Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-08-28
War News.
Important from Charlestoa.-Th c
Walls Of Sumter badly damaged.-
Boffey,, IFoo.,,e,. ,SiIenced = Death

Ddttefy VdgHer OHeaced.-Dedt'
Of Commander Rodgers.
The United States supply steamer
Arkansas arrived at the navy yard
Philadelphia, on Sunday from thu
South Atlantic blockading squadron
with ITO passengers, prisoners anC
inyalids. She left Charleston Wed
nesday morning, and reported tina
the navy and army shore batteries
have done tremendous destruction
on Fort Sumter. The south anC
east face Of the fort looks like
honey comb, and complete demol
ishment Of the walls is looked for il
a week. The Arkansas experienced
very heavy weather from Charleston
to the Capes of Virginia.
The Arkansas left the fleet at I
o'clock Wednesday morning. AT
that time huge volumes of smoke
were seen issuing from Sumter, as
if from burning Of cotton, and the
officers Of the Arkansas believe that
the fort would be captured or en-
tirely destroyed by noon Her guns
were replying feebly to our shot,
Fort Gregg had been entirely silenc-
cd. Wagner still held out. The
bombardmnt continued without ces-
sation during Tuesday night, and
was renewed Wednesday morning,
and when he Arkansas left the fir
ing was furious, the Ironsides, five
monitors, and the shore batteries
being all engaged. Two refugees
from Savannah, named James II. Ca
lift and Dhn G. Collum, are pas
sengers Oh the Arkansas. They re-
port that there is nearly famine in
DR.. Robert Gibbs, sur
geon Of the rebel ram Fingal, is a
prisoner on the Arkansas, and will
be sent to Fort Delaware.
An account of the attack, dated
Dinsmore, Tuesday, the
18th, says: The attack on Sumter
commenced at daybreak yesterday
by the siege batteries of Gen. Gil
more, and the naval battery on the
shore. At s o'clock Admiral Dahl
gren proceeded on board the Wee
lawkon, and with the Ironsides and.
the entire monitor fleet, attacked
Wagner and Gregg with
great fury, completely silencing
and almost silencing Gregg.
The wooden gunboat5, seven in num-
DER, also joined in the assault and
all Of the shore batteries
20 pour their shot and she'll on Sum
.er. At 7 o'clock the admiral chang
ed his flag to the Passaic; and with
lie PatapSco, proceeded to within
about 400 yards Of Sumter and
3hellod the sea wall with the riaed
guns of those vessels for about an
lcur, with marked effect. Sumter
ired about fifty return shots, doing
10 damage to the vessels, whilst the
wall Of Sumter was badly SCARED.
Fleet captain George w. Rodgers
ook command Of his old vessel, the
monitor CatskiIl, and went up into
he fight, going within $50 yards of
he beach in front of battery Wag-
Ter. After firing a number of shot,
shot from Wagner broke a piece
# the interior lining which struck
n the head of Capt. RodgC rs,
killing him, as we'll as Pay
Master Woodbury., who was stand
ne at his side. Both of their heads
we're split open. These were the
'nly persons injured on land or
water during the six hours engage
lent.
The damage done to Sumter by
he siege batteries of Gen. Gilmore
s visible without the aid of a glass.
'he rebels had erected false wall /
gain8t the wa exposed to our bat
cries. 1t extended to within 10
Get of the top of the wall, over 40
get high, and 10 feet thick, and this
vail is now a mass of ruins, whilst
he old wall is bored full of deep ,
oles, the parapet crushed and rag
ed, and the northwest corner cash
d and cracked down almost to the
'ater's edge.
The harbor and Stone river are
He'd with torpedoes. About a doz- I
Ii OF them have been picked up in {
he Stone, and one was exploded
nder the PaUapsco, raising her a
Dot out of the water, but doing her
o harm. None of the vessels were
Injured in the least, and the admiral /
nd his officers are confident in the |
bility of the Monitors to batter
own Sumter. He is, however, anx- {
ous to save the vessels for the |
eavy work required of them after c
umter is taken, and to let the army c
educe Sumter if possible. The l
Get, except the Weehawken and
'ahant, all retired before 2 o'clock.
'hese remained to keep Wagner 81
mt during the afternoon, and to t
revent the re-mounting of guns. 5
he shore batteries continued fringIi