Charleston Harbor

a battle of the Civil War occurring April 7, 1863, in which monitors were first tried, and without succe , against land fortifications. The Federal Admiral Dupont proposed to capture Charleston from the Confederates by destroying Fort Sumter with ironclads and rams. He entered the harbor with seven Eric on 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 ‘‘ Pa aic’ twenty seven times. Dupont was compelled to leave the harbor after a few hours’ firing, acknowledging the impo ibility of taking the city with his fleet.