with two turrets, the most dreaded of all the nine.

In front, a monitor, supposed to be the Passaic, commanded by Drayton, pushed forward a long raft, forked and fitting her bow, intended to catch, by suspended grappling-irons, any entanglements, or to explode any torpedoes which might lie in the path of their hostile advance. Next followed, in approximate echelon, another monitor, bearing a pennon, and conjectured to be the flag-ship of the commanding officer of the fleet. This was succeeded, in the same order, by two others of a similar kind, only distinguishable by slight differences in the adornments of red and white paint upon their generally black turrets and smokestacks. These formed the first line or division. After an interval of space, came the Ironsides, of much larger proportions, her sleek and glistening black sides rising high and frowning above the water. She occupied a central position, and was followed at some distance by the three remaining monitors, and the Keokuk in the rear. These four formed the other line or division of battle.

At three o'clock, when the leading gunboat had got east-south-east of Sumter, at a distance of about one thousand four hundred yards, Fort Moultrie fired the first gun. The band was hushed at Sumter, the musicians were despatched to their pieces, and the order was given to open fire, carefully and by battery.

with apparent advantage, during the course of the engagement. The gunboats fired deliberately, at intervals. The smoke-stack of the pioneer boat was riddled with balls. The turret was repeatedly struck and impressions distinctly visible. At twenty-five minutes past three a flat-headed bolt of chilled iron projected from a Brooke gun, (rifled and banded seven-inch,) struck with manifest damage. A volume of steam was seen to issue from the creature, and it turned off on a curve toward the east and south-east, steaming out of range and out of the fight. Meantime, the three other monitors of the first line had bestowed their attention upon the Fort with impunity. They now, after the retirement of the supposed Passaic, received each, for a brief season, sundry acknowledgments. That bearing the pennon, at thirtyseven minutes past three had its emblem of command cut down by a well-directed shot. Its turret and hull were indented. Several shot were visible, driven and sticking in the iron. The smokestack was repeatedly pierced through. And at forty-five minutes past three this invulnerable man-of-war also drew off, followed by the two that had accompanied it.

The Ironsides seemed shy of the contest. She fired a few shots at a distance of not less than one thousand five hundred yards, and perhaps as much as one thousand eight hundred. Three balls were seen to strike her in return. She soon headed off out of range, and was counted out.

The monitors of the second line were under a concentrated fire, each a few minutes. All were hit, but apparently with no special injury. The longer the fight continued the more accurate the firing proved with the gunners of that gallant and admirably trained corps.

At three minutes past three the guns belched forth their fierce thunders upon the foremost monster. Within two minutes there was a response. His shots were directed against Sumter, and the strife was inaugurated. The east and north-east batteries, en barbette and in casemate, were those only engaged, together with a mortarbattery on one of the ramparts, which fired for a The Keokuk now boldly advanced, bow on, to short time. It may be improper to publish, at eight hundred and fifty yards of the east side of this juncture, the garrison of the Fort, but we Fort Sumter. This was the shortest distance atmay mention that the east barbette battery was tained by any of the fleet, no other venturing so officered, as we understand, by Capt. D. Fleming, near. Col. Rhett now requested Lieut.-Colonel Lieut. F. D. Blake, Lieut. Jones, and Lieut. Julius Yates to take charge of a Brooks gun for a few Rhett, (a volunteer absent from Preston's battery shots, and to sight it carefully himself. The first light artillery on sick leave.) The north-east bar-shot entered the open port-hole of the foremost bette battery was officered by Captain Harleston, Lieut. MeM. King and Lieut. W. S. Simkins. The mortar battery was for a time manned and officered by Capt. Macbeth and Lieut. Julius Alston, who were subsequently transferred to one of the casemate batteries engaged. The other, the largest casemate battery engaged, was commanded by Captain W. H. Peronneau and Lieut. Fickling, while a third small battery was in charge of Lieut. Grimball.

