Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-09-16
From The Charleston Mercury, 7th instant.
The Siege---Evacuation of Morris Is
land by our Forces, Etc.

land by our Forces, Etc.
The dawn of Friday last revealed large
United States banner-the hated flag Of
stars and stripes-aauntiug from work Of
the enemy within one hundred and fifty
yards of Wagner.
On the same morning, which from imper-
feet information, we, in our last issue, erro-
neously reported as comparatively quiet, the
enemy opened, just before o'clock, with
their Parrot guns upon that fort; firing
first upon the flank curtain, and gradually
edging toward the centre. At quarter
past 5, the Ironsides drew up within l,5OO
yards, and commenced to shell with great
rapidity. 1t was not until quarter to 8
that she retired, having kept up continu.
GUS fire for more than two hours and halt.
The loss sustained at Wagner by this fire
fell principally upon the 25th S. c. V.
During this day, the enemy advanced
their parallels only very short distance
from their main approach.
Ats o'clock, on Saturday, the enemy a.
gain opened upon Wagner from all their
land batteries, assisted by the Ironsides,
several gun.boats, and an occasional shot
from the monitors. This hombardment--
beyond all doubt the most fierce and long
continued which has taken place against
Wagner since the beginningo of the siege
lasted throughout Saturday and Saturday
night, and did not abate until Sunday NOR
ming at 8 o'clock Nor was this abatement
of much duration. The fire was soon re-
newed, and was continued with little less
yigor all Sunday, the Ironsides-which
maintained position between Gregg and
Wagner, and kept shelling Wagner and the
beacb-being especially active.
1t was on Saturday night, however, and
on Sunday morning up to 8 a. M, that the
bombardment ragged with its greatest fury.
The shots-many of them coming together,
as from the broadside Of ship-were often
more than sixty to the minute.
Our batteries on James Island of course
joined in the melee, and did their utmost
to annoy the eueny's land batteries.
But the bombardment of Wagner was
not the only event Of Saturday night. A
bout 10 o'clock, the enemy displayed from
the deck of monitor off Morris Island an
immense calcium light, and several moni.
tors soon after moved up and opened on
Battery Gregg. Moultrie and Gregg re-
piled with spirit At a quarter to 2, a
rocket was thrown up, and ere many min
utes elapsed, the enemy were deserted ap.
preaching Morris Islandat point between
Gregg and Wagner. They had come down
in barges through the creek West of Morris
Island, obviously with the design of as.
saulting Gregg in the rear. Advancing i'll
line of battle they were permitted to come
very near, when nine inch Dahlgren open.
ed upon them at short range, with double
canister Our howitzers then commenced
a fire of shrapnel and canister, while our
infantry, admirably posted, poured into
them fire of musketry. Moultrie, Battery
Bee, and Battery Mitchell also opened upon
them rapid and most demoralizing fire.
This they could not Withstand, and though
for very short while they maintained fire
of musketry and grape shot from their bar
ges, they we're soon forced to withdraw,
seemingly much surprised and confused by
their reception and our admirable disposi.
ton. 1t is said that few gained the shore
but these soon scampered to their boats, so
that no prisoners were taken. The loss in
flicted upon the enemy in this bafled at
tempt atan assault was probably not incon.
siderable, but as all who we're struck fell
in the boats, the extent of that loss is of
course unknown. Some bodies we're found
WHICH foated ashore.
1t is almost impossible to describe the
terrible beauty of the scene in Charleston
harbor, as witnessed on Saturday night from
the city. From Moultrie almost to Seces-
sionville, a whole ser,i.circle of the horizon
was lit up by iucessant flashes from cannon
and shell. As peal on peal of artillery
rolled across the waters, one could scarcely
resist the belief that not less than a thous-,
and great guns were in action. It was a
grand chorus of hell, in which Moloch
might have assisted and over which Satan
might have presided. All.this went on be-
meath waning September moon, which,
with its warm Southern light, melloWed by
a somewhat misty atmosphere, brought out
softly, yet distinctly, the most distant out
lines of the harbor.
The loss at Wagner during this awful
bombardment was considerable. Up to 8
o'clock, on Sunday, it amounted to one
hundred and fifty in killed and Wounded
Probably many more were added to these
casualties in the course Of the day. At
Gregg, there were but eight casualties on
Saturday night, during the skirmish with
the barges.
Under cover of their ceaseless fire, the
Yankees had approached on Sunday within
forty yards of Wagner.
During the bombardment of Friday last,
the brave and jealous Major Marley was
wounded at Wagner by the fragment of
shell. Hew Struck on the ankle, and the
wound is said not to be severe. About 8
o'clock P. m. of that day, he was put into
barge-the Leo, belonging to Gen. Rip.
ley-to be brought to the city. Of this
barge, with its gallant freight, and of its
crew, which was made up of white men,