The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-09-17
T RIPPLE SH EE T .
New Work. Thursday. Sept. II, 1868.


THE STU ALTON.
The despatch steamer Mary Sanford, which ar
rived at this port yesterday from Charleston.
brings news to Saturday night the 18th inst
General Gilmore was then erecting new batteries
bn Morris Island. The guns of the rebel batteries
at Forts Moultrie and Johnson were firing heavily
hpon Morris Island. The report that Fort Moul-
trie had surrendered, which originated from the
statements of the commanders of the Cosmopo.
Tan and Nellie Pentz that white flag was flying
over the ramparts. proves to be just what we said
yesterday, mistake, arising from the simtude
bf the rebel battle flag to flag Of truce. Moul-
tre is still in the hands Of the enemy, and is
working away with two ffteen-inch gums.
Our special correspondent gives a very minute
account Of all the circumstances attending the late
assault on Fort Sumter by our sailors and marines
The failure appears to be attributable to mis-
take as to the condition Of the debris the fort
was observed through glasses from the feet and
shore. The gorge wall. instead of sloping gradu
billy from the pafapet to the waters edge, as was
supposed, was found to slope only from the
parapet to the top of the sandbag barr-
cadc, which the rebels piled up to protect the
wall against our preaching batteries. This wall
ef sandbags was ct least twelve feet high, and
without the aid of scaling ladders no one could
possibly reach its top This fact was not discov-
cred until the attempt to scale the wall had been
made and then 1t was under heavy fire. The
Intention was to assai the fort three sides. One
party was to land on the gorge wall and attempt
to ascend the debris and gain the parapet sec.
ond was to attempt to gain entrance through the
lower embrasures. aud Q third was to act as q
Deserve.
About one hundred and fifty sailors and marines
let ashore, and instead Of finding slope of debris
)p to the parapet of the gorge wall, they found
Perpendicular range Of masonry which the rebels
had constructed meeting them full in the face.
The rebels had manned the parapet with infantry,
and were also firing through loopholes in the up
per slope Of the debris. Three of the boats were
born TO pieces by hand grenades or shells from the
Distant rebel batteries. and retreat was being
rapidly out or 1t was at this juncture that the
rebel ram came down and opened fire with grape
end canister upon the boats. Under these cir
cumstances retreat became necessity.
Tclegraphic dispatches from Charleston to the
Richmond papers say that one Of the rebel maya.
zines on James Island was exploded ON Monday,
and lieutenant and six men were killed. They
state further that our forces are perfecting ar
rangements for the permanent occupation of Nor
ris Island erecting lines Of telegraph along the
whole island and converting Battery Wagner into
Rpowerful work.
The position OF General Meade's army on the
Rspidan remained unchanged yesterday. General
Piessanton. In his recent brilliant advance move.
Ineut, has taken q large number Of prisoners.
einoe Sunday he picked up hundred and Fifty.
We give our correspondents account Of the three
bsys' lighting, with list OF the casualties. The
tebeis were receiving reinforcements by railroad
bn Tuesday. The Richmond Dispatch of yester-
Jay speaks Of the affair at Culpepper and Rapidan
)taton as having no result, and indicates that
)cnorsi Mesde's army contcmplates an advance.
Several blockade runners, with property amount.
ing 70 thirty thousand dollars, were captured
within the past few days by our cruisers and
brought into Point Lookout Maryland.
A despatch from Atlanta, Ca, dated on Monday
plates that Generals johnson and Forrest had ,
ehrmish with the federal troops near Dalton on Fri
hay last. In which General Forrest was wounded
ON the same day General Wheeler had an On
Ragencnt with the rebels near Lafayette, m
Drove them back. The despatch says that IL
reported that General Burnside hns joined Gcners
Rosccrsns 1t Chattanooga.
The rebel gucrillas on the Mississippi, a. win b
eceu by our correspondents letter from Corintl
sre exceedingly active and troublesome, keepir
Dur troops In constant state Of wstchfulnes
No sooner are these hordes driven back than the
return again to renew their assaults. The who
country ia swarmns with them. They are chief
hinder tho command Of three leaders-Rodd
Chalmers and Richardson. We give map to.ds
Of the region Of country ia which their operation
ore conducted.
A special translation Of the protss, OF Presder
Juarcx. Of Mexico, addressed to foreign uover,
meats. against the new system OF rule which
so,gat tobe imposed on tho Mexican people b
Napoleon, 'ppears 10 our ooiaWas Wis mQrao.