For thirty minutes the guns of Fort Sumter were concentrated on the leading vessel, irrespective of the answering cannon of the others. The garrison fought with eagerness and impetuosity. They had to be restrained, and after trial, firing by battery, it was found that, from the small size of the object at a distance of one thousand one hundred to one thousand four hundred yards, and its constant and alternate moving and stopping, it was difficult to keep the guns trained to shoot simultaneously with accuracy. The method was changed, VOL. VI.-Doc. 32

turret, apparently silencing the boat.

The next ball was a centre shot upon the turret. The third penetrating the bow some ten feet from the stem, making a large opening at the water-line, and a fourth also struck the hull. During this time a concentric fire was poured into the monster from all the guns that could be brought to bear. The fire of the Fort had been reduced by order to one gun from each battery every five minutes, and was exceedingly precise and effective. For many minutes the boat drifted lifelessly with the tide, under a terrific hail, being torn in different places, and having shot plainly imbedded in the iron armor. It was strongly hoped that it would be so disabled as to surren der, falling into our hands by capture. But, after being under punishment forty minutes, it managed to crawl feebly off and escape, giving a parting salute as it was getting out of range, to show that the will was there to fight. The following morning it settled down some five hundred yards

Fort Moultrie opened the engagement. At three o'clock the head of the grim procession of monitors having come within reason-range, the word was given, and the first shot of the batteries went whizzing at the iron fleet. In a very few minutes the batteries of Sumter, with the earthworks The forces on Sullivan's Island (which is a porof Morris and Sullivan's Islands were mingling tion of the sub-division commanded by Brig. Gen. their deep voices in the chorus of the fray. Dur- Trapier) were under the immediate command of ing the entire fight, the batteries of Fort Moultrie Colonel D. M. Keitt, of the Twentieth regiment maintained a well-directed fire against the moni-South-Carolina volunteers. Both General Trapier tors that happened to be nearest, and the fre- and Col. Keitt were on the island at the time of quency with which the Yankees turned from the action, and during the firing were moving from main effort against Fort Sumter to give a spiteful battery to battery.

GENERAL BEAUREGARD TO THE TROOPS.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF SOUTH-CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA, CHARLESTON, S. C., April 10. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 55.

The Commanding General is gratified to have to announce to the troops the following joint resolutions unanimously adopted by the Legislature of the State of South-Carolina :

"Resolved, That the General Assembly reposes unbounded confidence in the ability and skill of the Commanding General of this department, and the courage and patriotism of his brave soldiers, with the blessing of God, to defend our beloved city and to beat back our vindictive foes.

"Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be instructed to communicate this resolution to General Beauregard."

looking seaward, and the second across the harbor; and Fort Moultrie, Battery Bee, and Battery Beauregard, on Sullivan's Island. Looking out to sea from Charleston, Morris Island is on the extreme right, and Sullivan's Island on the extreme left.

After various changes of position, the whole iron-clad fleet advanced to the attack at two o'clock Tuesday afternoon, the seventh, in the following order: The first line consisted of four monitors, the Passaic supposed to be in the lead, with the so-called "Devil" (a nondescript machine for removing torpedoes) attached to her prow. The second line also consisted of four monitors, the double-turret Keokuk lying on the right. The Ironsides, with Admiral Du Pont on board, held position about equidistant between the two lines and near the centre. The wooden Soldiers! the eyes of your countrymen are now vessels outside moved closer in, and during the turned upon you on the eve of the second anni-action remained silent spectators of the conflict. versary of the thirteenth of April, 1861, when the sovereignty of the State of South-Carolina was triumphantly vindicated within the harbor which we are now to defend. The happy issue of the action on the seventh instant-the stranded, riddled wreck of the iron-mailed Keokuk, her baffled coadjutors forced to retire behind the range of our guns, have inspired confidence in the country that our ultimate success will be complete. An inestimably precious charge has been confided to your keeping, with every reliance on your manhood and enduring patriotism.

By command of
THOMAS JORDAN,

Chief of Staff.

General BEAUregard.

Official JOHN M. OTEY, A.A.G.

MOBILE" REGISTER" ACCOUNT.

CHARLESTON, April 8.

