The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1863-08-29


quarters, to the woods near by where they bivou-
acked, and escaped further loss.
The negroes also report, that but small garri-
son has been left in Fort Sumter, sort of forlorn
hope, which is to work one or two guns, as loud
defiance to us to do our worst, keep the flag flying
to the last and when further defiance is useless, as
in the event of an assault or total demolition of
the walls themselves, to apply the torch to- the
magazine and blow up the Fort,-losng their lives
in the general ruin.
The enegroes statements regarding the number of
the garrison varies somewhat. One states it to tie
about thirty; another puts it as high as hundred.
Probably the true number will be found to be
about fifty. Whether they will really blow the
Fort and themselves up is question yet to be
settled. For one greatly doubt it. Those who
brag so grandly about what they will DO in this
heroic line, generally the last persons to carry
out their threats, when the pinchng hour arrives.
Life is never sweet as when it seems to draw to
a close; and the bravest resolutions fade away,
when the time comes to cut the golden cord that
binds us to earth. Naturally enough infer then,
that these brave sons of Gascony, will not execute
their fearful promises, and involve friend foe and
Fort in one grand, common ruin.
Another report of the contrabands show how
fearfulthe rebels are lest weshOuld capture Charles
ton, without being blown out of water and de-
stroyed en- route. They represent the alarm fthe
rebel officers, when they heard the Monitors guns
laundering behind Sumter, on Sunday morning, as
being really pitiable. dense fog enveloped the
harbJr, and shut out from the keenest eye, view
of Sumter, Monitors and Sullivans Island. They
could hear the roar Of artillery, but could rarely
see the flashes and their excited imaginations pic
tured to them the advancing line of Monitors push
ing forward, by Fort Sumter, towards the city.
After the fire had ceased they confident that
the iron-clads had succeeded in passing, and were
silently stealing up the ha&bor directly under the
guns, bent on everlasting destruction to Charles
ton, and every thing that stood under rebel flag.
They generally concluded that Charleston
about gone up this time and begun to discuss
probabilities of the next object OF attack, which
they determined was Savannah. Whereas they
proposed to get their house in order as soon as
possibls and leave for their native State, Georgia
BIT when daylight came, and the fog was dispelled
by the sun and wind, and they saw no Monitors
anchored off the city, they grew bold again, and Il
few of them began to doubt whether the Monitors
could take Charleston. A majority of them, how
ever, clung to their first belief, that it quite
possible and more than that very probable. All
were greatly relieved when they saw the Monitors
leave their position near Sumter and return to
their old anchorage. The evil day was postponed,
and that was enough for them. Of the final result
they did not doubt-It could be but one thing, il Il
vigorous attack was made.
Our pickets had quite sharp skirmish with
those of the rebels last night, in which the rebels
lost quite number OF men. None of our men
were seriously wounded-I believe only one man
ives hurt at all. The skirmish was carried on with
so much vigor and determination on our part that
the rebels thought we intended to make grand
assault on Fort Wagner. No souner was this idea
started than word was sent to the rebels on JAMES
Island Of the new complexion Of affairs. They
Immediately opened one Of the hottest fires we
have yet experienced and kept continuous stream
of shells upon our lines, and occasioning some
casualties among oarb brave men. After a fierce
contest of an hour dtnore, the fight gradually be-
came less vigorous, and finally ceased altogether,
the enemies heavy guns having become less noisy,
and our own firing only at intervals.
To-day nothing ofimportance is going Gu. The
nIols Han Ioo Sc,