Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-09-18
SfEGE or CHARLESTON.


fOhIhtNt hoNhOtt NtpNt 10
The United States steamer Massachusetts,, |
Capt West, arrived here this morning from
Charleston bar on the evening of the 9th inst, |
bringing the following intelligence
On Thursday, the 18Th inst, the Weehawken |
sent | 5 inch shell into one Of the magazines /
OF Fort Moultrie explodingit.
The lronsides sent sheell into Moultrie
Vile, setting II on FIRE, and destroying half |
the town. The Monitors and lronsides bonn
barded the Sullivan Island forts for four hours,
doing extensive damrge.
The Weehawken grounded near Cummings
Point, but soon aostcd off, receiving no dam
age At II p. NJ. on the sth inst, a boat
expedition left the squadron to storm Sumter.
and were repulsed with the loss of a number
killed wounded aud prisoners
New YoBK, Sept. 3.
A Morris Island letter of the 9Th TO the
Herald gives an account Of the recent boat
expedition against Fort sumter. The fotllla
consisted Of between ! 5 and 80 boats, man
ned by over 30 sailors and 100 marines. -
The entire force was commanded by Com
modore Stevens OF the monitor PatapscO.-
The boats we're towed within a short distance
Of the Fort. Three bouts we're landed and
tho parties attempted to run up the ruins, to
a parapet.
They were fred upon by musketry, and
hand grenades were thrown down upon them.
The slope was sharp, and they were unable
to reach the parapet. A signal was given
from the Fort and in an instant all the rebel
batteries opened on the tort and shelled IL
terribly. The three boats were smashed and
all who landed were killed or captured. 1t.
Bradford of the Marines was MORALLY wound
ed. Among those captured was commander
Stevens, Lieuts. Williams, Preston, Brewer.
Bruce, DR.. Wheeler, and Ensign Porter -
Forty or fifty sailors and marines were killed
and wounded, and the entire list Of casualties
will number 80. The remainder of the COM
mand retired in safety.
A flag of truce states that our men were in
Fort Sumter and well treated
The Herald's letter also states that the
iron-clad battery at Cummings Point forms
the cover of the magazine Of Fort Gregg
! 1t affords good cover to our men, and sus-
tains heavy fire from the rebel batteries.
We have received additional particulars Of
the bombardment of Fort Moutrie by Gen.
Gilmore and Admiral Dahlgren The firing
had continued all day Tuesday, and a. m.
up to 6 p. an, on the oh inst. fhe injuries
were Of a character to indicate that a reduc-
ton of the Fort would be effected with COM
parative ease. The destruction of the maga-
zine of Moutre is represented as terrific
/ The firing ceased on Tuesday night, except
/ from rebel batteries Ga Wednesday morn
ing the 4 ght was renewed and two or three of
Gen. Gi more's batteries IN range Of Moultrie
assisted in the cannonsde. The Ironsides
which has pc formed great service through
out, steamed towards tort Moult5ie, and WAS
/ firing rapidly when the Arago LETT The in
jury to the walls of the fort were important.
Observations were made from Morris Island,
and it could be seen that the parapet walls
were broken, and two Of the guns dismount-
ed This fort, it was clearly shown, would
bear only a small amount Of csnnonading,
compared with Sumter It's reduction will
Immediately follow in the construction of
guns at Cummings Point, work which will
be Accomplished. The firing from all the
rebel batteries which were in range of Morris
Island, upon our forces there has since been
continuous and severe.
Our forces do not occupy in force the cap
tured rebel Notifications. II is reported that
the rebel works will be of little use TO Gen.
Gilmore 10 bis future operations. He can use
the ground which has already, in spite Of the
fire on the position, and when the new bat
teries now in progress are complete, there
will be scarcely position in the harbor which
Will no, be commanded by his guns, and
Charleston will be in easy shelhng distance.
The immediate tall of Che city is not, however,
expected.
WAsHiNGroN, Sept. II.
A private note received to day from of
Charleston states that about $50 men com
posed the recent expedition TO Fort Sumter,
and that only portion of the force landed,
some Of the boats having grounded on the
shoals. But for this there would probably
have oeen'a herent result
1t is understood here that Gen. Gilmore
has teuderly inquired of the government It he
would be justified in bomhardlng Charleston
to its utter destruction. The answer return
cd it rs said, WAS such as to give the country
n assurance OF heap OF ruins where Charleston
stands if il does no, surrender. full sup
ply of incendiary shells, to be used agansi
Charleston, have been sent 10 Gen. Gilmore
, aud by this time are probably used against th,
doomed city. The report that the flag tina
Major Anderson had with him at Fort sum
. ter was taken, is not true.
. A Motris Island letter says the rebels hav,
4 recently fired large slabs OF iron, two feet il
It length and four or five inches wide, bound viii
sUong wire. lhey are thrown with view q
getting them under the turrets to prevent then
Is from revolving.
W Cen Gilmore has been promoted from
y Captsin to Major in the regular enginee
corps.
n New YORK, Sept. l6
" The eteamer Mary Sanford, from Charles
/ ton Bar, night Of the 18th has arrived sh
,. has dispatches for the government and a maj
from the feet. Gen. Gilmore was actiye
engaged erecting batteries on the upper en-
of Morris Island, sustaining heavy fire iron
r Forts Johnson and Moultrie. The rebel
ne have two l5-inoh guns in Moultrie Sumte
e. is entirely silenced, but the garrison is Their
D. and the rebel flag is stil flying, no attemp
- having been made to capture it since the de
l. feat OF the boat expedition. The health o
II the fleet is good.
The correspondent Of the baltimore Amer
r lean at Fortress Monroe, who bad a converse
- ton with Capt. Digs, OF the U. s. transpor
3; Nelly Pentz yesterday says, Capt Digg
I'd states that he had a conversation with tn
At Captain of the Cosmopolitan, who is a YER
p reliable man and who is employed in bringing
r the wounded from Morris leland to Hilto
10 Head. The Cosmopolitan left Light Hous
N Inlet at > o'clock on Saturday morning an