A visit to Fort Sumter to-day enables me to present to your readers a more correct account of the late engagement in front of Charleston than the one already sent to you, and which was prepared the night succeeding the attack, when but few of the facts had been definitely ascertained. In order to give a full understanding of the affair, it may be necessary to begin the narrative with the first appearance of the Federal armada in this vicinity.

At half-past ten o'clock, Sunday morning, the fifth instant, it was reported at Fort Sumter that twenty-seven vessels were visible just outside the bar, one of which was the Ironsides, and four were monitors or turreted iron-clads. On the morning of the sixteenth, (Monday,) as the fog lifted, it was discovered that the Ironsides, eight monitors, and a large number of other vessels were in sight, the Ironsides having already crossed the bar and come to anchor off Morris Island. An infantry force, variously estimated at from three thousand to six thousand, was landed on Coles's Island, off the mouth of Stono River, during Sunday night.

But before proceeding further, it may be well to restate the names of the forts and batteries that participated in the fight. They are Fort Sumter in the harbor, Fort Wagner and Cumming's Point Battery on Morris Island, the first

At half-past two o'clock the long-roll was beat in Sumter. The garrison answered promptly with a shout, and rushed immediately to battery. The garrison, palmetto, and regimental flags were now hoisted, and saluted by order of Col. Rhett with thirteen guns-thus announcing to the enemy, that though the Fort might be battered down, the confederate colors would be kept flying as long as a gun was left standing and there was a man to fire it. Admiral Du Pont had said that he would reduce the Fort in three hours, and this defiance was hurled in his teeth in answer to his unseemly boasts.

About three o'clock the fight was opened by Fort Moultrie firing a shot. Three minutes later the barbette guns on the east face of Sumter, commanded by Captain D. G. Fleming, were fired by battery, with a report that brought all Charleston to the promenade-battery and to the housetops to witness the imposing spectacle. Two minutes later the Passaic returned the compliment with two guns fired almost simultaneously. The fight thus opened soon became general. The Passaic swept around in an elliptic course in front of the east face of the Fort, delivering her fire as she passed—the closest range into which she came being estimated at seven hundred yards. Her turret and hull were struck several times, and with damaging effect. After receiving the concentrated fire of the Fort for thirty minutes, she rounded off and fired but few shot afterward, and soon moved out of range.

The three other vessels of the first line came up successively, and after remaining under fire about the same length of time, rounded off also at nearly the same point as the Passaic, and took but little part in the action afterward. The Passaic being armed with the nondescript machine for the removal of torpedoes supposed to have been sunk by the confederates, she was put forward and required to make the fiery passage first, whilst the other vessels followed as nearly in her track as possible. After passing round, they took up their positions at a distance of from one thousand one hundred to one thousand five hundred yards, where they kept up their fire until the whole fleet withdrew.

The monitors in the first line having delivered their fire, the Ironsides now moved up and became the object of attention. She is a huge monster, carrying twelve heavy guns, and protected by an iron mail, but having no turrets. She first delivered a broadside of six guns, and afterward fired single guns only. Three square bolts fired from Sumter were seen to enter her side, (above the short ribs,) while one from Fort Wagner penetrated her stern, when she immediately steamed off to a distance of one thousand eight hundred yards, from which point she kept up an irregular fire until half-past four, at which hour she moved off out of range, considerably injured.

in great volumes. She immediately retired, and in her haste left behind the Yankee "Devil" attached to her prow, which now lies stranded on Morris Island beach, to be seen by all men. As Monsieur Du Pont could not send our brave boys to the devil in three hours, as he threatened to do, he compromised the matter, I suppose, by sending the devil to them.

The second vessel had a pennon flying-probably the Commodore's. She did not remain under fire as long as the first; yet her pennon was shot away, her smoke-stack riddled, and her turret and hull badly marked. Several roundshot were seen to strike and lodge in the iron plating of the hull.

She drew off at forty-five minutes after three o'clock. The other monitors did not appear to be so badly injured, except the Keokuk, though all of them received more or less damage. None of them remained longer under fire than from fifteen to twenty minutes; it was too hot for them. The smoke-stacks of all of them are vulnerable.

