, 1863-09-18
THE REPULSE AT SUMTER
How 1t was Accomplished.

Correspondence Philadelphia North American. |
During the afternoon our shells set fire to
Eome Of the buildings In Moultrieyflle, and
extended completely around the furt. Il con-
tinued during the evening, lighting up the
heavens with tue 11rid glare of conf dagration.
In the early part Of the day the Admiral sig
nailed to Gilmore, requesting the loan Of
some Of his boats for an expedition which he
had planned for this evening. The General
replied that they we're all In Vlncents Creek,
impossible to get over In time, and noT In
constant use for picketing. He would be
obliged to decline. The Admiral, it appears,
did not tell General Gilmore the destination
Of the expedition or request his cooperation.
The army had also plan tor an attack-eTen
an assault On Sumter, aud the placing. Of the
old flag on the battlements. Tue General in.
formed the Admiral that he should make the
attempt to take possession Of the ruins dur
Ing the night, and 1mmed ediately an answer was
returned that the navy proposed doing he
sa1pe thing. The 24th Massachusetts and he
10th Connecticut volunteers, under omsnaud
Of Col. Osborne, Of the former regiment,
were selected to perform the honorable duty,
na.y ALREADY there, to retire; # not, attack
the fort with 400 picked men, and If SUCCESS
ful, burn red light from the ramparts. .
The soldiefy te5 out about 10 O'clock; with
p1ans well matuted, q band Of resolute, de-.
1ermtned, enthusiastic men, and quietly they
rounded Gregg and neared the memorable
ruin. The night was propitious, and every
In quarter of mile Of their destination, tho
navy were discovered already there, about to
commence the assault. According to order,
the army withdrew and allo red the navy the
glory of putting the coloEs on fort which
they had done nothing to subdue. Our naval
the dehris, we're greeted with q voliey OF
musketry, perhaps sixty pieces. Flag Lieu-
tenant Preston and seventy {D men clam
be1ed up the ruins, and were taken prIso.
nera Hand g1enades were thrown among
the marines preparing to follow they were
from their carbines at the fort; opened their
boat howttzer on the fort let all the rebels
in the ha.bor know Whnt they were abont;:
received the fire of the James Is1and bate
rits, Fort johnson, Battery Bee, Sinikins,
Btaurega1d, Moultrfe, and ram which ran
down from Charleston, had six boats sunk,
several lives lost, and then tkedadd1ed.- Red
the rebel gunners to see, and we, poor over
confident mortals at headquarters, thought
the coveted ruins WAS ours. Pop went the
eorts. though vakened at midnight, and
mngh n the ;goblets flowed the sparkling
Gs,ewna 1ae, ~ TIT morning told the story; tho
ano 9ae me navy Were inglorious1y whipped Il
ua3n nseak the Admiral 'sent Another flae- ri
@ tluee te INQUIRE Of the rebel General q Row
many men did loose Last evening r. Win a
torT.~ -. w oASe als'
Gen. Gilmore, as we have before remarked.
wss fent here to reduce Sumter. NearIv thre.,
weeks ago tfis vas done. Morris Island Is
now entirely within tho Federal lines, Sion
the rluuging fire Of Sumter. md the nav
would 60 into Charleston! Esch day slnce
the 23u Of August the story has been tttho
navy will 70 In tonight, )" but each night soma
new ghosI would appeaf, and the Admiral
postponed The hour ID which he should COM
mence big part Of the programme Occa-
eiotal}y they would move up within a couple
OF thousand yards from the trio of forts,
make wonderfully effective fire for euch .
rarRe, and theu haul of and allow the gray
bucks to restore things as theY were, md On
ole occasion TO mount new gun at midday.
They appear to act without any well digested
pIan. Seventeen days hase elapsed since
sun.ter was sllencta, and they have little
n ore knowledge Of the obstructions they will
.l.ve 10 encounter In t'going into Charles
ten ''lhsu they had two months ago. tbs
enemy In the meantime, 1t Is well knoan,