The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-08-29
Thc Siege of Charleston.
Details OF operations 90 wednesday
MORRIS ISLAND, s. c., Aug 10
OPENING OF THE BoMBARDNENT.

OPENING OF THE COMMANDMENT.
Yesterday, at sunrise, the long and
anxioualy awaited bombardment of Fort
Sumter By our land batteries began.
Orders for the fring hSu b.en issued by
Gilm re at late hour on Sunday eve
ning but they we're of q confidential
chars cter, and up to the moment that
our preaching guns were unmarked il
was unknown, except by very few peo-
pie on the island, at what hour the work
of reducing Fort Sumter was to COM
mence. The fire of one or two of our
heavy rihed Parrott guns, few days
since, though directed at the fort, did not
really lnaugurate the bombardment, but
was for the purpose of testing our pow
der and determining our ranges.
Though ali our batteries are not vet
completed, and though the guns from
which the greatest results are anticipa-
ted are yet un amounted, the result of the
bombardment 80 far has been most graft
flying and encouraging. To be sure we
have not destroyed the fort, but its ulti-
mate destruction is rendered certain
The gorge wall, upon which our fire was
directed, is marked, and pitted, and
honeyoOmbed TO such degree that it is no
longer possible 10 count the shots which
have taken effect. Looking at the ram
part which, few days since, was smooth
aud fair as the exterior of Fifth Ave-
me residence, we see deep, yawning
craters, formed by the feaaful impact of
our shot and shell huge piles of eand
bags, partially tumbled down and
mingled with the dislodged brick and
mortar; portions of the parapet gone !;
two or three embrasures knocked into
one irregular fssure, gradually widening
as the fire continues. Sumter will be
destroyed. The fact is fixed and
settled. n
AS our fire was first opened it seemed
wild and unsatisfactory. Very few
shots seemed to take effect, some going
over and others falling short; but lit
tie practice at their pieces enabled the
gunners TO perfect their range, and it
was not long before the majority of the
shots fred told with greater or less eff
feet At first we counted the shots that
fairly hit the wall, but as the cannona-
ding went on, and the deep pockmarks
were multiplied the task was given up.
So dense was the cloud of smoke, dust
aud spray before the work that the effect
of the projectiles was only TO be OBJ
served at considerable intervals. But
when the dust did subside and the
smoke did clear away, our progress was
marked by a wonderfully more SCARED
and ragged appearance of the masonry
THE IRON. oLADs-THE REBEL BATTERIES
After tho iron-clads had got abreast
of Gregg and Wagner, the only rebel fire
against our batteries was IRON Fort
Johnson and Battery Simkins, and from
a couple of new works on James Island.
From the first two points we were favor
ed with she'll from one ten-inch colum.
bad and a couple of heavy mOrtars the
others sent in their compliments from
the threats of several Brooks rifles
Their practice was very fair but fortu-
nately they were enabled TO intlict but
few casualties. Occasionally a shell
would burst over our batteries, or q solid
shot would strike against them, but very
rarely was any one within the batteries
injured.
Two men killed and five wounded are
the only losses upon our side of which
| have been able to learn. One of the
latter | saw going TO the rear with mu-
tilated arm. Wounded by a shellp l
asked. ayes" he c oily answered, al was
right under the darned thing when the
bottom dropped out"
Fort Sumter was ominously silent all
day. She yentured no reply TO our land
batteries and showed no fight except for
few moments between eleven and twelve
o'clock, when the monitors came within
the plunging fire Of her bArbette guns.
During the forenoon the battle. az
upon Fort Sumter was shot away. Ii
Was speedily replaced by another,
which, though badly torn, was still float
ing al sundown.
pEATH OF COMMANDER RODGERS AND PAY |
MASTER WOODBURY..
The navy experienced a severe loss
yesterday, in the death OF Commander |
George Rodgers and Paymaster Wood
bury Of the IRON clad Oatskill.
Tho heat Of the day was most intense,
and the Monitors, with their battle
matches down, were most unearthly