Abbeville Press

THE YANKEE IRONCLADS OFF. CHARLESTON,

A correspondent of the Chicago Times, writing from the Monitor Catskill, one of the fleet under the command of Admiral Dahlgren, communicates the following, which shows good gunnery at Charleston:

This morning 9:20 went to quarters steaming to Cummings Point; at 10:05 fired our first shot; kept up firing all the morning till 12:15, when we hauled off just beyond range for dinner, at one spliced the main brace, and it was needed, for the berth deck, when we are in action, is awfully hot, and full of powder smoke. The fellows in the turret have the most and hardest work, yet have plenty of fresh air. This morning we sent to one of the wooden vessels near some of the men who were tired out, most of them firemen, and a boy that belongs in the turret. A piece of shell came in the port, striking him in the foot, cutting him some. Yesterday noon we sent away Mr. Simmons, our master, he having fainted, or it was the concussion of a shot striking against the turret, while he was leaning against the side of it.

This noon, about 2 p. m., we were all mustered on deck. The captain wished to know if any of us thought we were not able to go in again, but they all seemed willing to try it once more. We have an Admiral this time that knows his business, and is not afraid of sinking the vessels. Our decks and pilothouse, as well as turret and smokestack, are cut up; one shot nearly went through the galley letting down day-light, and water by the bucketful, and another over the engine room, the same way. We were struck yesterday forty-nine times, most of them pretty hard, and to-day some fifteen or twenty times more. Our smoke stack also is badly torn, several shots having gone through it. One solid shot lodged on our deck yesterday. The captain has possession. Thousands of pieces of them are around. I can't tell whether we are in again or not. The Admiral has an hour to see the General or how he stands it. Sumter is still playing them.