The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-12-03
the SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.
PROGRESS Of the siege-Shelling
the City.

two or three nights has been making efforts
to find out the strength of the garrison. On
Tuesday night about y o'clock, the Senti-
mel at the northeast angle deserted small
boat approaching the fort. lie halted it
several times, and was answered with an
oath. He thereupon fired, and the boat
went off. Not long after there was consid-
cradle musketry firing, apparently from
boats, between the fort and dregg. Sew
eral balls struck the fort and some passed
over Towards daylight two boats approach
ed within four hundred yards of the north
east angle. Being fired upon they retreat
ed towards Morris Island. On Thursday
night rather more daring attempt was
made for the purpose, probably, OF discov-
ering whether the fort was defended by ma
nv muskets. About three o'clock, q. M,
number of the enemy's barges-varlously
estimated at from four to nine-approacheo
within three hundred yards of the fort and
opened fire with muskstry. The garrison,
which had been previously placed in readi
ness for any emergency by the ever vigi'
liant commander, returned the fire, and the
boats retired. 1t will be seen from our re-
port that the mortar firing of the enemy
has been much heavier than from his rit1ed
guns. On Friday morning the mortar firing
was particularly severe. The only casual
ties that have occurred are Private T.
Wheeler, Company d, First South Carroll
ma artillery, wounded slightly in the head,
on Thursday morning, by brick; and one
man killed on Friday. Since our last issue
the enemy has made four several attempts
to shell the city. From twenty to twenty
four shells were thrown towards the town
Thur ,day morning, the fire lasting from
llA to 2 o'clock. Two or three shells were
thrown at 2 o'clock on Thursday night,
about dozen or more on Friday morning,
and eight or nine in the afternoon. 1t will
please the Yankees to know that no one
was hurt. The monitors still remain idle.
l Our batteries do their usual amount of
work. The rocket firing from the Sullivan's
Island batteries, during the skirmish with
the barges, has been officially reported as
very fine. Fort johnson also shared in the
fight.
| A correspondent of the Augusta (Ga)
Sentinel writes from Charleston:
Yankee gunners keep up their practice at
Sumter, and day aud night punch and ham
mer away without accomplishing anything.
The confederate flag, despite Of their efforts,
defautly floats above the ruins. When the
siege is raised, if live Yankee is allowed
to get to Sumter, he'll make his fortune
sure-picking up old brass and iron. Yes
terday morning the iron clads tried Moul-
trie, but soon got sick and quit. The bonn
bardment was furious for awhile, but after
exhausting much ammunition, and some
time doing nothing, the monitors skedad
died. About twenty-five 100 pound Par
rott shells were flung into the city today
Old Gilmore scattered them promiscuously
in the lower part of the oity, and it really
seemed from the way in which they were
pitched about, that he was trying to hit
somebody. The City Hall building had
hole punched in one corner and some Of the
marble cornice knocked away. One struck
the telegraph Office, and the operators "cut
stick" One smashed through the roof of
a house in Queen street, and several falling
in the neighberhood, the frightened citizens
"vamoosed to the tune of the double quick"
Several fell in the vicinity of the banks on
Broad street and East Bay, tearing up the
streets, smashing window panes, and kick
ing up the mischief generally. One went
crashing through the Mechanics and Plant
ers Bank, and it is evident that Gilmore
was after making deposit. Whether he
will be regularly "booked" and his curren.
cy taken sat par" is moro than l
can say. Several counting rooms on the
wharves were slightly smashed but during
the entire shelling, which lasted from about
81 to | o'clock, no one was hurt Some
time ago it was thuhdered from the North
ern press that ere the ides of November,
Charleston would be in ashes, and straight
way Yankee Ian | waxed merry and they
prepared for a grand jubilee; Dshlgren
screwed his courage to the sticking place;
Gilmore piled the spade and pick, trained
his heavy guns and harped upon "Greek
fire." We still live, and the shot bed of the
rebellion is not yet in ashes.
The editor of the Savannah Republican,
who speaks from careful personal observa-
! tions made on the spot, says
Gen. Gilmore knows quite as much about
the difficulties that lie in his path as we do
"a knowledge derived from long, bitter,
and bloody experience After a seige Of
nearly five months by land and by sea, with
implements Of war unparalleled in tue his
tory of the world he is now about Il half
mile nearer Charleston than he was in the
beginning, and with over four miles stretch
ing between him and the city. All their
powers have been recently expended against
Fort Sumter, but it still stands, monu-
mont to their impotence. They will doubt
less assault it again soon, and with still
greater numbers, but it will be in vain
And Just here We would suggest in paren-
thesis, to the authorities, to arm the garri-
son with double-barrel shot guns, instead
of rifles they would do infinitely more exc
sution in case of an assault. Loaded with
buckshCt of large size, it would require
but dozen men to sweep the entire face
of the fort But the Yankees reason with
out knowledge. They vainly image that,
Sumter out of the way, the read to Charles
ton would be csAr--at least so they say
We cannot thinkethat General Gilmore is