The Probert Encyclopaedia of Warfare

BATTLE OF CHARLESTON HARBOUR

The Battle of Charleston Harbour was a battle of the American Civil War occurring on April the 7th 1863, in which monitors were first tried (without success) against land fortifications. The Federal Admiral Dupont proposed to capture Charleston from the Confederates by destroying Fort Sumter with iron-clads and rams. He entered the Harbor with seven Ericsson monitors, the frigate 'Ironsides' and the 'Keokuk', both partially iron-clad. The monitor 'Weehawken' led the way. An advance was immediately made upon Fort Sumter, Forts Morris and Moultrie being disregarded. The Confederates opened fire upon the fleet from all three forts, including 300 guns. The fleet was quickly disabled and thrown into the utmost confusion. The 'Ironsides' became entangled with the monitors, the 'Keokuk' was struck ninety-nine times, the 'Passaic' twenty-seven times. Dupont was compelled to leave the Harbor after a few hours' firing, acknowledging the impossibility of taking the city with his fleet.
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