Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-08-21

island, the guns of Fort Wagner were trained on
the beach, so rs 10 sweep its entire length, and
in fact it was rendered anything but an agreeable
promenade at that time. But now the soldiers
can walk on the beach with impunity to within
q mile and a half of Fort Wagner, not fearing
any trouble from the guns of that work.
Fort Gregg, otherwise known the Cum
mings Point Battery, is completely out of the
question at present. The special points of in
terc,t are Forts Sumter, johnson. and before
intimated Fort Wagner. Let the forts be re-
duced, aud the land forces wild have achieve all
that can be required OF them nlheir present situ'-
ton Tho ron.clads must do the rest in the reduc
ton of Charleston. Fort Moultre occasionally
throws shell, but for what purpose it is difficult
to conceive. rs the projectie invariably falls in
the water without causing the slightest damage
to any Union material.
OF the health Of the Union troops, it may be
said that they are comparatively in good con-
dition. The cases Of sickness have been great.
ly reduced da.ing he past ten days, and the
probability is. that in the course Of another
week the sick list will be very small. Those
who are sick have the best treatment and atten.
ton, being innno diatcy conveyed to Hilton Head,
where Recommendations have been provided for
them. AS yet their have been 10 signs of thc
yellow favcr or any other epidemic, and such j.
not ariTehended OH the island this season. A
few cases occurred last year AZ Hilton Head bin.
such sanitary measures have been taken rs, it is
believed, will prevent return of that class of
disease this summer. On Morris Island not
tree or shrub is 10 be found. The orly thing
that approaches vegetation, even i'll its simplest
form, is a kind Of rank grass which is discovered
in c,rtnin spots. like III" oAsi. in the desert
The absence of vegetation is believed 10 have =
salutary cffect on the health OF the soldiers. AS
wouldsSe naturally supposed, the climate here is
excessively warns especially in early morning.
tnINt, Al n n
breeze, which continues FOR ihe remainder Of the
day md long into night. Within the past six
DAYS 100 men have been sent from the hospitals
to their rcgimccts. In fact, nne or two hospitals
have been broken up entirely.
II must not be supposed lat Morris Island is
a level plain Of sand. There can be no doubt
about the sand but the is!ard is By no means
free from hills and low bluffs. especially on the
lower cr ~0uthern end These bluffs extend
about one ami half miles parallel with the
island, or to The look out tower. Beyo,d that
point, the country is comparatively even, but
abounds with marshes. From the peculiar
shape OF the island and the contracted limits
which can be occupied. it is impossible 20 con
lecture upon ii n very heavy number of men.
Notwithstanding this. however, it i: thought we
have troops enough to accomplish the object IN.
tended
L. will not be matter of news to state that
trenches and parallels. The nature of the next
conflict can be easily surmiSel. 1t will be, for
the most part. an artillery duel.
Lighthouse ln!cs has certainly become
famous harbor On the Carolina coast. The
rebels, III looking from their observatory Just
below Fort johnson, cannot be otherwise than
astonishcd TO witness the feet Of vessels OF va
rlouS kinds thai are constantly anchored ut
that point. Perhaps they also witness with
feelings of regret the wreck of the impudent
Ruby, which was driven on the beach by the
blockadcrs while attempting TO run the gaunt-
let with contraband cargo, up Lighthouse
Creek. Communication between Morris and
Folly Island is kept up by means of q small :
steamer which hourly plies back and FORTH
In addition to the steamer, dozen or more
row-bea.s are always on ono or the other shore;
50 there is never lack of transportation
Captain Payne, with eleven men of the
One Huudrcith New York, were taken pri-
soners while making q reconnaissance last
week.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
4 correspondent of the Port Royal New
South furnishes the following:
Norris 1sLA>D, Tuesday, Aug. t. 1867
There is very lit;le rublishable news Of inter-
est since our last advices. Our lines have
been steadily advanced under hot fire from
the enemy, with scarcely casualty. Not
one has been reported for two days. Our ad-
vance is now only about COO yards from Fort
Wagner.
Our batteries and the feet allow the enemy
but very little rest. Occasionally there has
been very sharp and continuous firing, and
on one or two occasions the Wacncritcs have
vigorousiv for a few moments, as if
enrag"d ut the effect of our shells, but the
principal shelling is from Sumter, Fort John
son and ts outworkS. and Battery Gregg.
Col. Jas. Montgomery, while commanding
in the trenchcs, Lieut.. Col. Abbott and Major
Henderson. of the Seventh New Hampshire,
hal a very narrow escape q day or two since.
from spherical shot which burst directly over
their heads: and there is scarcely an officer
who has been at the front without some similar
adventure No officer has been wounded, how
ever. since my last letter. Major Henderson,
Of tho Seventh New Hampshire, had narrow
escape one night in TRENCH near the front,
which. believe, has not been chroniclcd in
the New South. He WAS sitting in the
trench, with several others, when an immense
proectle from the rebel works, struck in the
bank directly behind them, tipping over half
u cart load Of dirt upnn them. and nearly hurry.
ing them up. Major Henderson found himself
firmly fixed in the sand. with the elongated
lU-inch implement of destruction lying up
against his shoulder. Surprising it to be
shell, unable to stir an. inch the Majors sem
sations. from the time Of discovering the pro-
icctie until he became convinced that it was
a solid shot can better be imagined than dos
crihel.
The troops do not seem to suffer at ali from
the climate. Barren, sandy, with no shade,
Morris Island was at first rated disagrcca-
bic spot for the troops, but longer acquain-
tance has resulted III very favorable opinions.
IF there are no trees, the sea breezes sweep
across the island unintcrruptedly if the sand
bluffs are disagreeable to travel over, the
beach is one Of the finest in the world, wide
enough for general thoroughfare, solid and
smooth as marble floor. At Folly Island the
water is disasreeabe and unhealthy; here, the
absence Of all vegetation renders it clear and
sweet The camps are we'll policed, and if
they care well for themselves there need be no
serious sickness among the troops.
In Gen. Gillmorc's marquee are three elc-
CANT flags which have been captured on this
island. Two belonged to the Twenty-irst
South Carolina, one Of the old and the other
the new style. The old one has "Pocotaligo"
inscribed un it, anil was captured by Private
Poper Counslnw, Co. u, Sixth Connecticut, on
the 10Th ult., after shooting the rebel color |
bearer.
TIE DRAFT. ETC.
ALBANY, Thursday, Aug. l3.-An official re |
por, made by AJjutant General SPrague tn Gov. !
Seymour day, shows tha; New York city has
furnished from the beginning of the war 33623
men in excess of al her quotas, not counting !
2QS3l men sent by her on occasion OF sudden !
peril for the defence Of the National Capital. i
The Sixteenth New Hampshire regiment. COL !
Pike. arrived to>day from Port Hudson and took |
the Eastern train for home!
IN PHILADELPHIA. |
From the Ledger, Aug. 49,
In several Congressional Districts in Philadeh |