The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-09-01
FROM CHARLESTON.

with unabated fury, but tnaI iou' "o"
which the occupation OF the CRY was 10 oe ":
complished. seems to be frightening out. AS an
nounced by telegraph, on Friday last Gen. Gilmore
demanded the surrender of Sumter and the works
on Morris Island We append an extract from
Gen. Beauregards defiant reply. The latter de-
.cined to surrender either place.
Gilmore has made himself infamous among the
mos. infamous leaders of this war, by his dastardly
attack upon the city under circumstances which
precluded the least notice being given to the
sleeping non-combatants. The fire on the city on
Saturday morning did little damage, and no casu-
alties are reported from it. Twelve eight-lnch
shells fell into the city. Only one struck build
ing, falling through the roof of warehouse be-
longing to G.. w. Williams & Co., corner of Hayne
and Church streets, and exploded in the upper
story, scattering the Medical Purveyors stores in
great confusion. The shells seemed to be aimed
at st. Mchaels steeplc, as most OF them went IN
that direction.
On Sunday night the Yankees again opened fire
ON the city at intervals of fifteen minutes. Some
fourteen incendiary shells were thrown in. Six
buildings were struck, but no person was injured.
During the fire our boys kept up rapid, trench
dous fire from James Island, in connection with
batteries Gregg and Wagner, causing considerable
annoyance and damage to the enemy.
The casualties in the different works on the
Islands are very few, the name of but one North
Caronian occurring, j. III. Melssenhamer, 9th
n. g. r., flesh wound in the arm.
we rejoice to see such buoyant spirits animating
those who seem to know the true condition of at
fairs at Charleston. A private despatch which
we give this morning is also full of hope. Char
lesion may not fall, but if it does it will not fall
like New Orleans and some other places-ignobly
From the Charleston Courier Aug. 9th.
The reported assault on Battery Wagner, Tues
l. III dad fol he.
tween the pickets. The enemy advanced in strong
force evidently intending to surprise our pickets
and capture the rifle pits. His force is supposed
TO have been between one thousand and fifteen
hundred strong, with battery of light artillery.
Our force was only between two and three hun
drcd consisting of detachments Of the Fifty-foarth
Georgia and Sixty-frst North Carolina. The fight
lastyl about an hour, when the Yankees retired,
carl yug IF their dead and wounded. Their loss
j. believed to have been considerable, as our bat
.cries on James Island kept up heavy fire dur
no The action. Our loss was five killed and nine
teen wounded The Fifty fourth Georgia Regi-
zaent suffered severely.
The following wounded were brought to the city
Wednesday morning and placed in the hospital:
Capt. y. j. Moore, privates Thos Dowd, } NJ An
derson Q Newton, and Richard Grimsley, all of
the Glst N. g. Regime
In the afternoon, one of the Monitors moved up
and opened fire on Battery Gregg, with an occa-
sional shot at Sumter. Battery Gregg replied,
several shots taking effect. The engagement
continued about an hour and half, when the
Monitors retired. About half past six last
ing very heavy firing again commenced, and was
kept up for. several hours The cannonadng ex-
ceeded in severity any heretofore heard. Official
dispatches were received stating that the enemy
had appeared with overwhelming infantry
force, and another assault antici pated.
At later hour the dispatches announced that
the enemy'had succeeded in carrying our outer
line OF rifle pits. 1t was req orted, however, that
troops had been reinforced and the pits
taken. Very heavy and continuous discharges of
musketry were heard about ten o'clock, and it was
believed that the engagement had been renewed.
CHARLESTON, Aug. 2s.-The bombardment of
Sumter and Wagner proceeds sluggishly. The
enemy is working hard in their trenches in front of
battery Wagner. No further attempt has been
made to shell the city.
Our fire against the enemy to-day has been very.
effective. The enemy is strengthening his position
at our rife pits, three hundred yards in front of
Wagner. Everything perfectly quiet except an
occasional boom Of gun.
GEN. BEAUREGARD'S REPLY.
On the 2lst August, Gen. Gilmore the com
mander CT the yankee troops off Charleston, de-
manded the surrender of Fort Sumter and Morris
Island threatening to she'll the city of Charleston
if the demand was not complied WITH and allow
ing only four hours for the removal of COM
batants. From Gen. Beauregard's reply we make
the following extract:
"Among nations not barbarous, the usages of
war prescribe that when city is about to be at
tackled, timely notice shall be given by the attack
ing commander, in order that non combatants may
have an opportunity for withdrawing beyond its
limits. Generally, the time allowed is from one
to three days. that is time for the withdrawal, in
good faith, of at least the women and children
You, sir, gave only four hours knoaoinq that YOUR
notice, under existing circumstances, could not
reach me i'll less than two hours and that not less
than the same time would be required for. All
answer to be conveyed from this city to Battery
Wagner; with this knowledge you threaten to open
fire on this city, not to obge its surrender, but to
force me to evacuate these works which YOU,
assisted by great naval force have been attacking
in vain for more than forty days.
Batteries Wagner and Gregg and Fort Sumter
are nearly due north from your batteries on Morris
Island, and in distance therefrom VARYING from
half mile to two and quarter miles; this city on
the other hand, is to the northwest and quite five
miles distant from tho battery opened against it
this morning
1t would appear, sir, that, despairing of re-
ducing these works, you now resort to the novel
measure OF turning your guns against the old men,
4.he women AID children, and the hospitals of
sleeping city, an act of inexcusab+e barbarity,
of