldobaran, Hand, ■
March ; brig Corris Ann, Small, Jan. 26; brig Estetla,
Brown. Jan. 24;ship Jacob Bell, -Trisbce,'March2; ship
Star of Peace, Hinckley, March —; ship Washington; •
White, Feb. 20; brig Windward, Roberts, Jan. 26.
New York, April 14. California battaliou, three
hundred and thirty-seven stroug, under Major Thomp
son, arrived in the steamer Ocean Queen, and wilt go to
Boston this afternoon, to join the Massachusetts cavalry
regiment.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 18®.
DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA,
Depredations on our Commerce*
Arrival oftlic California Battalion,
PHILADELPHIA. WEDNESDAY. APRIL 15; 1863.
SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON.
CHARLESTON EXPEDITION.
A SPIRITED ATTACK ON THE REBEL DEFENCES,
Two Hours’ JTiglittng.
TIIE LINKING OF TEE KEOKUK.
S'esy Iron?kies Hard Aground, but not
Mu&i Injured,
THE C A S,li'Ali Tl E S VERY LIGHT
WAILS OF FORT SIIMPm BREACHED,
Tfee-. Attack Temporarily Postponed.
THE- RETURN ®F ARMY ANJ KAYS' TO
HILTON HEAD.
THE' mUAELE -INFORMATION A'CiIUIREB,
latest Rebel R®pori&
MONITORS KEPAIREB AND RETURNING.
Baltic on-tlic Coosaw River—The CimLoat
GcoEgc Washington Uesiroyert.
. THE FIRST HAY.
On Board the-Nantasebt,
' OiiARLES'FON'i Tuesday, April 77.
[Special Correspondence of The Press, j 1 .
In,my last'lotter 1 informed ■yoiir readers that the
iron-clad fleet' about to assault 1 the defences' of
Charleston, was* yesterday occupied whc-lly ia a-se
-lies-of preliminary manamr-rea which had'resulted
■ in tlreir-getting' aafely within' the bar, where-they
’ anchored for themight. liefc me now proceed to na
rrate, in the diiyointed form of a diary/ which lack.of
; time compels merto adopt, the to-day.
At ten o’clock.tMa morning.-.we streamed out to' the
' Newlronsides-ostensibly for the purpose $£ deliver
; ing some lett©rs~to her ofllcessj.trut really with a de
sign of seeing, whatever.was-tO 'be Been in.the shape
• of news,’and talcing note of it-to print. The- mam*
> moth battery “(on hazy.morninga, at. a distance of a
mile, we have several times-mistaken her for Fort
; Sumpter) lay. within a mile*. of the- Morris Island
shore. She was ready to go.into action, ao- was the
rest of tho- fleet, as soon, as-the- signal should
.be given. Her decks were covered* w-ith/sand
; bags, which were being moistened by water
played from'a hose; iron-plating; was co
vered with a thick coat of? tallow ; herguns thrust
: their grim muzzles at us- frowningly through the
• open porta-, and through, these ports the gunners’
crews could he seen ranged at their quarters. On
the bleak, desolate waste of sand that marked the
coast; wA could plainly perceive, without the aid of
a spy-rglass, hundreds af moving about and
watching us with a curious interest; .Tust back,
apiece of the main group, a battery, which-wan
. believed to be the battery above- Morris Island
beacon, was faintly discernible. 2-t was the first
. rebel work we had seen, and appeared to be fully.
, manned, while, in addition to tha- men we had first
another- company of rebel troops, moving
with came marching down towards it.
This was one of the three or four coast batteries.,
upon which th© tenure of Cummings’Point depend
ed, which acceanted for the number of troopa posted
to hold it. They did not deign to fire a single shot
at us, but, doubtless, the details of all our : move-"
ments were carefully noted by them, and transmitted
■ to Charleston by means of signals. Having watched :
them, until we grew blind, and the Ironsides not,
giving any indications of an intention to begin the
fight, for a little while we proceeded Jo the mouth
of the North channel, to await the developments of
the day.
10. 30 A. M.—A five-gun battery on Sullivan’s Island
openB fire briskly, but certainly not in the expecta
tion of reaching the iron-clads, which are all out of
range. Still, the firing is continued with muohre
; gularity Jor about ten minutes, and the shells are
seen bursting in mid-air or casting up spouts of wa
-1 ter, that bubble up here and there in the channel like
so many fountains. In a little while a rebel gunboat -
is seen moving down the channel between Cuni
mings’-Point and Sumpter. Her progress is marked
with breathless interest, and the prospect of an ex
citing engagement between opposing iron-clads is
eagerly discussed. But in ten minutes comes disap
• pointmeht, for the rebel crafthas changed her course
. .jmd-paeßcd out of-view behind'the fort. The spires
of Charleston and' the Castle Pinckney are:
now plainly .in sight'in our present position ; for we
have moved up the , Sulliyan-Island chahnelj and
Breach Inlet is somewhat over-two miles to oiirright.
About a mile above Breach Inlet, 1 bn Sullivan’s
Island, is a splendidly-constructed .'Band-battery,
mounting several'2oo-potind rifle guns. They have
just .opened on the iron-clad steamer Bibb, which
had been taking soundings in the main
three hours past, hut is now anchored a quarter of a
mile ahead of us, and about two shipsviengths of
General Hunter’s flagship, Ben de Ford. The,shots
- all'fall - wide of the mark, and the Bibb does not
trouble herself to hoist anchor.
11 A. Mi—The iron-clads areV still inactive*
and/ blowing off steam. The ‘rebel- ram. has
again made her appearance, and again retired
. under the cover of Sumpter’s walls. The'bat
tery above Breach Inlet still fireß with some
approach to regularity; but the gunners now
seem to be wholly intent upon getting, the pro
per range to salute the fleet when it shall advance
. sufficiently. / -
1.30 F. M.—The iron-clads have at last begun to
move up the main ship channel, and in the following
order; as nearly as wc can perceive.: -
Weehawken.
Passaic,- .V-;-
Patapsco, ‘
Montauk,
..Ironsides,
. .. Catskill, - /
. -Nantucket,
-'Nahant, •' <
... Keokuk. :d..v-
They move very cautiously and,slowly/ so. slowly •
that we believe they are in motion, The
■Weehawken must certainly be within half a mile of •
the narrowest portion of the channel, where it is not
impossible that torpedoes or other obstructions have
been placed. The problem Will be solved definitely
before many minutea have passed. -
'2.20 P. M.—Fort Sumpter fires a volley from her
nortbeastern harhette guns,' and speedily she is en
veloped in a dense volume of smoke that settles
down heavily on the scene like a pall, and threatens
to interfere with ounview of operations, although our
little steamer is not three miles from, the fort, and
we can readily perceive the smell of burnt powder.
