Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-23

portanta footing upon the island filed the troops with the
and cheer alter cheer rent the air.
low moments Gen Gilmore and staff CROSSED to tho
siand and on foot under burning SUM- scrambled the
examined the works. aud ascertaned the extent
o. inc victory The batteries had been in command Of
Capt MITCHELL who ran frightened and terror stricken the
moment Gen. Strong advanced upon the works His sub
ordinate captains and eutenants remained at the guns u
til they We're shot down and wounded aud dying fell into
our hands With the exception of the LIST South Carolina
Artillery and the 2lst South Carolina voluuteers COL
Graham all the rest Of the troops who the week before
had been encamPsd upon the island had suddenly left for
Secessonvile, Jamess Island the ent Of Cen Terry
who had proceeded to Stone river four miles to the
Old Battery Landing dsembarked his troops and pushed
one brigade two OF three miles into the interior Of
having throwing completely off their guard
and exposed twohrds Of Morris Island to easy caps
ture Gen. Beauregard supposiDg Gen. Gilmore from thu
up Stone river intended advancing By the sauna
than year snce threw his entire strength in that drec
tlon and would undoubtedly have given battle
we bad been unwse TO have accepted the challenge
But Gen. Gilmore did not for moment contemplate
hazardous an undertaking For warfare upon the
OF the South he prefers the spade the axe the siege
who has observed what difficulties he has urmounted with
in the past few weeks will venture to suggest doubt with
regard to the wisdom OF his choice
This evening" close this hasty account OF the days
work, in possession Of Of Morris Island.
and with nearly oneha of the guns captured this
ing already turned on Fort Wagner the only remaining
fort with the exception of Cummings Point required to
be taken before we have full possession
Nearly all tho afternoon the monitors have been throw
ing shell directly into Fort Wagner and have been re-
cevDg her fire in return, but without suffering any mate
rial damage, although the Admrals flagship, the Catsk.
has been struck fifty times Fort Sumter has also fired
some twenty shots from her barbette nearly all of
winch fell short from q quarter to half mile.
AT daylight in the morning attempt will be made to
carry Fort Wagner at the point of the bayonet Detach
ments OF the Seventh Connecticut Ninth Maine and Sew
enysixth Pennsylvania, all under the command of Gen
Strcng, have been detailed to perform the duty God
grant that this desperate and bloody undertaking may be
successful.
Ter q n \
The assault has been made upon Fort Wagner and we
have been repused
At three O'Clock this morning Gen. Strong led the 9TH
Connecticut under command of Lieut. COL Rodman; the
10Th Pennsylvania Major Henks, and the 9th Maine, COL
Eng boldly to the attack drove in the first line of the
enemys pickets, thrown out about half mile from
the FORT received vigorous fire from three pstoons OF
infantry in rife-pts, advanced upon and drove all
brought to the dust by rifles up to and through the
gates of the fort while the 9TH Connecticut pushed aside
the abats waded through the ditch took the southeast
bason bayoneted all who offered any resistance and
bis first line all along the parspet facing the sea- and ia
FIVE minutes wcu have had possession of the whole
fort if the 10Th Pennsylvania and the 9th Maine had sup
ported him as CALAMITY the 9TH Connecticut led One
hundred and eighty could not battle with the whole
garrison of the FORT said to be hundred strong to-
gether with grape and canister belchiDg from hotzer
Slowly this gallant little detachm mt from the Seventh
Connecticut compelled to fall hack, but not until
they had lett w0thrds OF their number in the dtches
the parapet and within the walls of the fort Lieut. COL
Rodman and nearly all his captains wounded, and
several who fell into the enemys hands supposed to
have been killed Col Rodman behaved with the greatest
gasntry, received two severe wounds through his
right leg below the knee and the other in his left side
neither of which, although severe, is thought to be
mortal The Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania and the Ninth
Maine demorazed by the FIRE of grape and canister fell
their faces and only to retire beyond range Near
all who witnessed the attack are of the opinion that the
fort would have been in possession these regiments
had Displayed half Of the persistence and galanty Of
the Seventh Connecticut As it is we have lost hun-
dred brave in killed, wounded and prisoners. Who
were killed and who were wounded 10 this bold assault
have not yet learned they in the enemys hands
With the exception of this assault nothing has been done
to-day by the army
The Monitors, however have been busy. steady FIRE
has been kept up nearly all day upon Fort Wagner and
Cummings Point; Several astompts have been made to
reinf0rce Fort Wagner but thus far they proved
unsuccessful Indeed, General Gilmore cares but little
whether they reinforce these garrisons So heavy
fire can be concentrated upon them that additional
number of troops would but furnish food for constantly
exploding she'll