The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1863-09-12
f.l.i.,a..., saa,t 40. so

: - s.t -.
Specials this morning are extremely
barren. The Secretafy ut the Treasury
has for soln5 TINA past been engaged 10
the preparation of new regulations Tor
trade with tebci States, suited To be alter
ed. On condition of affAiFs oc6asioned by
tho opening OF the Missiaaippi riger: they
Mili BE completed In o iew days, but may
have to be submitted To appfoval BIZ the
Generals commanding department. south
before they are ready for publication.
The revenue from the public domain
being scarcely more than nominal, no
yertised for sale. ':..
A morris Island letter OF Aug. 1st. 70
New York Herald says: for or 3 days
past new rebel battery on Suiliyan's Is
land has been making fruitless efforts to
annoy our men in advanced trenches.
The caIibre of the gun employed il not
certainly known, but Is supposed to be
one of the eleven inch guns taken from
the Keokitk; the firing of the gun was
very good except in one ratherimportant
particular: It's range being short and only
at long intervals shot from it reaches
this Island; those thrown thus for being
solid shots, have done no damage other
than 10 sand-hilis. which have been hit;
a great majority fall outside the beach.
Four monitors, Passaic, Patapsco, Ma
liant and Montauk came ia yesterday at
terpoon and engaged Fort Moultrie and
batteries on Suilivanis Island, firing an
occasional shot at Sumter md Wagner.
Eneacement commenced at three thirty
afternoon: about two hours fire was main
tanned with great intensity, especially on
rebel side; the firing from Moultrie and
battery Bee was terrific; their heavy guns
ratified off from the Monitors into the
water like snare drums in tattoo, but did
little damage. Heavy rife and ffteen
inch shell Of Iron Clads burst with effect
over and in Moultric, and sent the earth
whirling in all directions. Wagner was
repeatedly struck by exploding shells;
she is somewhat damaged and fired but
few shots at Monitors during the contest.
Battery Gregg was exceedingly active,
having her guns in play from first TO last
Of engagement and made some excellent
shots Monitors shells went wildly on
all sides and had no effect in silencing
her guns Sumter was struck several
times by rifle shells from Passaic and Pa
tapsco. but besides detaching masses OF
loose masonry. did no further damage to
Fort. After two or three hours lighting
the Monitors withdrew. The object OF
attack has not been developed.
Some days since enemy made sys-
tematic effort to blow up an ID destroy our
gun boats on Stone Inlet by means OF
torpedoes; fortunately no serious damage
was inflicted on vessels by these Internal
machines. Ore torpedo exploded little
astern of Pawnee, blew her launch, which
was towing astern, to fragm tents. A few
moments later tremendous explosion
occuored on board Key, fe W rods below
the Pawnee, occasioned by another tor
pedo sent down at same time. From
facts since developed, certain rebels sent
down on that night at least ten of those
inventions: three or four exploded and
four picked up; one drifted through feet
of transports and up Folly river and ex-
ploded under bows of Mortar schooner,
c. P Williams. but occasioned no dam
age. These torpedoes, respectively, like
thosc found in Light House Creek, and
go off at slightest conclusion.
Tribunc's Morris Island letter states
that Wagner will be held to the last mo-
ment. The dead lie 50 thickly aroud her
walls that the water from shallow wells
cannot be drank. If compelled by thirst
and some Of the soldiers so ihprudent as
to swallow it, the next day they are in
hospitals. and before close of week many
Of them are in graves. Brave attempts
have been made to supply the garrison
from Charleston. but thus far only small
quantity has been furnished. Only at
midnight or under cover of some dense
fog in morning, haye any vessels been
known to reach them for the past eight
days. If Monitors would only cut off
communication for one week longer, the
Fort would be in our possession: and with
Wagner and Gregg the whole Of Morris
Island would at once be ours, We are
now within a hundred yards Of Wagner
and by tomorrow our heaviest PARROTS
will be able to deliver fire at distance
Of 200 yards into every embrasure COM
manding the beach and cntilading one
on every gun looking seward.