As soon as the Ironsides had turned off, the second line advanced, and, passing under the stern of the Ironsides, came into action. The Keokuk steamed up gallantly in the track of the first line, and coming bow on, engaged our batteries at about nine hundred yards. She is provided with two stationary turrets, each turret having three port-holes. It was manifest from the manner of her advance, that her officer felt confident of her power, and expected to accom- The east face of Fort Sumter was struck about plish great things. Seeing this, Colonel Rhett forty times by fifteen-inch shell and eleven-inch requested Lieut.-Colonel Yates, an accomplished solid shot, at a distance of from nine hundred to artillerist, to take charge of one of the Brooke one thousand eight hundred yards, and yet it is guns, and pay his respects to the saucy iron-clad. in quite as good condition as before the attack. This gun-the invention of a gallant officer in One gun was dismounted and one bursted, and our navy, from whom it takes its name - is five men were wounded, all of whom are doing ribbed, and carries a square-headed bolt weigh- well. Lieut.-Colonel Yates having reported for ing one hundred and nineteen pounds. Colonel duty the morning of the battle, was assigned to Yates's first shot entered a port of the turret, and the special command of the parapet batteries. doubtless knocked over the gun. The second Major O. Blunding was assigned to the special shot struck just above the port-hole, and passed command of the casemate batteries. All officers through the turret. The third shot smashed in and men in Sumter as well as in the other forts the pilot-house, which is just above the turret; and batteries behaved with great gallantry. It and the fourth hit her hull, abaft of midships, was a proud day for Charleston and the Carotearing up the iron-plated deck, and making an linians. It was a remarkable coincidence that ugly hole. The Keokuk was struck repeatedly General Beauregard and General Ripley, and afterward by other guns, one of which carried other officers and men, who conducted the asaway her bow, while her smoke-stack and hull sault which resulted in the destruction of Fort were completely riddled. She fired but one shot Sumter-nearly two years ago, should now be after Colonel Yates opened upon her. She man- present aiding and assisting in its successful deaged to get away after being under our concen- fence. trated fire for nearly forty minutes, and now lies a perfect wreck off Morris Island, where her smoke-stack and one of her turrets are still visible. Portions of her furniture, including a bureau, spy-glass and other articles, have washed ashore on the beach and been secured. The firing of Colonel Yates, who is as modest as he is brave, was superb.

The other monitors of the same line had, meanwhile, come into action. They delivered their fire and rounded off at the same point as those of the first line, and finally, the whole fleet ceased firing and retired badly beaten, at halfpast five o'clock.

Our fire was concentrated upon the leading vessel (the Passaic) about thirty minutes. Her smoke-stack received seven shots, and several severe impressions were made upon the turret. A bolt from a Brooke gun struck her forward deck, ripping up the armor and making an opening through which the steam was seen to issue

I have been unable to obtain the details of the part taken by the other forts and batteries which participated in the action. Let it suffice for the present to say, that they all did well, and aided materially in the repulse of the enemy's attack, which was directed chiefly against Sumter.

There are now only six iron-clads and the Ironsides in sight at sunset this evening. A renewal of the attack is looked for at an early day, perhaps to-morrow.

A confederate vessel passed right through the blockading fleet last night, and went to sea. The Federals were too much occupied with their bruises, and dilapidated condition generally, to notice a mere blockade-runner.

Doc. 159.

ADDRESS OF JEFFERSON DAVIS. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, RICHMOND, April 10, 1868. In compliance with the request of Congress,

contained in the resolutions passed on the fourth Mississippi still bid defiance to the foe, and day of the present month, I invoke your atten- months of costly preparation for their reduction tion to the present condition and future prospects have been spent in vain. Disaster has been the of our country, and to the duties which patriot-result of their every effort to turn or storm ism imposes on us all during this great struggle Vicksburgh and Port Hudson, as well as every for our homes and our liberties. These resolu- attack on our batteries on the Red River, the tions are in the following language:

[Here follow the resolutions passed by the confederate Congress, requesting Mr. Davis to issue an address.]

