Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Return of Ammunition expended in action April seventh, 1863:

Exhibit of number of Rounds fired by the Enemy on seventh of April, and number of Shot received by each Iron-clad, copied from United States Journals:

The abolition iron-clad fleet, consisting of frigate New Ironsides and eight monitors, appeared in sight on Sunday morning, April fifth, instant; crossed the bar the same evening, and anchored in the main ship channel.

At two o'clock P. M., April seventh, instant, the whole iron-clad fleet advanced to the attack in the following order, viz.: four monitors were in the advance, led by the Passaic; the Ironsides came next, followed by three other single turreted monitors, and the Keokuk, a double-turreted monitor, bringing up the rear.

At thirty minutes past two P. M., the long roll was beaten, and every disposition made for action.

At fifty-five minutes past two P. M., the garrison, regimental and Palmetto flags were hoisted, and saluted by thirteen guns, the band playing the national airs.

At three o'clock P. M., the action was opened by a shot from Fort Moultrie. At three minutes past three P. M., the leading vessel having approached to within about fourteen hundred yards of the fort, she fired two shots simultaneously, one, a fifteen-inch shrapnel, which burst; both passed over the fort. The batteries were opened upon her two minutes later, the firing being by battery. The action now became general, and the four leading monitors taking position from thirteen hundred to fourteen hundred yards distant, the fire was changed from fire by battery to fire by piece, as being more accurate. The fire by battery was again resumed as occasion offered. The Ironsides did not approach nearer than seventeen hundred yards. The whole fire of the batteries engaged was concentrated on the Passaic for thirty minutes, when she withdrew from the engagement, apparently injured. The other ships, each in turn, received our attention. The fire of both Fort Moultrie and this fort being now directed against the Ironsides, she immediately withdrew out of effective range. The other turretted monitors came under our fire in like manner as the preceding, slowly passing in front of the fort in an ellipse; one only,