Posted on 04/14/2023 6:00:56 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
OFF CHARLESTON HARBOR, ON BOARD FLAGSHIP NEW-IRONSIDES, Wednesday, April 8, 1863.
The sun has just gone down in Charleston harbor on what it is surely no straining of terms to call the most extraordinary contest in the annals of warfare.
Distressing though it be to write tidings which will carry pain and humiliation to the heart of the nation to read, it only remains to tell you that this fleet of iron-clads has measured its strength against Fort Sumter and the works that flank the entrance to Charleston harbor, and that it has withdrawn from the contest -- discomfitted.
Estimated in the terms of time, the trial was brief: but it was decisive. An ordeal of two hours served to prove that the defensive powers of the iron fleet were insufficient to withstand the terrible force of the offensive enginery of the works it had to assail, while the limitations in the offensive powers of the iron-clads took away all the advantage which might have been derived from their superior powers of resistance over the forts. The enemy, by his obstructive appliances, was able to detain the fleet -- whose total armament is thirty two guns -- in the focus of fire of a circle of worse mounting, at least, three hundred guns: in half an hour, five out of the nine ships, were wholly or partially disabled! Such is the ghastly fact in its naked proportions.
The following narrative will, it is hoped, afford material for a just appreciation of the events that transpired in Charleston harbor to-day, during those two brief but pregnant hours. It is necessary to premise, however, that in this contest everything is so novel and unprecedented that we must be cautious in applying the old standards of judgment to a new order of events.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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Link to previous New York Times thread
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Charleston: The Naval Bombardment of Fort Sumter – 2-6
News from New-Orleans: Operations of Our Forces Across Lake Pontchartrain – 6
Important from North Carolina: Failure of Two Attempts to Reinforce Gen. Foster – 7
The Late Battle in Tennessee: The Rebel Gen. Crosby and two of Van Dorn’s Aids Wounded, &c. – 7
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 7
Editorial: The Attack Upon Charleston – 7-8
The Iron-Clads and the Rebel Artillery – 8
The Hope of the Rebels – 8
The Real Aspects of the Case – 8
Necessity of Concentration – 8
The Old Story – 8
Interesting Trivia - the Union troops that burned and spiked cannons at Ft. Moultrie and then occupied Ft. Sumter intending to do the same in direct violation of South Carolina’s agreement with the Union Federal Government were lead by Abner Doubleday.
Yes. The guy who invented baseball started the Civil War by attempting to destroy Ft. Sumter and leave Charleston Harbor defenseless.
Okay, that was certainly, er, colorful. Now tell us what happened.
LoL
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