The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-09-09

which have been hit. The great majority fall
into the water outside the beach, and expend
their force upon the curbing surf.
Four monitors, the Passaic, Patapsco, Ma
hant and Monituk, came in yesterday p. NJ,
and engaged Fort Moultrie and the batteries
ON Sullivan's Island, firing occasional shots at
Sumter and Wagnea. The engagement open.
ed at helf past 3, aud about two hours fire
maintained with great intensity, particularly
on the rebel side. The firing from Moultrie
and battero Bee was terrific. Their heavy
guns ratified off like a snare drum in tattoo
and the water about the monitors fying ND in
all directions. Many shots struck the moni.
tors, but did little damage. Heavy rifle and
I5-inch shells of ironclsds burst with effect over
and in Moulrie, and sent the earth whirling
in all directions.
Wagner was repeatedly struck by explo-
ding shells and somewhat damaged. She fired
but few shots during the contest at the Monl-
tors. Battery Gregg was exceedingly active,
her heavy guns in play from hrst to last OF
the engagement made some excellent shots
The Monitors shells went wildly on all. sides
and had no effect in silencing her guns! Sum-
ter was struck several times by rifle shells
from the Passaic and Patapsco, but besides
detaching masses of loose masonry it did no
further damage tie the Fort. No guns We're
dismounted if they exist.
After two CT three-kours G-Atin . the Meni-
tors withdrew. The object of the attack has
not been developed.
Some days since the enemy made a syste-
matte effort to blow up and destroy the gun
boats and transports in Stone Inlet by means
of torpedoes. Fortunately no serious damage
was inflicted on any of the vessels by these
internal machines, but escaped quite narrow
enough for comfort. One torpedo exploded
a little astern of the Pawnee, and blew off her
launch, which was ostern.
A few moments later q tremendous explo-
sion occurred on Bird Key, a few rods below
the Pawnee, oecas;oned by another torpedo
sent down at the same time.
From facts since developed it is certain the
rebels sent down on that night at least ten cf
these inventions. Three or four exploded,
and four were picked up. One drifted thro'
the feet of transports and NY to Folly Island,
and exploded under the boats of the mortar
schooner C. p. Williams, but occasioned no
damage.
The torpedoes are precisely like those we
have found in Light House Greek, and go off
at the slightest conclusion.
The Iri6une's Morris Island letter states
that Wagner will be held to the last moment,
and nothing, it is said, but want of water will
compel her to surrender. The dead lie SO
thickly around her walls the water from her
shallow wells cannot be drank. IF compellsd
by thirst, some of the soldiers are so impru-
dent as to swallow it. The next day they are
in the hospital, and before the close of the
week many of them are in their graves.
Brave attempts have been made to supply
water from Charleston, but thus far but a
small quantity has been furnished.
Only at midnight or under cover of some
dense fog in the morning has any vessels been
known to reach there for the past eight days
If the monitors would only cut off the COM
munication for one week longer the fort would
be in our possession, and with Fort Wagner.
Fort Gregg, and the whole of Morris Island
once ours, she stars and stripes, in a few hours
would wave over Sumter.
We are now within 100 yards of Wegner
By tomorrow our heaviest Parrots will be able
to deliver fire at a distance of 200 yards into
every embasure commanding the beach and
an enflading one upon every gun looking sea
ward.