Besides, the atmosphere, which was clear as crystal
in the forenoon, has become most annoyingly’hazy,*
and our observations are anythingbut satisfactory.
None of the: batteries on Morris Island, have yet
broken silence, although the Weehawken and Pas
saic have passed directly in range of them. What
does; it mean I is the universal inquiry. Is it the
old rebel Bysiem of tactics-apparent inactivity and
, lack of vigilance, to be followed by some startling
coup? That .is the’only explanation generally ac
credited. Ten minutes pass—ten minutes of .won
der and strange anxiety, and fruitless specula
tion—and then the silence is disturbed by the
heavy booin of Fort Moultrie’s first gun. Then, be
fore the smoke has fairly foiled away, two other guns
from the sand batteries just below Moultrie add their
weight of metal to the iron storm that rains'down
upon tlie Weehawken. Still, unchecked, the gallant
little battery moves up the channel with the; daunt
less air of conscious impregnability,, and I 'with a
* silence which cannot be provoked into-reply, Sfie
turns neither to the right hand nor to the left; but
proceeds directly onward in her course with a steadi
ness that never wavers in the hottest lire. It .is a
grand spectacle, worthy to be perpetuated on im
perishable canvas, to see that little vessel, a mere
speck upon the waters, yet freighted with how many
gallant lives, gliding so calmly through the fiery
.tempest, and;under the muzzles of the most formi-;
‘dable guns that human ingenuity ever devißed!
2.32.—At last the Weehawken deigns to reply to
the fire of Sumpter, from which BheAppcars to us to
be about half a mile distant. She is, therefore, di
rectly under the crossfires of Cummings’. Point and
. Moultrie now, and Beveral shells have just burst
above her. Attached to her prow is the torpedo
raft for blowing up obstructions, which was in
vented by Captain Ericsson; Captain Kodgcrs was
the only • commander in the fleet sufficiently un
prejudiced to be willing to accord it atrial. He did
not attaeh it to his vessel in the manner designed
by the inventor, but fastened it on with chains. He
was unwilling to have the torpedo suspended from
the front of the raft ; perhaps apprehending-fchat it
■might damage.himself more than the enemy,' asit
explodes by fiction, and an accident might easily
occur in manoeuvring in such a narrow channel;
The general objection urged .against the employ
ment of the raft, when the several commanders
were: applied to some days ago toteßt it, was the
assumption that it would interfere with the steering
of the vessel, which, upon experiment made at Port
Royal, was found to be not the case. But the ex
periment was postponed .unnecessarily for twenty
five days, and after it had taken place, it failed to
silence opposition. It is the misfortune of inven
tive genius that it must fight against a host of pre
judices single-handed. ■
3.05 P.M.—The contest has fairly begun, and
Sumpter belches forth flame and smoke and the
heaviest of shot from her southeastern barbettes.
The Weehawken doeß not respond for a full five
minutes. Both she and the Passaic have contrived*
to get within close range of the fort, and for a time
are hidden from our view-in smoke. They seem to
have got so close that the barbette guns of the fort
caDnot be sufficiently depressed to bear upon them,
and the lower casemates have-accordingly com
m enaed to thunder The Patapsco and Mon--
. tnuk have now taken a hand in the contest, the roar
.ofwhich has become almoßt deafening. The very
heavens shake with the echoing peals of the’artil
lery, and even the waters of the harbor seeni to be
upheaving. And yet there are no grand salient fea
tures of the scene before us to invite graphic de
scription. A naval engagement is a totally different
. affair now-a-days from what it was in 1612, in the
dayß of the Constitution and Guerriere.
The tools wherewith men manufacture history
have been improved beneath the magic touch of sci
ence; and now wc see . nothing of ‘ “ grim-visaged
war ” but a massive stone fortress, and some half a
dozen black spots, which wc presume to be the mo
nitors ; and dense clouds of Bmoke. There is little
else lor the keenest eye to see; little else for the
boldest imagination to ground a pleasure in; little
else for the most vivid fancy to grasp, or the moat
graphic pencil to record in striking colors; For an
affaifc destined to Btir the heart of the nation* to - its
depths, and to survive in the memory of men* as
long as history shall live, it was astonishingly'tanie
and prosy. If the iron-ciada had been mere calcula
ting machines, and were simply vieing with .Forts
Moultrie and Sumpter to work out. a problem of
arithmetic, it would have possessed almost as much
interest, except, of course, in > the associations cdq--
nected with it, the results anticipated to flow
from it, . Fort Beauregard, for.instance, would fise*
five guns, like a. couniryßchoolmaster giving out an*
easy sum to the mohfffirs, that stood ranged in w
row like pupils. Then the Weehawken or the Pas
saic would be silent Jor live-or ten minutes, hesita-
as though befogged by the, smoke.
■Havingsbeen silent long enough to 2 reckon up the
Atmtteron their fingers, as it were, they would roar
out.an answer, and-move forward a- little nearer to
the an unsentanental observer, rtmust
have verged elightly on the oonfines ef tedium j but
still itwas historical, and ccnscquentW ii'musthave
been sublime.-
3.16 P; M.--Osr entire fleetrhas not fiaed-more
twelve shots in reply to the two hundred'and fifty
or three hundred that have come fro nr the'enemy.
*AISf hibw tSere is a prospect in th'e pro*,
gramme-- A rebel-ifon-cladis reported to'have'ju-st
appeared in view south of Sucfipter. Dhe- is, no>
doubt/the ’a&me craft that appeared to us; this-fore
iiooii. /.Sheis not'particularly gratified with the ap-“
pearaiiCjS of oair iron-clads,. and a'few minutes
gracefully retires* behind the' scsneß.- Me-anwhile- i
the Weeli'awk-en, otill’in the advance, has inured up •
the cbiSnhelslowly, Hut irresistiblyias fate, without'
enpouniering any of the torpedoes-that sup--
posed to cross- lrom Moultrie to the shoals. The
other; iioa-clads: follow her at interrals-of about a’
ihurth of a mile, and; of course, shsievin the warm••
%hich from nearly two hun-- •
dred pieces of artillery. And nowthe Ironsides,*
within close range of ST&mpter, on& of
the southeaitbarbetles'ia-trained upoaher; - The shot !
rzchochetS; however, and‘falls short;
. 3:20 P.-M. —Just here an incident of
ludicrous-, character occurred. Oiir steamer, tlie
Nantasketj ia-lying-now'in the North Otaannel,- and;
Breach Inlet'is miles to oup right. 1 'VF&-
are keeping company with the steamerßibb, aod !
