April 10, 1863, The New York Herald
From all the information in our possession we are warranted in stating that the attack on Charleston has fairly commenced, and it may be, ere this time, that the great rebel stronghold has been reduced. Fort Sumter is again the object of attack – this time the Union gunboats being the aggressors. The arrival of the United States transport Fairhaven at this port yesterday brings us news from Port Royal to the 4th inst. The cannonade on Fort Sumter opened on Monday from nine of the iron-clads. A tremendous explosion took place in the harbor of Charleston a few days since, causing a jarring sensation to the whole blockading squadron six miles off. It is supposed to have been a premature explosion of some submarine machines, probably the rebel torpedoes; and if this be so the obstructions most dangerous to our fleet may have been removed by some unlooked for disaster.
The Richmond papers generally are silent upon the state of affairs at Charleston. So are the rebels on the Rappahannock. All these things indicate that success is not on the side of the enemy, whatever may be the fortunes of our attacking forces so far. We have information from rebel sources as late as the 8th inst.
The Richmond Sentinel of Wednesday says:– “It is understood that official information was received at a late hour in Monday evening to the effect that the enemy (our forces) had been attempting to cross the bar off Charleston harbor; but had not up to that time succeeded in getting over. It was believed yesterday that several federal iron-clads, eight in number, together with many transports had crossed.” “It was also believed”– says the Sentinel – a despatch was received by the Secretary of War (Randolph) on Tuesday evening, to the effect that the long expected attack had commenced, and that the enemy were bombarding Fort Sumter.” The Richmond Whig says that late on the same day our iron-clads had crossed the bar, and were then at anchor. This was officially announced.
At any moment, then, we may receive important intelligence from Charleston.
General Copeland, of General Stahl’s division, made a successful raid to Aldie, Middleburg and Ropersville, in Loudon county, Va., in which he captured some seventy rebels and over one hundred horses.
The President paid a visit to the Army on the Rappahannock on Sunday, and had a review of the army by brigades.
The report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War, relative to the Bull run battles and the disaster at Ball Bluff is published. Although it relates to events so far removed, it is highly interesting. The testimony is voluminous and minute.
The news from the West is not encouraging. A despatch from Clarksville, Tenn., dated Wednesday, says that the steamboat Lovell and the propeller Saxonia were captured and burned by the rebels fifteen miles above. The captain of the Lovell was killed and the captain of the Saxonia lost an arm. The first engineer of the Lovell was wounded. Woodward commanded the rebels, who were twelve hundred strong, with two pieces of artillery.
Rebel despatches from Chattanooga say that a Union force of 15,000 men is advancing on Columbia, and that a battle in imminent.
A new canal has been commenced across the peninsula, near Vicksburg, eight miles long, and beyond the range of the rebel batteries. Admiral Farragut holds the river from Vicksburg to Port Hudson. General Grant and Commodore Porter had gone up the Yazoo on a reconnoissance. A rebel despatch from Fort Pemberton, dated the 5th, states that the Union troops had embarked on board their steamers, and were in full retreat.
The United States steam transport Pioneer, Captain Hazleton, from Beaufort, N.C., 5th instant, arrived at this port last evening, and reports that General Foster was at Washington, N.C., hemmed in by the rebels. The steamer Sylvan Shore left Beaufort for Washington, N.C., on the 4th instant, and when a few miles below that place was fired upon by a rebel battery on shore, which resulted in the killing and wounding of several of the crew of the Sylvan Shore, and compelled her to return to Beaufort.