April 13, 1863, The New York Herald
The arrival of the steamer George Peabody from New Orleans, Hilton Head and Charleston puts in possession of the details of the attack on the latter place, from which the Peabody sailed on the 9th, two days after the fight commenced. Our Monitors stood fire splendidly. The Keokuk, it appears, was damaged by the explosion of a torpedo under her bottom, which so seriously injured her that Captain Rhind ran her on the shoal off Morris Island, where she now lies, a complete wreck. Although the fire poured upon her was terrific, no one was injured except Captain Rhind, and he only slightly. The Nahant received five hundred shots, some of which so riddled her smokestack and injured her turret that she had gone to Port Royal for repairs. The Ironsides was struck forty times, but not damaged. Fort Sumter fired hot shot, but two of her ports were knocked into one by the fire of our vessels. During the engagement on the afternoon of the 7th our iron-clads were so near to the city of Charleston that their two hundred-pounder Parrott guns could with ease have landed shells in it; but as the movement was only intended as a preliminary one to the grand attack, Admiral Du Pont would not permit the city to be shelled. The rebel iron-clads Palmetto State and Chicora were in sight, and tried the range of their guns, but did not attempt to make use of their boasted powers as rams; and it was not until our iron-clads retired that they came out fairly from behind the walls of Sumter.
General Hunter had gone up the bay when the Peabody was at Charleston. It was reported at the latter place and at Port Royal that our troops were rapidly gaining the rear of Charleston. The details which we give today, and the map accompanying them, are worthy of the most careful attention.
The Peabody also brings a list of the lost on board the Diana at Bayou Sars. A rumor was prevalent in New Orleans, which came from rebel sources, that General Bragg had been defeated in a great battle by General Rosecrans. As this news comes from no other quarter, it may have reference to the defeat of Van Dorn.
We have an official account of the defeat of the rebel Van Dorn at Franklin, Tenn., by General Granger’s forces. The rebels numbered 15,000, and lost three hundred in killed and wounded. Our loss was only one hundred. General Stanley made a magnificent charge with his cavalry, capturing a battery and several prisoners, whom, however, he was unable to hold, owing to the nature of the country.
By an arrival from Vicksburg we learn that seven of our iron-clads were prepared to run the blockade on Saturday night.
The reports from Newbern, N.C., represent General Foster as still surrounded, up to Wednesday night, at Washington. The reinforcements, numbering seven thousand, which attempted to reach him, were driven back eight miles, with the loss of fifty men. Foster obstinately refuses to surrender the town.
The bread riots in Richmond are not over yet. The authorities are in great alarm, and momentarily expect a fresh outbreak. The soldiers were greatly demoralized and exasperated at the starvation to which their families are subjected.
Two Anglo-rebel schooners were captured at Wilmington, N.C., on the 24th ult., while endeavoring to run into New Inlet. They were the Rising Dawn, from Prince Edward’s Island, and the Mary Jane, of Nassau. They were taken by the United States steamers State of Georgia and Mount Vernon, and sent to New York for adjudication.