Gen. Hunierrsfiag'ship, lie Ford, having, a - hawser*
to the lajter. We are the only three craft in the vis—
cinity, ail others -having retired to a more respeefcfcl
distaiiceironi the scene of operations. Of course,-alt*
eyas-are turned westwardly to Sumpter; Suddenly
a- Tribune . correspondent,, looking nooth,» exclaims'*
“that’s.fqr We turzr*about, and ante enougbi
from the ;hattery above the Inlet, “ a little featherof;
snowrwhite smoke” is curling upward;- Atsecond
passeSTa/shofr screams overhead— a scene>
of panic and Gonfusion prevails for a moment on.the
deck, .to which.nothing but the -pencil .of
a- Hogarth' would do justice. Correspondents drop*
flat upon their faces as though stricken .by\a suddem
palsy. Our oaptaitt disappeared : upoa.the -instant,:
and is notsesn for at least an hour afier. The tall*,
form of the pilot is seen to-glide down.one of the*
gangs to thp-main-deck like an arrow-, whilea. num?.
her of demented beings are the lad-,
der, which’upsets itself just in that-critical mo*.
. inent. It'•is questioaablc whether the darkest
days of the French revolution could* equal, the
horror of.ithis, inoment. Somebody has cast
off the Ben De Fond’s hawser:: we are steam?
ing away’ to a safer spot, at- the rate of
thirteen knots an hour, and then a roar of. laughter:
announces'that every one is willmg to regasd the
incident joke. In the twinkling of an.eye,.too,
the Ds Foid hauls up.anchor and follows. The shot
. which wsm’intended for us muat have miscarried,
- for it had'struck her< rigging, cutting it, grazed her
port bow, and plumped into the water. Considering
our distance from the battery (at least three miles),
lie shot waß excellently aimed. The second and
last shot they fired, during the day, struck the water
just in therspot we had vacated. Some of the Do
Ford folks/tried, in a most uncln-iatian spirit, to
create a.laugh against us, but a witty correspondent
turned it off with the remark that we had “silenced
the first battery, anyhow!”
3.25.— Th£.= Ironsides pours a broadside of seven
guns against the northeast face of Sumpter. Shortly
. after this f got aground, owing to the great diffi
culty experienced in steering her, biit managed
fortunateljjrto get afloat again. The Patapsco has
just managed to get within a few hundred yards of
the northeast face of Sumpter/.and is “blazing
away ” witS comparative impunity. The barbettes
cannot her,' and the fire of Fort Moultrie does
•as much damage to Sumpter as it does to the little
wasp. Sh&Vill not he easily dislodged.
3.45.—As we can see through the curtain of
■ smoke the «itire fleet is now in action, firing very
slowly,
whose guns make one continuous roarj varied with
a sharp, ciacking-Teport occasionaily, as though
. embraced somo
rihed guns.*' The fire is not'as. heavy
as ihwas hftlf an hour. ago. Ilex first shot at the
Keokuk entered the aft
very, soori.became. evident that she qpuid not with
; stand the hot fire to which she was subjected, her
great surface rendering her a more conspicuous mark
_than were the monitors. Severalof the latter, there
fore, interpose themselves to shield her, and thus
;draw the fire of Sumpter themselves.
-4.10 P. M-.—The Ironßides, for some inexplicable
cause, iB coming- down the channel again; It is
feared that she has been disabled, and yet there are
no signs of injury visible, and. from the freedom.of
her ihotion it iB clear that her machinery is all right.
The fire of Sumpterhas slackened very considerably,
and the principal portion of the work has devolved
.-upon Moultrie, Battery .Beauregard, and Battery
Bee. • The Iveokuk' 1 lies/ probably, three hundred
yawls from Sumpter, and has fired two of her guns.
A tremendous fire is concentrated upon her. The
Ironsides seems to have ceased work for the day.
6 P. Hl.—The monitors do not respond to any fire
; but that from Fort Sumpter, and are making the
most of what little., daylight remains, by trying to
batter in the northeast wall. The Ironsides is again
aground, and is being partially shielded, as the Keo
kuk was, by the interposition of a portion of the
fleet, which previously, for an hour or more, had
: been hammering at the southeastern angle of Sump
ter, and, unless our glasses greatly deoeive us, had
effected a breach near the.parapet. There is a maga
zine in this co) Tier, so that their purpose was very
I>lain.
5.20 P. HL—The firing has ceased for to*day, and
'.thefleet.is coming down,in,the track of theiron
sides. ‘The'Weehawken is loth to leave, and lingers
behind until sunset.- . The Ironsides fires a.parting
Vsaluteto Cummings’ Point, but the rebels make no
’ response. ’
The Keokuk has come out of the struggle in a ;
most dilapidated .condition, having suffered worse:
than any other, vessel in the fleet. . She was .Btruck
three hundred times, her armor was pierced com
' pletely-through in four or five places, and in her
bow there is a hole big enough to thrust a man’s
head in; and to make the matter as bad as possible,
it is but a few inches above the water line. Nine of
her iqrew, including Commander Ehind, were
wounded. The wounds were all caused by frag-,
ments of flying bolts,, and none of them, except in
the case of Ensign Mclntosh, who was struck in the
/head, will result fatally. The. Keokuk cannot’go
into action to-morrow. Solid shot are imbedded in
every part of her armor, like so manyplumß in a
spudding.
.. You recollect the negro, Robert Small, who ran
off from Charleston, some months ago, with a rebel
Schooner and crew, and took them to New York,
where he became quite a lion for a time. When his
fame had lulled a bit, he came down to Hilton Head,
and started an oyster Baloon. Well, Robert is pilot
of the Keokuk now, and one better acquainted with
the vagaries of Charleston harbor would be hard to
: find. Of course, he was in the pilot-house to-day,
and of course lie enjoyed an excellent opportunity
’ bfviewing the fight; He declares positively that they
ran to within 120 yard sof the for fc. If he had his way
the Keokuk would-have been run right up to the
Wharf. .In fact, he -wbh very much'excited, and ex
claimed : “ We’ll . fight ’em muzzle to muzzle, d—n
’m 1” ‘Commander Rhind, though quite as earnest
of-purpose,’had more, self-control, however,: and
halting at,, a distance of about four huhdredyards
from Port Sumpter, he flung his vessel round, in
tending rthaf the'front turret should attend to. that
the aft turret to Moultrie ; but as
f h’ave k aid, ; ; the very first’ shot recelvedfrom the.
first-mentioned fort knocked the aft turret, meta
phorically speaking, into- “pi,” and sealed the muz
zle of-its gun with silence. It was not many mi
nutes after, that another shot entered the pilot
house where Robert was taking Mb observations.
Of course it Bt&rtled him a little, aB it would have
startled the bravest man on earth,-but his coolness'
'never once deserted him, and his temper was equa
lized; almost at the same moment by. noticing a'
“cart-load of bricks,” as he expressed it, Hying
from the northeast walls. That fact helped much to
calmf down the aggravating circumstance, that du
ring the entire action the vessel was only able to
fire four shots.
