The New York herald., 1863-08-20
New York. Thursday. August 40, 1868.
THE SITUATION.

New York. Thursday, August 40, 1863.
THE SITUATION.
The draft was proceeded with in the Ninth
ward yesterday without any attempt at resistance.
No riotous demeanor was exhibited in any quarter,
as will be seen by the ample particulars sup
piled by our reporters in another part Of the
paper. The drafting will be resumed to-day.
Our latest news from Charleston ia to Sunday
evening. The grand bombardment was to have
commenced on the next day. The attack set
down for the 18th was postponed on account OF
General Gillmore's serious illness. Our siege guns
while getting range ON Sumter knocked several
holes in the walls. The rebels showed signs Of
evacuating. Several guns were removed from the
parapets and casemates, and line Of earthworks
was thrown up on James Island. The great
est activity in the movement Of small
vessels around the fort at night had
been observed by our picket boats.
The rebels have piled wall Of sand bags forty
feet high in the rear Of Sumter to protect the
magazine. 1t was designed that when the attack
opened on Monday the Ironsdes would engage
Fort Wagner and keep her silent, while the Moni-
tors and shore batteries engaged Sumter; at the
same time the wooden feet and mortar schooners
would engage Moultre.
The government received despatch from
Charleston via Fortress Monroe yesterday, to the
effect that on Friday and Saturday the lombard
ment was terrific. The sea wasso rough on Sunday
that the gunboats could not bring their fire to
bear very steadily.
There ia nothing from General Meade's army to.
day.
Our Yorktown letter contains the particulars Of
little naval affair on the PiankatSnk river, and
she. arrest Of noted blockade runner. We regret
to say that Captain Hotchkiss, Of the gunboat
General Putnam, was killed on that occasion.
Our news from the South Is interesting General
Halleck. as will be seen, has issued orders to exc.
cute General W. H. Lee and Captain winder as soon
as information is received at Fortress Monroe that
the rebels have executed Captains Sawyer and
Flynn. The Richmond papers Of Saturday, the
18th. however, make no mention Of the execution
Of these officers, which was appointed for Friday,
and the probability is that the matter has been
dropped. The Richmond papers Of the same
date say that the best spirits pervadc Lees
army. Generals Lee and Ewell are reported in
excellent health No army movements are spoken
of, the intense heat preventing even the cavalry
making any demonstration. The Examiner, on the
subject of conscription, says that the rebel army
being now as strong as the country can support,
it not conscription but the return Of stragglers
and the prevention of descrtion, even to the mer-
ciless application Of the death penalty, which the
confederaey reqaires and IL that be not rgidly en-
forced there is no hope for the South.
The Savannah NeUs Of the sth inst. gives q full
account OF the capture of launch Of the United
States frigate Wabash by the rebel blockade run
ner Juno. on the night of the 4th inst. The affair
took place about one mile from Cummings Point
Acting Master E. L. Haines and ten of our men
were captured Twelve others who were In the
boat escaped by swimming. A recent copy OF the
Mobile Advertiser states that many OF the troops
Of the late vicksburg garrison have taken French
leave and gone home without furloughs. Lieuten-
ant General Hardee succeeds General Pemberton.
The rebel steamer Robert Habersham was totally
destroyed by FIRE on the morning of the sth inst.
The entire crew were either killed or mortally
injured. A special order has been issued by the
rebel General Mercer in Savannah ocnscripting all
the able-bodied negroes within his district. The
Macon (Ga.) Telegraph Gays that "thc rebel cur.
rency l. getting some hard knocks one dollar
grcenback 10 worth eleven dollars OF Confederate
money" The Fort Pulaski correspondent of the
Nesc South published a. Hilton Head, s. C3.
writing under date OF the 10th inst. mentions the
escape and safe arrival at that point OF numerous
contraband refugees from Savannah. One Of these
refugees was the cook of the rebel ram sayan.
nah. He says that on the 9th instant the
Savannah steamed down the river OF that name.
with the intention Of going to sea, but when she
naared the obst,uctions she broke one of her en-.
gines and was Obliged TO put back for repairs.
The testimony Of these refugees corroboratcs what
has been previously published in reference 10 sa.
vannah. There are but two thousand troops in
and arouud the city, and although the authori.
ties have no troops 10 man them s,,,, ,hev
are erecting additional fortifcations bear.
ing on the Savannah river. The u,most
alarm prevails, fearing at any moment.
~ they do, an advance by us. The blockade run.
ner Everslsde is lying OF Thuuderbol, battery IN
wilmington river, waiting for an opportunity to
run The blockade Of Warsaw Sound. portion Of