The
Charleston papers, of Wednesday, contain brief accounts of the attack on that city on Tuesday.
The
Mercury says that the cheerful manner in which the military had uniformly spoken of the conflict between the batteries and the turreted monsters had emboldened the hearts of the people to such a degree that, when it was positively known that the engagement was opened, there came a thrill of joy to every heart and the countenance of all declared plainly that a signal victory over the malled vessels was reckoned upon without doubt or misgiving.
It says:
‘
Information received from mysterious sources caused the
General in command of this district to expect an attack at an early day. And that intelligence received confirmation on Sunday morning. On that day four Monitors, the
Ironsides, and thirty vessels of various sizes, were seen off the bar.--Four Monitors and thirty-five wooden vessels were added to the fleet on the following day; thirty-five vessels, for the most part transports, appeared in the
Stono, and the enemy landed a force of about six thousand men on
Coles's and
Battery Islands.
These facts, with other indications, led
General Beauregard to count upon an attack on Tuesday, and the expectations of that sagacious and watchful General were realized.
The atmosphere early on Tuesday morning was misty, but as the day advanced the haze lightened, and the
Monitors and the
Ironsides were seen lying off
Morris's Island.
Between two and there o'clock in the afternoon a dispatch from
Col. Rhett, commandant of
Fort Sumter, informed
General Beauregard that fire Monitors and the
Ironsides were approaching the
Fort.
The fleet were soon rounding the
point of Morris's Island, the in the advance.
When the double-turreted monster, the most formidable of its class, came within range,
Fort Sumter opened upon her with a broadside.
They kept on their way and formed in line of battle off the fort, at a distance of about two thousand years.
At three P. M. the action was opened by
Fort Moultrie firing the first gun.
Fort Sumter opened ten minutes later.
Battery Bee,
Forts Wagner and
Beauregard, and the battery at Cummins's Point also opened, firing by battery.
The fleet fired with great rapidity; our forts and batteries replied with spirit and singular accuracy.
The Ironsides took position to the left of
Fort Sumter, directing all her guns at that fort, and throwing shells exclusively.
It was manifest that the
Ironsides was appointed to test the strength of the fort, whose reduction was the inauguration of the terrific contest now going on.
Fort Sumter acknowledged the compliment of the preference by pouring the contents of her biggest guns into the sides of that pride of the
Yankee navy, and she was not treated with contempt by the other forts and batteries.
About forty five minutes after the engagement began steam was seen issuing in dense volumes from the
Ironsides, and she withdrew from the action, taking position to the
South of
Fort Sumter, but remaining a silent spectator of the exciting scene.
It is believed she was seriously damaged.
The firing from our forts became more and more accurate as the engagement proceeded.
The shot and shell fell thickly in the midst of the hostile fleet and the smoke stacks of every one of them were struck several times.
Fort Sumter now appeared to be the chief aim of all the enemy's Iron clads.
The
Keokuk, a double-turreted iron-clad, and considered by the
Yankees the most formidable of their terrible monsters, received a large share of attention from our gallant gunners.
She occupied the post of honor, and, in accordance with the custom of war, it was made the post of danger.
She paid dearly for her reputation having been hit several times.
At about five o'clock she followed the example of the
Ironsides, and withdrew, evidently seriously crippled.
The other Monitors continued the fight till forty-five minutes past 5 o'clock, when they steamed away and came to anchor off
Morris Island.
During the battle a drummer boy, named
Ahrens, was killed at
Fort Sumter and five men wounded, two severely in the head, the others slightly.
One man came to his death from the falling of the flag staff of Fort
Moultrie. Two houses on
Sullivan's Island on the back be, were struck one of which was demolished.
A shot passed through
Fort Sumter's flag.
Col. Rhett was in command of
Fort Sumter,
Col. Butler of Fort Menitrie,
Capt. Sligraves of
Fort Beauregard,
Lieut-Col. Simkins of Battery Bee,
Maj. Huger of Battery Wagner, and Lieut, Lessesoe, with a detachment from
Fort Sumter, of the battery on Cummins's Point.
Fort Sumter was hit 34 times, but received no damage.
We learn that six man belonging to
Capt. Mathews artillery company, stationed at Battery Wagner, were wounded.
Two of these have since died; two were seriously wounded, and it was thought one would die before morning.
The other two including an officer, were but slightly wounded.
The last gun was fired by the enemy at half past 5 P. M. Three iron clads, one supposed to be the
Keokuk, were seen about 6 o'clock going South apparently in tow of a large steamer.
The others were all outside the bar. The Ironsides was struck in the stern by a rifled shot from Battery Wagner.
There were no casualties at the
Cummins's Point battery.
The practice was admirable, and reflects great credit upon officers and men. All who took part in the battle performed their duties with ardor, skill, and fidelity.
Their behavior and the accuracy with which they used their guns, assure us that they are sufficient for the important work assigned them, and furnish us with strong grounds upon which to bottom our hope of a decisive and glorious victory.
When they come again, and nearer, the iron-sheathed vessels will fare worse.
’
