Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-08-28
From CHARLESTON.

Prominent officers serving before Charles
ton. express themselves in private letters re-
ceived at Washington on Thursday. as earn
estly hopeful Of the combined naval and mill
tary operations, but they do not mention any
time for the reduction of Fort Sumter, &c,
as promised by enthusiastic newspaper cores
pondents
The work being heavy and requiring the
utmost skill and caution, they with full
appreciation Of all tho difficulties, purposely
refrain from exciting expectations of an i'm
mediate and complete victory, Nor are
speedy results of such character anticipated
by gentlemen in Washington who are best
acquainted with the plans of government.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 22.
The United States supply Steamer Arkan-
sas from off Charleston, Wednesday morning
has arrived and brings III passengers, pris-
oners and invalds.
She reports that the navy and army shore
batteries had caused tremendous damage to
Fort Sumter and complete demolishment Of
its walls is looked for within week.
The following account of its bombardment
is from the pen of Chas. c. Fulton, editor of
the Baltimore American
FLAG sHGP AoousrA DESsMoRB
Tuesday, Aug. Is.
The attack on Sumter commenced at day
break yesterday morning, by the sea-shore
batteries and the naval batteries. At o.
clock, Admiral Dalhgreen proceeded on
board the Weehawken, and with the Iron
sides and entire Monitor feet attacked bat
batteries Wagner and Gregg with great fury,
completely siencing Wagner, and almost all
encing Gregg.
Seven wooden gunboats Joined in the as
sault, and enabled ali the shore batteries to
pour their shot and shell into Sumter At
10 o'clock, the Admiral changed his flag to
the Passaic, and with the Patapsco proceeded
to within about 1000 yards of Sumter, and
shelled the sea-guns with his vessels about
one hour with marked effect
Sumter fred but fifty return shots doing
no damage to the vessels while the walls of
Sumter were badly SCARED. Fleet Captain
George w. Rodgers took command of the
Monitor Catskill and went within $50 yards
of the beach front Of battery Wagner, after
firing a number of shots shot from Fort
Wagner broke a piece of the interior lining
which struck on the head of Commander
Rodgers and Paymaster Woodbury. instantly
killing both. These were the only persons
injured on land OF water dnring the six hours
engagement.
The damage done to Sumter by the sea
batteries is visible without the aid Of glass.
The rebels had erected false wall against
the wall exposed to our batteries. 1t ex-
tended to within ten feet of the top of wall
over forty feet high and ten feet thick, aud
this wall is now a mass Of ruins. The har-
Dor and Stono River are filled with torpedoos
About dozen of them were picked up in the
Stono, and one was exploded under the Pa
tapsco, raising her foot out of water. but
doing no damage
None of the vessels were injured in the
least, and the Admiral and oficers are conf
dent in the ability of the Monitors to batter
down Sumter. The fleet, except tie Wee
hawken aud Nahant, all returned before n.1
o'clock but they remain to keep Wagner 81
lent and prevent the re-mounting Of guns.-
The shore batteries continued firing all the
afternoon aud night on the walls Of Sumter
with good effect.
This morning is cool aud clear and tho bat
teres arc steadily at work. Gen. Gilmore
announces that the work thus far, has been
entirely satisfactory, that the Fort ID greatly
damaged and that the work is progressing
finely, up to the moment OF sailing, Up to
noon the siege guns since morning had been
hurling about five shells per minute at Sum
ter with marked effect. Two monitors and
some gunboats are shelling batteries Wagner
and Gregg.
The Arkansas left the fleet at O'Clock
Wednesday morning. At that time huge
volumes Of smoke we're seen issuing from Fort
sumter, o. II from the burning of cotton, and
the officers of the Arkansas believed that the
Fort would be captured or destroyed by noon.
Her guns we're rorIying feebly to our fire.
Battery Gregg had been silenced, and Wag-
ner still held out The bombardment con-
tinued without cessation during Tuesday
night, and was renewed Wednesday morning.
and when the Arkansas left the firing was
furious.
Two refugees from Savannah are passen-
gers on the Arkansas. They report that
there is nearly famine in Savannah.