I visited the unfortunate craft this afternoon just
after she came out of the Captain
Rhind had been struck above the right ankle with a
fragment of bolt,;but tlie wound,. although painful,
was not of a serious character,' and he was giving,
directions to his officers with his usual courteous
demeanor. He informed ub that the rebel fire 1 per
fectly rained upon their armor. It was one con
tinuous’ about as deafening as the din
produced in a boiler-shop when eight or ten hundred
men are hammering away simultaneously. The
simplest orders liad to be,shouted in stentorian tones,
so that some of the officers became hoarse, and
all aggravated. The bolts flew in all directions (as
they did in the original Monitor when she fought
the Merrimac), .and .consequently ;the iron-plaiting
became*.strained or loosened, and the. vessel began:
to leak before night had set in. -
From the Keokuk we proceeded to visit the iron
clad steamer Nahant. Upon inquiry it was ascei>
tained that she;had been less unfortunate, but that*
Bhe had nevertheless sustained damage. One of her
crew was killed, and three were wounded. Com
mander Downes received a slight wound in the foot,
but, like the commander of the Keokuk,he was “ ir
repressible.” His vessclhad done good service, until
she was in a measure disabled, having fired twenty
six shots, all of which told upon the walls of Sump
ter. Towards the cloße of the fight her turret from
some cause or other refused to. revolve. The mis
chief was easily repaired in a couple of hours to
night, and at tlxis writing she is able to
join in the engagement to-morrow should it be re
newed. - . ,v.
The Montauk fired twenty-eight shots, exceeding
in thia respect every other monitor. Although ex
posed for two hours to the concentrated fire of the
heaviest artillery, including, it is believed, several
of/, the Blakely guns, neither her deck nor turret
was any where pierced or shattered. She bears an
intidUe number of honorable indentations, and may
not be qu ’ite as symmetrical as she was yesterday;
but in the matter of effectiveness Bhe ranks as high
as ever, anu\ her officers and crew have confidence
that she is.iL wulnerablc against any ordnance that
can be broug ht to bear upon her by the enemy-n-a
feeling not-' 1l in the least by the singular
circumsthnce ti ’lat but one of. her crew was killed,
being struck by a piece of bolt. Iliß name I have
hot yet learned. „
The Catskill was ’ not severely damaged, although,
struck’thirty-two ti. mes * No casualties occurred on
board of her; nor w. * s there anything novel or ex
citing in her experiei \ ce - simply did the work
assigned her in a plain'. business way, and came out
of the eonflict as neat i" G appearance, and as sound
in all fier vital parts, aB 1 when she entered it. Her
commander, George Rod, ?ers, received the signal to
Retire with anything but ' satisfaction, and is only
anxious that operations,m ';ay be resumed “the first
thing in the morning.” a
The Ironsides reeeived one ®h°fc in her starboard
bow, which was stopped by h ® r barricades or sand
bags placed on deck r One of her ports waß carried
away- completely.: The numb? -r two port on her
starboard side - *vas - struck; on © of the bolts was
started, and another - carried. aN Y fl y- 01 her other
misfortunes—of her gating twice ’ aground, I have
already infonrrHd* The cliffit \ulty lay partly in
her steeling geer, and’ partly in th e narrow size of
the channel, occupied’ sa- it was by the other eight
iron-clader I reg Tot tO havs'.to say tl lat she fired but
‘.eight guirsin the<?ngagement; one-bre 'adside of seven
j guns into Sumpter; and onegun at Oni timings’ Point.
| She at one time approached s to within L 2OO yat’ds of
; Sunqiter, but her armor-provadasufficie witprotection
' lo her at her e normous ex*
tent-of surface, she at' occe - ata -rget for the
: rebel gunners. At the counciU of war he Id on board
Her last night,' Admiml Dupont' resolved -to go in in
; advance of the othe? iron-cladfe*, and to rtttack the
; northwest face of tberYdrt; provided it v>as found
; practicable lt» get ,higft* enoughuffp the channel, the
I wadis being'weaker on‘the i sides i neareßt Ch pleston,.
■ as-we already too well know, ad vantage
[ expected to -be gained? by-this: lay in "the fact
• that it would render 1 a) ad Fort
p.Wagoner impotent for harm; while the enemy
jeouffl not concentrate aif heavy a-ffre upon us'.Above'
| as below the fort; Bufc ifthe’lro
n\ sidea-should lead-the vanithe" othwr v'essels • would
| be so cramped for room that’they could not bi-sope
rated to as m u erh adv a n tvsge,- .whil et fiei mpoa si ’ tility
' of forcing a channel through -the* first line oJf ob
' struction, and thus getcing- above- ‘the fort, was
; afterwards demonstrated' by the ill-success of -the
; Weehawken, which attempted the task. Had one
= of the monster’ torpedoes- containing- <2X) pound£A>JT r ,
; ]x>wder- been attached-/to- lier-- raft and. exploded
i againsjt-theee obstructions, it-is possible-that a chßa--;
|nel might have-been cleared. It i3-even claimed
; that torpedoes; of-the same-description? can clear rV;
channe-Ififty feet-wide. But-the experiment was net?
/ tried, and the fleet coulffi not ascend- the harbor..
• Accordingly, they did tho-next .best thing, and con- .
; centrated-their principal fire against tfie -northeasl - ". '
- face, but with what success- is.not.yet- definitely
: knoAvn.
• The Nantucket did notr get off scobfrae,- Her fif~
teen-inolTgim was disabled;.and her turret'dented in
at lcnat-a dozen places, butr-she sustained'no more
serious injuries. Commander Fairfax is* impatient
for tire morning, that'he may avenge these indigni
ties. He . deslares vehemently that he-oan-reduce
Fort Sumpt2r to bricltdu&t in three hours .;, and I
may say that, making due allowance for metaphori
cal license, there are many, officers in tke-fieet who
do not regard the pulverization of the grim-fortress.
impossible. There no casualties-on: the Nan
tucket. : > ,
The Weehawken deported herself in.the-coolest-,,
most energetic, and methodical of styles.-. Leading*
the fleet, she moved* as far up the channel.as it was
possible to go, and was within twenty rods of the
obstructions that stretch from Sumpter
Her officers state that they could see them arranged
in three lines. The first lines were not permanently
fixed, but floating to-, some extent,. Back of this
there appeared to be a row of beer barrels, in con
nection with heavy chain cables! 'What other ob
structions were t© be encountered could not be seen.
There were no casualties on board the Weehawken.
She fired twenty six guns,- the majority of which
struck the northeast wall of the fort.
The Patapsc© met little adventure that de
serves to be recorded among the narrow escapes.
