Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-08-25
Death of the Fleet Captain, Rodgers
sToNo RIVER AND THE HARBoR FILLED
WITH TURPED0ES

The United States steamer Arkansas arrived
at Philadelphia on Sunday evening, from
Charleston which place she left the fleet, on
the 2Oth inst. She brings important news from
the fleet
Tho following despatch is from Mr.. c. G.
Fulton the agent of the Associated Press
FLA0 snlr DINsMoRE,
Tuesday morning, August 10.
The nttack OH Fort eumlter was commenced
ut iayhreak yesterday morning by the siege
guu. Of General Gilmore and the naval battery
On shore.
At six o'clock Admiral Dahlgren proceeded
On hoard tue Weehawkeu, aud with the Ironsides
aud the entire monitor heet, attacked. Forts
Wagner and Gregg with great fury, completely
silencng Fort Wagner and almost sieucing
| Fort Gregg.
The wooden gunboats seven in number, also
Joined in the assault, and enabled all of the
shore batteries TO pour their shot and shell into
sumpter.
Al ten o'clock the Admiral changed his flag to
the passaic and with the patapsco proceeded to
within about 400 yards Of Fort Sumpter and
shelled the sea-wall with the rifle guns Of those
vessels for about an hour with marked effect
Sumpter fired almost fifty return shot, doing no
damage to the vessels, whilst the wall Of
Sumpter was badly scarfed.
Fleet Captain Henry w. Rodgers took com
manl of his old vessel the Monitor Catskil,
and went up into the fight. going within one
hundred and fifty yards OF the beachirOnt of
Fort Wagner. After firing large number of
shots shot from Fort Wagner broke loose a
piece OF the interior lining of the pilot-house,
which struck on the head of Commodore Rodgers,
instantly killing him, as well as Paymaster Wood
bury who was standing at his side Both OF
their heads were split open. These were the
only persons injured on land or water during the
six hours engagement.
The damage done 10 Fort Sumpter by the sege
batteries Of Gen. Gilmore is visible wthou, the
aid of glasses, The rebels had erected false
wall exposed to the army batteries 1t textended
to within ten feet Of the top of the wall, was over
forty feet high, and ten feet thick This wall is
nov a mass OF ruins, whilst the old wall is bored
full of deep holes, the parapet crashed and rag.
ged, and the northwest gashed aud cracked down
almost to the waters edge.
TIE hatbor aud StonO river were filled with tor
pedoes. about dozen OF which have been picked
up in Stono, and one was exploded under the
patapsco, raising her foot cut Of water, hui
doing no harm to the vessel
None Of the vessels were Injured in the least
md the Admiral and his officers are confident in
the ability Of the monitors to batter down Stump.
ter. The Admiral is anxiols. however, to save
the vessels for the heavy work required Of them
alter Sumpter is taken and to let the army re
duce Fort Sumpter, it possible
The fleet, except the Weehawken and Nahant
all retired before . O'Clock, but they remained
to keep Wagner silent during the afternoon, AND
to prevent the remountng of the guns,
The shore batteries continued firing all The
afternoon and night on the wall of Sumpter with
good elect
THIS morning the weather is cool pnd clear
and the batteries steadily ut work The Wee
hawseu and Passac are keeping Fort Wagael
and Gregg silent, md up to noon, when the
Arkanals sailed, the remainder Of tue fleet were
lying at their moorngs.
The bodies of Captain Rodgers and Paymaste
Woodbury. have been embamel, and will g,
North on the Arkansas
General Gilmore announces that the worl
) thus far has been entirely satisfactory; that tb
fort is badly damaged and tue work progressing
finely.
Admiral Dahlg,cn is much depressed by tn
loss of his fleet captain, but is highly gratGct
with the operations of the fleet and army ani
very hopeful Of ultimate success.
Up to the moment Of the sa ling of the A-kan.
sls, at noon, the siege guns have been hurin
about five shell per minute, during the mornn
at Foit Sumpter, with marked effect.
Two Of the monitors, the iTousdes, and som
of the gnnblats, are shelhng Forts Wagner AM
Gregg. c. c. +.