CHARLESTON: Our Own Accounts of the Attack on Fort Sumter; The Iron-Clads Under Fire Two Hours (4/13/1863)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 4/13/1863

[Homer_J_Simpson]

BALTIMORE, Sunday, April 12, 1863.

I have just reached this point from Charleston Harbor via Fortress Monroe, by the gunboat Flambeau, bringing official dispatches from Admiral DUPONT.

The iron-clad fleet, in its attack on Fort Sumter, has met with a repulse, but not a disaster. The attack was made on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 7th inst., and continued for two hours and a half. The fleet had all been got over the bar the day previous, and lay at anchor in the main ship channel along the shore of Morris Island, at a distance of about a mile.

The line of battle was formed in the following order:

1. The Weehawken, Capt. J. RODGERS.
2. The Passaic, Capt. PERCIVAL DRAYTON.
3. The Montauk, Commander J.L. WORDEN.
4. The Patapsco, Commander D. AMMON.
5. The Ironsides, Commander T. TURNER.
6. The Katskill, Commander G.W. RODGERS.
7. The Nantucket, Commander D. MCN. FAIRFAX.
9. The Nahant, Commander J. DOWNS.
9. The Keokuk, Commander A.C. RHIND.

The Ironsides was Admiral DUPONT's flag-ship.

The official order was to pass the batteries on Morris Island without returning their fire, and pass inside of Fort Sumter, and devote themselves to bombarding Fort Sumter at a distance of from six to eight hundred yards.

At 2 o'clock the head of the line was in motion, the rest following. The batteries on Morris Island did not open on the fleet at all, and the enemy made no fire until the fleet had reached a position between Forts Sumter and Moultrie, when a terrific broadside came from the barbette guns of Sumter. At the same time the batteries on Cnmmings Point and Sullivan's Island opened, and the iron ships were exposed to a concentric fire

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

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Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4144983/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Charleston: Our Own Accounts of the Attack on Fort Sumter – 2-3
Rebel Views of the Situation – 3
Important from Tennessee: Official Account of the Last Fight at Franklin – 3-4
Important from North Carolina: Failure of an Attempt to Reinforce Gen. Foster – 4
The Siege of Vicksburgh: Return of the Yazoo Pass Expedition – 4-5
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 5
Editorial: The Naval Attack on Fort Sumter – 5-6
Amusements – 6