Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-09-25
SIEGE or CHARLESTON.

NEW YORK, sept. IL.
letter TO the Times dated on board the
lronsides the lih inst. says the Navy has NOT
engaged the rebel works since Tuesday night.
The firing has been confined to a few rounds
from Johnson and Moulttie at the captured
torts-Gregg and Wagner The prisoners
including the officers, are still within the
Fort. A flag Of truce sent ont yesterday
brought the intelligence from Lieut.. Preston
that he and his officers were we'll treated and
as comfortable as the circumstances would
admit Beauregard took the opportunity to
send threatsping message to Admiral Dahl
gren that be would place the Union prisoners
on the parapet Of Sumter, if the Navy made
1t an object Of fire. Admiral Dahlgren re-
piled with as much dignity as the nature Of
the case would admit Of that if he beau
regard should resort to such heathenish
mode OF proceeding, then be might look at
the same hour for rebel prisoners, tied 70 the
outer surface Of the Monitors turtets 1t is
thought the answer Of the Admiral will do
much towards bringing the bob-tal Beaure-
gard to sense Of the rules Of civil warfare
A Morris Island letter Of the llth states
that the health of the troops is good Gen.
Gilmore has issued a general order giving
thirty days furlough to privates who have dis
unguished themselves in the recent siege.
They are not to exceed two per cent. Of the
effective force on the Island and must be re-
commended by their Colones
Ever since the oc upation Of Gregg aod
Wagner the rebels have been exceedingly
morose aud savage They do not allow us a
moments peace. From dawn till evening they
are crossing their fire over Gregg from their
Sullivan's and James Island batteries They
have inflicted upon US no damage since the
death Of Capt Baker on "Wednesday. They
fire night ami day upon Wagner. but they
left such an admirably constructed work and
safe bomb proofs that no one is injured by
their missiles. Since Tuesday ten or twelve
deserters have ccme in from James Island be-
longing mostly to Georgia regiments. They
report continued dissatisfaction among the
men and desire to escape from the service.
They state that the rebels are building sever
al new batteries on Williams Island above
Moultrie and Bee, to command the channel
to the city. Additional batteries are also
being constructed between johnson and the
city.
The steamer Mcclellan, from Morris Is
land on the morning Of the 5th, has arrived.
Cen Gilmore was mounting heavy guns at
Cummings Point to she'll Charleston.
The rebel fire from James leland was con.
tinnous, but not very effective.
Sumter was still held by the rebels.
The Mcclellan brings one bundled rebel
prisoners taken at Wagner.
A letter from the United States steamer
Fort Jackson, dated at Sea, Sept. Is, states
that the vessel had encountered storm, in
which she was nearly wrecked. She was
proceeding to some Northern port for repairs.
refugee from Charleston reports that the
line Of torpeloes does not run entirely across
the channel, and the main obstruction is an
immense network Of ropes formed somewhat
like ladder, which extends across the chan
mel
When vessel designs leaving Charleston
word is sent to Fort Sumter aud the rope
work is drawn in to one side to permit the
egress of blockade runners When a vessel
comes in she lays-to under Sumter until the
same process is re-enacted. Tho obstruction
is supported by tar barrels
There are floating batteries ribbed with
iron and only two steam iron-clad rams in
the harbor, viz, Chicora and Palmetto state.
Upon these the rebels count very much in
their defense of Charleston.
In reference to the feeling of the people
concerning the burning or surrender of
Charleston, he says that the universal resolve
of the inhabitants is that they are willing
that it should be burned rather than surren-
der it to Gen. Gilmore. There were not
over three hundred non-combatants in the
city when General Gilmore sheled it with
Greek fire.
Gen. Gilmore in an official communication
says thirty-six pieces of artillery were captur-
ed on Morris Island, aud it is not impossible
that others still remain concealed.