Fully concurring in the views thus expressed by Congress, I confidently appeal to your love of country for aid in carrying into effect the recommendations of your Senators and Representatives.

Tallahatchie, and other navigable streams. Within a few weeks the falling waters and the increasing heats of summer will complete their discomfiture, and compel their baffled and defeated forces to the abandonment of expeditions on which was based their chief hope of success in effecting our subjugation.

We must not forget, however, that the war is not yet ended, and that we are still confronted We have reached the close of the second year by powerful armies and threatened by numerous of the war, and may point with just pride to the fleets, and that the Government that controls history of our young Confederacy. Alone, un-those fleets and armies is driven to the most desaided, we have met and overthrown the most for- perate efforts to effect the unholy purposes in midable combinations of naval and military arma- which it has thus far been defeated. It will use ments that the lust of conquest ever gathered its utmost energy to avert this impending doom, together for the conquest of a free people. We so fully merited by the atrocities it has commitbegan this struggle without a single gun afloat, ted, the savage barbarities which it has encourwhile the resources of our enemy enabled them aged, and the crowning attempt to excite a servile to gather fleets which, according to their official population to the massacre of our wives, our list, published in August last, consisted of four daughters and our helpless children. hundred and thirty-seven vessels, measuring eight With such a contest before us, there is but one hundred and forty thousand and eighty-six tons, danger which the government of your choice reand carrying three thousand and twenty-six guns; gards with apprehension; and to avert this danyet we have captured, sunk, or destroyed a num-ger it appeals to the never-failing patriotism and ber of these vessels, including two large frigates spirit which you have exhibited since the beginand one steam sloop-of-war, while four of their ning of the war. captured steam-gunboats are now in our possession, adding to the strength of our little navy, which is rapidly gaining in numbers and efficiency.

To oppose invading forces composed of levies which have already exceeded thirteen hundred thousand men, we had no resources but the unconquerable valor of a people determined to be free; and we were so destitute of military supplies that tens of thousands of our citizens were reluctantly refused admission into the service from our inability to furnish them arms, while for many months the continuation of some of our strongholds owed their safety chiefly to a careful concealment of the fact that we were without a supply of powder for our cannon.

The very unfavorable season, the protracted droughts of last year, reduced the harvests on which we depend far below an average yield, and the deficiency was, unfortunately, still more marked in the northern part of our Confederacy, where supplies were specially needed for the army. If, through a confidence in an early peace, which may prove delusive, our fields should now be devoted to the production of cotton and tobacco, instead of grain and live stock, and other articles necessary for the subsistence of the people and army, the consequences may prove serious, if not disastrous, especially should this present season prove as unfavorable as the last. Your country, therefore, appeals to you to lay aside all thought of gain, and to devote yourselves to securing your liberties, without which these gains would be valueless.

Your devotion and patriotism have triumphed over all these obstacles, and called into existence the munitions of war, the clothing and the sub- It is true that the wheat harvest in the more sistence, which have enabled our soldiers to illus-Southern States, which will be gathered next trate their valor on numerous battle-fields, and to inflict crushing defeats on successive armies, each of which our arrogant foe fondly imagined to be invincible.

month, promises an abundant yield; but even if this promise be fulfilled, the difficulties of transportation, enhanced as it has been by an unusually rainy winter, will cause embarrassments The contrast between our past and present in military operations, and sufferings among the condition is well calculated to inspire full confid-people, should the crops in the middle and northence in the triumph of our arms. At no pre-ern portions of the Confederacy prove deficient. vious period of the war have our forces been so numerous, so well organized, and so thoroughly disciplined, armed, and equipped as at present. The season of high-water, on which our enemies relied to enable their fleets of gunboats to penetrate into our country and devastate our homes, is fast passing away; yet our strongholds on the

But no uneasiness may be felt in regard to a mere supply of bread for men. It is for the large amount of corn and forage required in the raising of live stock, and the supplies of the animals used for military operations, too bulky for distant transportation; and in them the deficiency of the last harvest was mostly felt. Let your fields be