A little something from the
OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, searchable CD, which my typist is pleased to have in his possession, the gift of a solicitous maiden aunt during a protracted illness.
APRIL 7, 1863.--Engagement in Charleston Harbor, S.C.
No. 4.--Reports of
Brig. Gen. Roswell S. Ripley, C. S. Army, commanding First Military District.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT,
DEPT. OF SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA,
Charleston, April 13, 1863.
GENERAL: Upon the 1st instant the increase of the enemy's force in the Stone and information from North Edisto gave warning that the long threatened combined movement upon Charleston was about to take place.
Brig. Gen. S. R. Gist, commanding first sub-division of this district, James Island, and Saint Andrew's, took prompt measures for the observation and repulse of any attack in that direction. Col. R. F. Graham, commanding third sub-division, occupied the shore of Menis Island, on Light. House Inlet, to control the passage from
Folly Island, and a strict watch has been kept up to the present time on the land movements of the enemy.
On the 5th t he iron-clad fleet of the Abolitionists, consisting of seven monitors and one double.-turreted vessel, hove in sight from Fort Sumter and came to anchor outside, in the vicinity of the Ironsides frigate, then a part of the blockading squadron. The 6th was apparently spent by the enemy in preparation and by our artillerists in verifying the condition of their material.
On the morning of the 7th the enemy was inside the bar with all his ironclad, including the frigate, but from his proximity to the shoals and the haze of the atmosphere his position could not be determined.
The various works of preparation were progressed with both on the exterior and interior lines of defense until about 2 o'clock p.m., when the enemy steamed directly up the channel,
the Weehawken, with a false prow for removing torpedoes attached, leading, followed by three monitors,
the Ironsides (flag-ship), three other monitors; the Keokuk, double-turret, bringing up the rear. «17 R R--VOL. XIV»
At each fort and battery officers and men made preparation for immediate action, while the enemy came slowly and steadily on. At 3 o'clock Fort Moultrie opened fire. At five minutes past 3 the leading vessel, having arrived at 1,400 yards of Fort Sumter, opened upon it with two guns. The eastern battery of Fort Sumter replied. Batteries Bee, Beauregard, Wagner, and Cummings Point opened about this time and the action became general, the four leading monitors closing up on the Weehawken, and taking position at an average distance from the forts and batteries of about 1,500 yards.
In accordance with instructions, the fire from the different points was concentrated upon the leading vessels, and the effect was soon apparent from the withdrawal of the leading monitor from action, her false prow having been detached and she otherwise apparently injured. The remaining monitors in advance of the flag-ship held their position, directing their fire principally at Fort Sumter, but giving occasional shots at Fort Mountrie (of which the flag-staff was shot away), Batteries Beauregard and Bee.
The Ironsides meantime opened fire, and drew the attention of Forts Moultrie and Sumter and the Cummings Point Battery. A few heavy and concentrated discharges caused her to withdraw out of range, where she was soon followed by two other monitors.
At five minutes past 4 the Keokuk left here consorts and came to the front, approaching to within 900 yards of Fort Sumter, 1,200 from Battery Bee, and 1,000 of Fort Mountrie. Her advance was characterized by more boldness than had hitherto been shown by any of the enemy's fleet, but receiving full attention from the powerful batteries opposed to her the effect was soon apparent. The 10-inch shot and 7-inch rifle bolts crashed through her armor; her hull and turrets were riddled and stove in, her boats were shot away, and in less than forty minutes she retired with such speed as her disabled condition would permit.
The remaining monitors kept their positions for a time, but soon one by one dropped down the channel and came to anchor out of range, after an action of two hours and twenty-five minutes, at ranges varying from 900 to 1,500 yards.
The fall effect of our batteries upon the enemy could not be precisely ascertained, and as our strength had not been entirely put forth it was believed that the action would soon be renewed. The monitor which had led into the action, however, proceeded south inside of the bar on the same evening.
