Repulse at Charleston
Battle Name : Repulse at Charleston
Date(s) : 07 April 1863
Part of : American Civil War , Naval Operations, 1863 ,
Outcome : A victory for American Confederate Forces over American Union Forces
Type of battle : Land, Sea
Summary
Union Rear Admiral du Pont with an ironclad frigate and 8 monitors attempted to attack Charleston harbour but their slow-moving craft with heavier caliber but shorter range guns in rotating turrets were of no real threat to the bastions of Forts Sumter and Moultrie which poured plunging fire onto the ironclads for 2 hours before du Pont ordered a withdrawal. They were badly battered by the forts and the Keokuk sank that night. The forts had been barely scratched. This was not to be du Pont's 'New Orleans'