While cruising around—in the endeavor,T presume,
to slip through the. obstructions—she became en
tangled in. the meshes of a submarine cable. The.,
solicitude of Commander Ammen at this untoward
occurrence may easily be conjectured. Neverthe
less, he cooly issued the requisite orders to the en
gineers ; they reversed the engines, and, after fifteen
minutes of tugging,‘ the vessel managed tp extricate
herself from her unpleasant dilemma; -The rebels
had at once perceived the situation she was in, and
"wnreirviews they were thwarted. Not a life .was
lost nor a wound received on the Patapßco during
the day. ;
• CASUALTIES ON THE KEOKUK.
Captain Rhind, slight contusion- above right
ankle. • ’
Alexander Mclntosh, acting ensign* several
wounds in face and forehead, and skull fractured;
cannot survive.
Charles McLaughlin, seaman,: wounded in right
knee.
W. McDonald, teaman, wounded, sliglitly in left
knee and wrist.
David Chaplin, seaman, contusion in left side.
James Ryan, seaman, wounded-in right thigh;
not dangerously.
. Charles B. Mott, landsman, slight wound in left
arm. '
Henry Snolls, seaman, wounded-in scalp; not
.seriously.-"' .--j •
John Brown, seaman, wounded in left temple,
slightly. ' « . : . -
Richard Nicholson, quartermaster, slight wound
in left shoulder. •
CASUALTIES ON THE NAHA.NT.
• Commander John Downes, wounded slightly in
foot.
Edw. Cobb, quartermaster, skull fractured,- dan
gerously. -
. Isaac Sofleld, pilot, wounded in neck and shoulder,
slightly.
J. McAllißter, seaman, wounded in head by a
piece of bolt.
One or two others received slight wounds. .
The rebels principally fired the English steel coni
cal Bhot, Their most effective batteries were Forts
Moultrie and Beauregard, the latter being a small
earthwork beyond Moultrie. . Fronfthese almost a
continuous fire was kept up. The fire from Sump
ter, on the contrary, was intermittent, sometimes
ceasing for three or four minutes together. Cur
monitors did not average over fifteen shots a piece,
takingfhe whole engagement, as will be seen by the
following approximate statement;
Vessels.
1r0n5ide5...........
Passaic
Weehawken
Patapsco
Montauk.....
Nautuckct '...
Oatskill
Keokuk....
Nahant............
The above is made up partly from actual count, and
partly from the statements of commanders, so that
lam unable to vouch for its entire accuracy. The
total; however, cannot be far wide of the mark. No
return waß received of the number of guns fired by
the Nantucket. .
To-night another council of war will be held on
thn Ironßideß. "What the nature of the deliberations
will be is of course only known to those who have
been summoned to be present. If the question be,
as I surmise it is, whether the oontest shall be re
newed to-morrow, I feel confident it will be settled
affirmatively 5 for, with the exception of the Keo
kuk, the damages inflicted upon the iron-clads, al
though disabling several of them for the time, are
Blight, and such.aß can be. speedily rectified. All
that they accomplished to-day was a most daring re
connoissancc j nor, in view of the fact that opera
tions were not commenced until three o’clock, do I
think that any thing more \vas intended to be accom
plished. The real work, the hardest portion of the
fighting, yet lies before us.
THE SECOND HAY.
Wednesday Evening, April 8.
The council held last night was prolonged far into'
this morning, not breaking up until 1 o’clock. The
determination arrived at, after mature consultation,
was that the engagement should tie continued to-day ;
but it has not been. Not a gun has been fired by
either, belligerent.,, The roughness of the water and
high wind have put a check to operations to-day.
The fleet liefl at anchorinthe inßide channel, the
vessels maintaining tlie same relative positions as
, v wheii they ceased firing yesterday. They do not lie
wholly out of range of the land batteries, but the
' rebels are not disposed to be troublesome while they
are “let alone?’
Yet there is one piece of important news, which, I
regret to say, must be recorded here. The Keokuk
sunk at twenty minutes past 8 o’clock this morning.
She' now lies in thV main ship-channel, off Morris
. Island, just above lighthouse inlet. All her officers
and crew were, fortunately, saved, and were taken
off in the navy tug. Ab I informed you yesterday,
she leaked badly when she came out of the action,
( but her pumps were set to work, and it was thought
she could be saved. The large hole in her bow, how
ever, finished her career for her. At low tide her
turret, smoke-stack, and flagstaff can be seen. She
can no doubt be raised; but whether she can be
made serviceable in her former capacity is, in my
opinion; questionable. At any rate, it seems impro
bable* that Bhb can be refitted up in time to assist the
fleet in the struggle jUBt inaugurated.
TMb morning both cannonading and musketry
were heardin the direction of Folly Island. IHb
believed that several regiments of our troops have
been -landed on the island, and that the rebels on
the ; southern extremity of Morris Island have been"
provoked ; therebyinto
against them.. Concerning our army movements,
however, it .is best that I should, be silent for the
present. General Hunter’s. combinations have not
yet been entirely perfected; but,; with favorable
weather, little delay can occur from this cause. ’
This afternoon the rebels were seen to be busily
engaged throwing up earthworks on the lower end
of Morris Island. ’Hundreds of them could be seen
at work, with pick and spade and wheelbarrows,
and some heavy guns have already been mounted.
They, seem determined that wc shall not find them
napping.
THE THIRD HAY.
Thursday Evening, April 9.
Nothing has been done by cither party to-day,
•looking to an immediate renewal of hostilities.
With the exception of the Patapsco, (which has
gone to Hilton Head, w it to reported, to guard
against a raid of one of the Savannah rams,) and the
Keokuk, the iron-clads have remained at anchor in
the main channel, extending over a length of about
two miles. Although within range of Fort Wagoner,
Battery Bee, Battery Beauregard, Fort Moultrie,
and, apparently, not out of range.of Sumpter, they
have not been molested. Whatever may be the
reason, .the enemy do not aeem at all disposed to pre
cipitate afl'airß. Perhaps they are no w engaged in
repairing, as far &b possible, the injuries they have,
received; for we know', to a certainty, that they suf
fered somewhat, although to what extent, we must
depend mainly upon the statements of the Charleston
papers to ascertain.
It is known that one of Sumpter’s barbettes was
dismounted by a shot.fromittie Nahant. One of her
officers states that on the-nor theast face of the fort,
iwhichreceivedour severest'fire, three-of the port
holes, viewed through a glass, appeared to be
knocked nearly into-one. A portion of the brick
work had evidently been battered away, for the ma
sonry was of a different color. As I reported in
Tuesday’s letter, a" breach appeared to-have been
made in the southeastern angle of the fort, up near
the parapet. Then Robert Small’s statement that
he “ saw a cart-load of bricks flying,” is reiterated
by numerous observers, and is entitled to some cre
dence. About half-past three o’clock on Tuesday
afternoon, when the rebeis were firing at the rate of
33gunB perminute, adense cloud of smoke sudden
ly rose from Cummings Point, and was instantly
followed by a tremendous report. It is believed by
some that one of the enemy’s magazines muSt have
exploded. The, volume of smoke was so heavy that
it was seen a distance of ten miles, and for aught I
know, even further. With this- exception, I think
it will be found that none of the rebel works but
Fort Sumpter were materially harmedj for the fleet
did not respond to their fire.