Before the commencement of the affair I was proceeding in a boat to Battery Bee, and watched the progress of the cannonade from that point. The guns were worked with as much precision as the range would admit. There were no damages or casualties. Visiting Fort Moultrie, the damaged flag-staff was being replaced and everything prepared for the renewal of the fire should the enemy approach again. One man had been mortally wounded by the falling of the staff. Crossing the channel to Fort Sumter, the effect of impact of the heavy shot sent by the enemy against the fort which they are so anxious to repossess, greater in caliber and supposed distinctive force than any hitherto used in war, was found to have been much less than had been anticipated. Five men had been injured by splinters from the traverse, one 8-inch columbiad had exploded, one 10-inch carriage had its rear transom shot away, and one rifled 42-pounder had been temporarily disabled from the effect of recoil on defective carriages.
The garrison was immediately set to work to repair damages, and the strength of the enemy's projectiles having been ascertained, to guard such points as might be exposed to their effect should the attack be renewed.
Cummings Point Battery and Battery Wagner were uninjured, except from the accidental explosion of an ammunition chest in Battery Wagner.
During the night of the 7th stores were replenished, threatened points upon land re-enforced, working parties from the Forty-sixth Georgia Regiment brought to Fort Sumter, and the renewal of the struggle in the morning awaited with confidence.
When day dawned on the morning of the 8th the enemy's fleet was discovered in the same position as noticed on the previous evening. About 9 o'clock the Keokuk, which had been evidently the most damaged in the action, went down about 3½ miles from Fort Sumter and three-fourths of a mile from Morris Island. The remainder of the fleet were repairing damages. Preparations for repulsing a renewed attack were progressed with in accordance with the instructions of the commanding general, who visited Fort Sumter on that day. A detachment of seamen under Flag-Officer W. F. Lynch arrived from Wilmington, and on the 9th temporarily relieved the artillerists in charge of the Cummings Point Battery. The operations of the enemy's fleet consisted only in supply and repair.
Toward evening of the 9th a raft, apparently for removing torpedoes or obstructions, was towed inside of the bar. Nothing occurred of importance during the 10th.
During the night of the 10th Lieutenant-Colonel Dargan, of Colonel Graham's command, crossed Light-House Inlet, drove back the enemy's pickets with loss, and returned with 1 prisoner.
On the 11th there were indications that the attacking fleet was about to withdraw; and on the 12th, at high water, the Ironsides crossed the bar and took up her position with the blockading fleet, and the monitors steamed and were towed to the southward, leaving only the sunken Keokuk as a monument of their attack and discomfiture.
In this the first trial of the Abolition iron fleet against brick fortifications and their first attempt to enter the harbor of Charleston, in which they were beaten before their adversaries thought the action had well commenced, they were opposed by seventy-six pieces in all, including mortars. Thirty-seven of these, exclusive of mortars, were above the caliber of 32-pounders. The expenditure of shot against the fleet was 2,229 projectiles, of which over 1,600 were over the caliber of 32-pounders.
Ms. Writer, our deft and charming hostess
Battlestained veterans take a break for the gentler pursuits
The main event: titillation, suggestion, never blatant
A little nip while the house isn't watching. I doubt it's a BYOB establishment
FWES Queen of the West and SNS TAOS at Port Merrimac
FWES Queen of the West demonstrating her speed
Maneuvering for a broadside aspect ram
She sank a lot.. no covering ships..
Pursuing the Rebel Ironclad
Posts
A few of my fellow stalwarts and I have created a virtual book discussion group of sorts, utilizing one the nicer recent social networking tools on the Aethernet, GOODREADS. The group is THE SECOND LIFE SECRET LIBRARY, which is open to any Second Life citizens that applies with good manners and a sense of friendship and collaboration. Goodreads allows one to maintain an online collection of books, hold discussions, read and trade reviews, and generally learn about the printed word. I will occasionally publish a review of a particularly good book or two off of Goodreads as "The Printed Word" entries in this journal.
