Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-08-29
TRE EXCHANGE OF PRIs0NERsi
REBELS BROUGHT TO TRTMs.
A Hostage for Colonel Neal Dow.
LATER CHARLESTON NEWS.
Fedsrals Occupy Sumter and
Wager.
Federalg or the OhiokahOminY.
FROM CHARLESTON.

NEW YORK, august 70.
A Morris Island letter, Of the 24th, to
the Herald, says seven deserters, who es-
capped from Fort Moultrie Thursday night
to the Montauk, besides giving much other
information, slate that two blockade run
ners succeeded in eluding our vessels, and
ran safely into Charleston last Sunday
night. They we're discovered by our
bloekaders and fired upon, but the night
was so dark and misty they were quickly
lost sight Of. They we're probably por-
ton of the large feet due here from Mas.
sau, with valuable cargo, sc.
On the 23d, making good his notice to
Beauregard, Gen. Gilmore directed Lieut.
Sellmer, commanding the marsh bat
terry, to open with his rihed gun upon the
city of Charleston during the night, and
between one and two o'clock Saturday
morning fifteen shells Of Birney's inven-
ton were pitched over the James Island
batteries, across the Island and harbor,
and into town. The effect Of this demon
stratiOn against the city was quite satis-
factory to ourselves. Perhaps Beaure-
gard had considered Gilmore's threat to
shell Charleston at the distance Of four
miles as too prePOsterous to demand atten-
ton; certainly the city had not been evao-
uated by all non-cOmbatants. Visitors,
which our swamp angels sent them, Gre
ated most uproarious panic. The people
were roused by their advent, universal
confusion followed, and a general skedsd-
die ensued, as was evident from the light
Of burning buildings, the ringing of bells
from every steeple, and the screeching and
screaming of locomotive whistles.
The same correspondent says a few days
mere delay may ruin the entire campaign.
Sumter was reduced because it was redue-
ed in the way of the Navy, but Admiral
Dahlgren has as yet made no advance
towards completing the work which Gill
more has so gloriously begun.
The army is unable to do more. Gen.
Gilmore has performed his part Of the con-
tract, and it now remains for the navy to
enter upon and perform its part Of the
work. A weeks delay may enable the
rebels to replace Fort Sumter by new bat
teries within the harbor, which will make
the capture Of Charleston as far off as it was
before we fired the first shot against it.
There is a deep feeling of fear growing
on shore that the fruits of our glorious
triumph will be permitted to slip from our
grasp by an inexplieable eprocrastination on
part the of the navy. cannot explain this
seeming want Of energy on the part of our
naval authorities. They may be able to
do it, but some more reasons must be given
than those already in circulation, or the
country will feel far from satisfied with
the results Of the naval operations in this
quarter.
MORRIS ISLAND, Aug. "a.
There is little to note concerning the
operations of yesterday, though Fort Sum
ter had been rendered useless for defence.
The big guns in our batteries are deliber-
ately engaged in rounding off its remain
ing angles apd putting on the finishing
touches of its obstruction.
Fort Wagner is hard nut to crack as
must be apparent to the people North. 1t
is not yet in cur possession, though foot by
foot and yard by yard our brave soldiers
are digging their way into it. During
the bombardment of seven days, not o
moment has been lost in the work before
us.
With its supplies cut of, and our men
welding piok-axe and spade under its
very parsPet the prospect of its early
| transfer to Federal ownership daily bright
ems. The destruction Of Sumter relieves
the guns and batteries which may now be
otherwise employed. That Wagneris des-
tined to feel their power and yield before
them is considered certain.
That General Gilmore means business il
evident, from the fact that the "swamp an.
gel" was again trained upon the city las
night, and several Of her messenger
waited upon the inhabitants, if any ye
remain.
The guns of James Island batteries con,
tinued to play upon this pet place of our
with great animation all night but with
out damage.