It is incomprehensible to many that the Keokuk,
T with a greater thickness of armor than the Ironsides,
constructed upon the turret' principle, and present
ing far iesß surface to a fire than the flagship, should;
have fared so much worse. Keokuk was pene
trated through her armor in four or five* places, and
in some cases by round shot; The, Ironsides was not
penetrated through her armor at all; an# beyond.,
the fact that one of her ports was carried" away,
and a round shot was found rolling about her deck
when the fight was over; there was little in her ex-.
teAat appearance to indicate that she'had beenex
posed for two hours to a - terrific, bombardment'. To
what was this marked difference of reßultattribiitable
Partly, i think, to the- fact that the Ironsides’
plating was backed by wood, and was thus, in seme
degree,.yielding; partly tooths fact that.she did not
1 approach closer to Sumpterthan 1,200 yards, while
the' Keokuk ran up to within 400 yards: but mainly
to the fact that the rebels adopted the shrewd policy
of concentrating a tremendeas fire on the Keokuk,
with the design, which was accomplished, of placing*
her hors de combat. It be their purpose to*
©ur fleet in detail, if'possible. On the other
hand, we labor under the disadvantage that we can
not so well adopt the same plan* of attack against
any one of their forts, singly; for our iron-clads; iu
| whatever position they may assume, are at all times
subject to a cross-fire from heavy rifled guns, .throw
ing steel-pointed shot.
Of com se r these difficulties-were seen in the be
ginning. They have not surprised us in the least;
and yet they seem to have assumed all the force of
novelty since I <sg-not-mean that we have
become disheartened./ I believe that Admiral Du
pont and,General 1 Hunter asejustr as sanguine of
success to-day as they havo-ever been. JBut I be
lieve further, that they do not- expect to reduce this
stronghold by two or threa-dayß’ bombardment. It
may require two or three weeks of the very hardest
fightiDg. Indeed, General* Hunter, yesterday,, re
marked: “It may take us a month to capture.
Charleston.” So,-it is possible that there may be
postponement and unaccountable delay—-unac- %
countable, at least, to the great body of the North
ern people, who cannot fully appreciate the
tuue of the task, as compared with the means ofa</"
complishment. They may study their maps, and
count up the strength of? the. land and. naval forces
gathered here, but still they..cannot reduce to figures •
the chances of success or.failuro-. The most trivial
circumstance may upseti all* our calculations—a sin
gle storm may scatter this , fleet to the thirty-two *
points of the futile the prepara
tions of a year. ’ But while-there may be anxiety;
and Impatience, and- restlessness to gather in
fruits of victory, there cannot finally be such a.
thing as failure. I, believe-that success lies within,
range of .our monitors’ guns; but if we can take-
Charleston with the loss, of two, or even three?,
monitors, we shall have cause for'congratulaticH.,
.. It is astonishing, how. closely Yankee enterprise■
follows in the track.of war. AtStono Inlet, six.or
seven miles from here, there arehftlf a dozen sutler’s,
schooners, the sanguine proprietors of which i
chartered them, freighted them with such goods as.
of Treason,” when it should be taken, and, followed-,,
in the wake of the iron-dads. These men.never for.
a moment contemplated the possibility c£ weeks, of
delay; they imagined that the most exciting-portion
of the enterprise would he the trip fronuPort Royal
up. Consequently, some of them have been, de
pressed in spirits. They will write home-dismal lot-.
, ters* predicting national ruin and foreign interven
tion; and the letters will be published in Copper
head journals as so many arguments in favor-, of a
dishonorable peace. Meanwhile, those-. of the sut
lers who rashly speculated in provisions will find.
their cargoes spoiling for a market. It is. in such.
Ways as this that accounts of disasters to .our arms
came to he diSB em inated in the North, and implicitly ,
believed in by the credulous.
The wounded of the Keokuk and Nahant have
been removed to the hospital-boat Cosmopolitans*
The schooner Eecrult, belonging tO-the-oanitary
Tuesday afternoon, by,
the hospital boat to a position where she might be
of service if required. Four representatives of the
Commission£were ohjboard: Dr. Page, Dr. Morris,
*W. B. Roberts, Esq., and Mr. Spaulding. Their
services thus far have not been in request.
Ah effort will be made immediately, perhaps to
morrow, if the weather favors, to raise the Keokuk.
. If she can be raised, andT do not see that'there will
be much difficulty about it, she may yet be of con
siderable sendee as a ram, if not as a gunboat. * Her
machinery is in good working order, and her armor
plating on the larboard side is not pierced anywhere.
On the starboard side it will require to be wholly
renewed. The shot*holes in her smoke stack do not
Amount to anything. It is a most remarkable fact
that, although so many of her men were atruok by
the flying pieces of bolt, not one of them was killed;
and it iB Btill more remarkable that but three lives
were lost in the whole fleet. How. forcible an illus
tration of the perfection to which the art; of war has.
attained ! The most formidable means of attack;
the most invulnerable and scientifically constructed
defences; a terrible collision of over two hours; tre
mendous roars of artillery that shake the heavens;
tremendous clouds of Bmoke that veil theßun,'and
only two or three fatal casualties I How much more
deadly has been many a firemen’s fight in Philadel
phia ! Truly Mara is being Bhorn of his glory, and
the ruddy light of hig star begins ta pale.
No. of Shots.
Still the roughest of seas, and no prospect of active
i operations for a little while. -It was intended to at
tempt the raising of the Keokuk this afternoon, at
low tidej but, of course, postponement is necessary.'
The Bteamer Dirigo, upon whioh the' task devolves,
arrived here this forenoon. She is provided with a
derrick, from whioh am a s sive ch a in- c able depends,
and this is in some manner to be attached to the
• eunkeh veßßel. Judging from her stolid"appearance,
her lifting power must be immense, and ho doubt is
entertained that she will succeed in her undertaking.
So, although fitted for an entirely different purpose
(which cannot now be disclosed, but will be When
the fight is renewed), she will be usefully employed
in the parenthesis of quiet Whioh itkeems we are'"
now promised.
None of the officers of the Keokuk, singular as it
may sound, saved any of their valuables, yet the
vessel, was leaking bo badly at two o’clock on
Wednesday morning, that every one bn board knew
she must go down. They certainly should have had
ample time, between two o’clock and twenty minutes
past eight, to.,pack;,,up their , “portable property.”
However, they have abundant cause of thankful
ness that they escaped so well.
