THE BOAT ATTACK ON SUMTER.

Awaiting the arrival of his successor, Admiral Du Pont would not commit him to a plan that did not commend itself to his own Judgment. He had always thought Charleston could not be taken from Morris Island, but, with the loyal fidelity that had always characterized him, he put his whole force in preparation to move at a day's notice if his successor should so elect. The ammunition and coal vessels were made ready, the repairs on the monitors were held in readiness to be ended at a day's notice, preparatory orders were sent to the force off Charleston, and had Admiral Dahlgren so desired, the fleet could have moved to the attack the moment his arrangements with General Gillmore were completed.

The new and the old admirals exchanged cordial greetings ; they were old friends, and the good feeling between them was not disturbed. Both had the same object at heart, the suppression of the rebellion and the restoration of the Union. Admiral Dahlgren assumed command on the óth of July, and Admiral Du Pont left forever the active service of the navy. When, somewhat later, he was offered the command of the Pacific Squadron, far from the seat of war, he repelled with indignation the proposal that he should be employed anywhere but in the face of the enemy.

Those who did him great wrong have passed away, but his statue in imperishable bronze stands to-day in one of the most conspicuous quarters of the capital of the Republic, a quarter called by his name, to show how highly the country valued his services.

THE BOAT ATTACK ON SUMTER.
BY THOMAS H. STEVENS, REAR-ADMIRAL, U. S. N.

By July 10th, 1863, a combined movement of the United States land and naval forces in the neighborhood of Charleston had given them a footing on the south end of Morris Island, and active preparations followed for the reduction of Batteries Wagner and Gregg. The results of the movement referred to, and the establishment of batteries, gave General Gillmore's command a posmile from Wagner. For two months operations were conducted against the enemy, and during this period one or two unsuccessful sorties (1) were made from Wagner. On July 18th the second of two assaults was made against that fort, which resulted in a loss to us of from six to seven hundred men out of four regiments.(2) Of this affair Rear-Admiral Dahlgren says in his "Memoirs" :

"About sunset an aide brought a note from General Gillmore on half a blank leaf, written in pencil, saying that he had ordered an assault ; and by the waning light we could see the masses coming along the beach, but the darkness shut them in ere they reached the fort.

Presently came the flashes of light and the sharp rattle from muskets and cannon. There could be no help from us, for it was dark and we might kill friend as well as foe.

All we could do was to look on and await an issue not in our control. The contest went on for an hour and a half, and then died away. It was over ; but who had won ?" This and other statements in the « Memoirs" show the lack of mutual support between the two commanders. Without such support failure was inevitable. Had the time for the assault been fixed so that the navy could have supported the movement,-as, later, at Fort Fisher, when the fire of the ships was directed by signal,-it is fair to presume that the effect of our supporting fire would have been most demoralizing, and might have been enough so to have produced a different result.

From this time until the abandonment of Wagner and Gregg, hardly a day passed without urgent appeals for the assistance of the fleet from the commanding general, who was at times apprehensive of a sortie from the fort. Now aid was asked to intercept probable reenforcing expeditions of the enemy, and again the vessels were called on to interpose for the protection of the forces engaged in the trenches and approaches to Wagner. To all of these appeals the navy responded promptly and zealously, and under the protection of our

(1)In the "Military Beauregard " mention is made of a reconnaissance in small force on the night of July 14th-15th.-EDITORS.

(2) Ten regiments participated in the attack. The four suffering the greatest losses were the 54th Massachusetts (colored), 272 ; the 48th New York, 242 ; the 7th New Hampshire, 216 ; and the 100th New York, 175 = 905. The total Union loss was 1515.-Editors.