The rebels seem- to be impressed with the notion
that it is part of General Hunter’s plan of ope
rations to land a force of troops either on Folly
Island or on Morris Island, and thus take the Cum--
mings’ Point Battery, Fort Wagoner, and the other
works bearing on the main channel, in the flank and
rear. At any rate, as was reported Beveral days
ago, they have made extensive preparations to
hinder such a movement, should it be attempted.
Nevertheless, Tif any ’ portion of General Hunter’s
army is ordered to take Morris Island, certain
that the order will be executed; and it seems to me
that the Ironsides, with her long-range guns, could,
pour' such a raking fixe into the triple line of en
trenchments, commanding the southern approach,
as would speedily render them too hot for rebel oc
cupation. : '
I know not while I write tills letter whether-1
shall be allowed to send it to you? for the news
correspondents have come to a mild type of grief.
Hitherto they have had no cause to complain of their
treatment in this department. Gen. Hunter has al
ways treated them courteously, and extended to
them such facilities for. news-gathering as properly
lay within his power. His chief of staff, General
Seymour, has, however, for reasons only known
to himself, chosen to adopt the contrary policy. On
Wednesday he informed the correspondents that
they would not be allowed to send North any ac~
count of the fight. Thereupon, one of their number;
waited upon Gen. Hunter, explained to him that
private letters had already been sent to Hilton Head
to be mailed North, 1 and that the Northern people
would be filled with anxiety and gloom by the exag
gerated reports of the retirement and discomfiture of
our fleet. The general admitted the correctness of
this view, and at -length consented that the mai l
should be sent, that the Northern public might
know the true state of affairs.
Accordingly, the Nantasket proceeded to Hilton
Head, with letters for The Press, Herald, TimeSj Tri
bune, and Boston Journal, and, haying mailed them,
returned to Charleston; Yesterday, General Sey
mour, having heard of the strategic movement, ho
nored the Nantasket with a visit, and informed the
gentlemen in charge that General Hunter had re
voked his oonsent, and that the Arago, which leaves
to-morrow, would r not ‘ carry a mail. It was
likewise intimated, in a general way, that any
correspondent surreptitiously sending home a par
ticle of news would subject himself to some anathema
maraantha— perhaps an ignominious ball and chain;
perhaps a severe lecture on the enormity of his
;guilt. In explanation of General Seymour’s Bum*
mary method of crushing the “ lever of civilization”
wader his heel, it may be remarked that he is a gra.
THREE CENTS.
TIIE FOURTH DAY.
- Friday Evening, April 10.
THE WAR PRESS,
(PUBLISHED WEEKLY.)
The War Press will'be sent to subscribers by
mail (per annum in. advance) at. £A 00
Five Copies “ “ 900
Ten “ “ “ .....v. IT 00
Twenty” “ “ ... 33 00
Larger Clnbs than Twenty Will be charged at the sama
rate, Sl«50 per copy.
The money must always accompany the order, and
in no instances co,n these terms be deviated from, as
they afford very little more than the cost of the paper. -
Postmasters are requested to act as Agents for
The War Pres?.
To the getter-up of the Club of tea or twenty, an
extra copy of the Paper will be given.
(taste of West Point, and that the graduates of that
.varn&hing establishment, like the idol of Edmund
Sparkler’s heart, have “no biggod nonsense” about
them.
There is no organization doing a, more extended
work of philanthropy among the soldiers of this
department than the Christian Commission. The
New Y.ork Branch has now three representatives,
Rev. Mr. Kimball, late of San Francisco ; Rev. Mr.
Williams, and ReK Mr. Emmenß, actively at work
here distributing bookß and tracts, and preaching the
Word of God on all opportune occasions. Hitherto
there has-been a great lack or religious' reading in
this department, and many of the regiments, too,
are without chaplains. Nevertheless; considerable
religious interest is manifesting itself, ahd in some
regiments a season of revival is in progress. The .
97th Pennsylvania Regiment, Colonel G-übs, from
West Chester and vicinity, andthe ll6th New York,
have been particularly noted for-their zeal in the
cause. Thft change which has taken place within a
few months, in the character and conducfof themen,
is as wholesome as it U remarkable. The labors of
the Commission are worthy of all praise, >and, wnat
is better than praise, substantial encouragement.
About three o’clock this afternoon the report of ft
heavy gun was heard in the direction of Folly Is
land, followed apparently by theexplosion of ft shell.
Shortly after dense volumes of smoke began to rise
apparently from the lower end of the island, and at
six o’clock this evening quite an extensive confla
gration was raging, presenting a very beautiful spec
tacle. At the same hour another fire was observed
in the direction of Bird Island. What they indicate
I have not yet learned. They were possibly mere
fires in the woods, originating by accident; or they
may have been lighted as signals. There is Very
little else in the shape of news that can be commu
nicated af present. To-morrow there may be more
interesting matter for a letter, aB a movement is on
foot for to-night, which promises some work". It is
understood that the several' regiments of troops
landed resently on Folly Island will embark en
transports, and proceed up Folly river for the pur
pose of surprising battery, forming one of
the southern defences of. Morris Island.
As I close there are rumors afloat that Admiral
Dupont and General Hunte? have sent North for
aid, and that nothing will bo done until additional
troops and arrive. Improbable;
THE FOURTH DAY.
SATirnDAv Evening, April llth.
How can I tellyoirthe startling andpainful news;
the troth of which was made manifest to us to-day?
The combined land and naval assault upon Charles--
ton haß not achieved success, and has, for the pre
sent, been abandoned*. It would be" useless to at
tempt to deny, or to glcsa over the unwelcome truth -
it must be told. I can well understand the feelings
of mortmeation and astonishment its publication,
-.must occasion the Northern people. For the last
’six months and more, they have heard'continually'
•of the immense preparations being made for the at
tack on Charleston. They‘hare been led tosnppose,'
'from random newspaper statements and from eol
-3 diers’ . letters, that army was be
tween fifty and seventy thousand strong; And
; very many of them have imagined that an ex
• tenßive fleet of iron-clads—say several hundred
had been gathered here to co-operate with the land
forces. Ei all these imaginings they have strayed
from the facts. By the fight on Tuesday the number
of'our iron-elads fit for immediate work has vir
tually been reduced to five or« six. True, they are
invulnerable in a sense, and- incapable of being
greatly harmed; but it wouIS-seem, also, that they
are-incapable of greatly harming the enemy in hia
‘present stronghold. Armed’ with more' powerful
guns, they might tell ft different story; but, with
their-present armament, to attempt to batter down
the fortifications that line both sides of the harbor
would be to attempt a hopeless task. It would not
be-prudent to mention’ how ; many, effective troops
there are at General Hunter’s disposal/it must
suffice te-state that the number is less, far less, than.
; the Northern papers have represented. The rebels*
| have assembled here an army ef at least forty thou-,
; sand men, all under cover- of Hr
would bs folly to attack such; an army in our pre
sent condition. Nothing can-fee done tfewardstaking
Charleston until adequate reinforcements arrive,
liehthem be forwarded, and'the city can be ; taken.
The “surprise party, I*which 1 *which had beeflprojected
for last -night, was of course abandoned. All the
troops are to return immediately to Hilton Head,
and several of the transports are already under way.
The monitor-fleet, wit&the exception of the-Mon
tauk and Passaic, will uow proceed to NewOrieans,
and thence, I learn, up; the 'Mississippi, to the vi
cinity of Yickeburg. The- Ericsson, whichTbrought
a.iarge cargo of torpsdoa for Capt. Ericsson’s newly
invented raft, or “devil-fish,” ; will go to Fortress
Monroe to-morrow and discharge it. . Tkeraft not
having bejfen . fairly, of course thera-waa no
use lor the torpedoes. \
Yesterday a * body of rebels crossed even-to Folly
Island from the main land, captured thirty of our
troops, and moved off before they could be inter
cepted. The particulars of the discreditable affair
have not transpirad'out in the channefhare.
In reflecting upon , the many novel features of
Tuesday’s engagement, one. cannot but be struck
With the appaztfhtly remarkable difference in.the
relative strength of the forces opposed. We brought
into the action but thirty-four guas-=the Ironsides,
mounting., eighteen guns, and the- other-iron-cUffY
each two guns. .The. enemy
us about one hundred guns; an&.Bome ffaval officers
estimate-tit* number as,; high a* one hundred and
fifty. ' '
can only fire. a. shot once in.ten.
and it seemed aB though they fired evenlea*
frequency. - The. rebels fired* incessantly, andftuafe
have expended between twentyifive. hundred and
three thousand shot and shelli The Blakely guns,
which they had mounted on, Moultrie and. Batter
y - are, perhaps, the 'most
w®apons known, and weapons which our naval offi
cers never dreamed they would*be compelled,to en-.
counter. Our, ordnance and ammunition were of
the usual fashion, and.- IeBS. effecttve..than.the.ene
my’s. And yet, this disparity of
armament, but one of aur iron-clads—an experiment
actually pierced through her armor, and even *
she can, it is now believed,:be restored to some-de*
•gree of usefulness,. Keifher the Ironsides nor. any-, of
the monitors icei-e %snetrated. through their iron pl&ing
by the rebel fire. This a very important fact which
should not be lest sight of; for upon this single fact
we can ground a reasonable hope of success hereafter,
for, rest assured, the assault upon Charleston Will be
commenced sU in good time.' Ido not say recom
menced, because, in my estimation, the. grand at
tack is yet to come off.. It is not conceivable, that
after weary months of preparation, drilling,
and of gathering up supplies, an enterprise, of so
much magnitude, and upon which so many national
interests necessarily attend, would have been aban
doned after Iwo hours’ fighting . It Is not conceivable,
that Admiral Dupont could bo seared away from, a
* feasible project by a little, ill-success. in the begin
ning, especially when the likelihood of it was fore
seen, as it was in this instance. It is not conceiva
ble that he would hot be jealous of the reputation
for skill,-daring, and experience, which he has built
up for himself by years of faithful public service.
Nor is it conceivable, supposing we had seen the
end of the Charleston campaign, that it would have
been permitted to close ingloriously with the sink
ing of one vessel and some dozen casualties to human
life. If the programme, wsb felt to be so near a close,
there would have been, at least, another day’s hard
fighting, for appearance sake; the orchestra, after
so much preliminary tuning up and twisting of keys,
would not have separated without one glorious
overture. "
And this just precisely brings me to the inference
I drewatthe close of Tuesday/s letter, butwhioh, I
then penned in ignorance of its clairvoyant, cha
racter. We have done nothing yet hut make an ex
tensive reconnoissance. It was necessary.to know
whether any torpedoes had been planted in the har--
bor opposite Forts Wagoner and Beauregard. Our in
formation on this point is now full and satisfactory...
It was necessary to ascertain the number of guns the
enemy could concentrate upon any one vessel, This,
point has been settled. It was necessary to know
the exact number and location of their batteries.
This we have determined. It was necessary to know,
the calibre and range of their guns, which has been,
pretty conclusively determined. It was. necessary
to know • what' specieß of artillery, and- what
kind ofpiojectiles they could bring to bear upon us.
On both of these points we have acquired valuable
knowledge. It was necessary to know,- whether or
not there were obstructions extending across the
channel from, Sumpter to Moultrie; and if sdj what
waß their character. This information we now pos
sess, It was necessary to know whether ov not
Fort Sumpter was iroh-clad as had been reported,
and that question has been settled. In short/a hun
dred points that were formerly subjects of discussion,'
pro and con, are transferred to the domain of fact
by the reconnoissance of Tuesday. Admiral Dupont
now knows precisely what is to be done, and what
can be done, and he is not the Admiral Dupont of
old, if.hedoes.not set to work and da ii. Not*imme-.
diately—not until he has made his preparations on.
- the basis of the knowledge which he now possesses,
and which military men will say was cheaply ac
quired.. The balance of power now lies in his own
hands, and before the fall months have set in, we
may see such a manifestation of it, as will gladden
the heart of the nation, now unreasonably depress-.
ed, and restore the flag of the Union to the battered;
walls of Sumpter ! O. E. S;
PORT ROYAfc.
Thursday, April 9.
Since the departure of the Charleston expedition,
from this port, the rebels in this vicinity have grown
considerably bolder, and have already begun to make*
demonstrations of hostility. Yesterday several bo-,
dies of their cavalry approached quite close to our
pickets at Beaufort, as though reconnoitring. Last
night* discovering that'the gunboat George Wash**
ington was aground at Port Royal Ferry, which • ia.
in the.vicinity of Beaufort, they brought-down fly-,
ing artillery to the shore and fired a shell at her v
which happening to penetrate the boiler, blew her
-up. One of her crew was instantly-killed, and three
or four wounded or'scalded by the explosion. The
officers all escaped unharmed. The George Waabr
ington was a small craft. She had been formerly
used as a river tug-boat, then aB a cruiser, to; drive
away the guerillas from the inlets, and creeks along
the coast, then as a despatch boat for General Ter
ry, and finally as a gunboat. She was aimed
with one small howitzer, ; and one twelve-pound
rifled gun. Although a small affair, her destruction
has’ereated intense excitement in Beaufort, amf the
.inhabitants are in momentary expectation of a rebel
raid. Here, at Hilton Head, considerable alarm,
likewise prevails. Numbers of sptlera.are shipping
their goods-North, and the project of forming a home
guard is again being agitated. The arrival of the
Patapsco yesterday, for the purpose, it is reported,
of guarding against a raid of one of tbe Savannah.