Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-09-03
THE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.

The Charleston Mercury Of Monday has the following
account Of the progress of the siege:
On Saturday the enemy addressed their attention prDr
cipa ly 10 Wagner Fort Sumter only receiving at tbeE
hands an occasional shot Towards evening the lrcn-
sides and two mortar boats moved up soress oil Bat
tery Wagner and in junction with the land batteries
onsned heavy fire upon that fert Our batteries on
Lines Ilau replied with their usual spirit The fling
ckened about nine O'Clock, but continued at ir-
REGULAR intervals throughout the night
EarIv nm Sunday morning, the enemy opened vgor-
o,sv mon SUMTER and kept pounding at the fort all
day The fire was heavier than Sum er has Ice lived
Tor a we, past This fire was the hFst formidable de-
m ,nstration against Sumter for the last seven days
there are few who have knoSn how fortunate Tor that
ri was the nacton OF the enemy. When the Mont
tors draw off after their brief assault in which their
fire bad been exceedingly accurate, Sumter was in a
very precaious condition II the feet had then pushed
the bombardment with vgor or if they had renewed it
with determination, after brief interval they would
have penetrated the magazine, and, doubtless, have
blown up the fort compelled the garrison to surren
der As it happily turned out, the Monitors withdrew
before the destruction complete. In the iuterval
that has elapsed the powder has been taken Of and
the deftnces Of the fort strengthened by sand bags
Nor was Wagner neglected, aud, as usual about night
fall that fort again became The chief object of the Yam
kee batteries The James Island batteries, OF course,
Joined in the contest.
A COoL-AND BRAVE ACT.
During a heavy bombardment at Battery Wagner,
about a week since, one Of the enemy's shells fell IN
front of eghtinch gun, tearing away the parapet,
and exploding in the gun chamber, killing two and
wou1dng several men. Sergeant Welsh, Of the lst
South Carolina Artillery, who hSd been detailed for
time as Ordnance Sergeant beirg present, arranging
the ammunition for the night seeing that the awning,
with which the had shaded themselves, bad caught
fire. instantly tore il down, and discovered that the FIRE
had gnited the bulge (ammunon) barrel just filled,
aud both leather and wood were burning fast. With
remarkable presence mind and cJoness, he quickly
ne eel pot of coffee by and extngushed the
flame that, in moment more, would have exploded
among the already decimated detachment Srch act
of herOism should not be efs unchrouc!e unapprec
ated.
YANKEE LEllKR BAG-ISTEREsTING pIsCLosUREs.
The Mercury also has the following:
The letter Gag of the United States steamer Ottawa,
with letters to ends at home, dated late as the Goth
inst foied ashore Saturday night and is in possess
sion Of Headqun ters.
BY letters from the Captain (Iituen Command
rg William Whitney, to his WIFE, and by those of otscr
officers informed that the Yankees have enter
tanned the idea OF breaking up the habor obsuuctons
by night operations, and actually made the at
tempt last Wednesday night with their Monitors
and Two gunboats, Of which the Ottawa was one
"Violvnt squalls Of rain and wind" wen
IeasOu for their having turned back before reach
ing the obstructionS of which our Yankee neigh
bors have apparently wholesome q dread and SO
high estimate. The at emp., they say, wa u be
made again on the night OF the 29th instant Saturday
and, as it was Lot dOAe, it il TO be presumed stormy
weather again interviewed between the monitors and
obstruction s. which stand intact We notice the
of the 0;towa was sick the 29h. However this did
not prevent him from writing model letters for his
friends in his long and minute descriptions Of his daily
life and events and in the expression OF his ardent con-
jugal affection.
From tn tfJsOn we learn, as was anticipated, that
very ny Of their officers in the feet "sre breaking
down and being sent home continuity, from the inces-
SAINT wear and tear on them in this hot climate"
1t appears in the attempt to destroy distractions
the Pas,ac got aground and was near being abandoned
by her crew.
Toe Ottawa has thrown $4,000 pounds of shot and
shell, aud burned IL 900 pounds of powder
LANENTABLE ACCIDENT.
On Saturday las, Leuteuants Payne aud Hssker we're
proceeding TO make some experiments in the harbor.
The boat, which contained of nine men, unior-
tuBa'ely parted from its moori gs and sank. Five Of
the were drowned. Up to a late hOue on Sunday
neither the bodies nor the boat had been recovered
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
The Courier says:
About halfpast four yesterday afternoon Battery
OleveS opened a side wheel steam ship transport
loaded with troops. The troops landed at Oyster
Point Tie enemy we're also observed landing heavy.
guns from propeller
The firing Sunday afternoon was kept up regularly
be ween the enemys batteries and Fort Noultrie Bat
reported working continually and cautiously ad
vanced battery the rifle pits and yesterd ahSrnoOn
kept up a steady FIRE from one Parrot gun.
Later in the day, however, they had succeeded in
getting in position, and at last secosnts had
opened heavy fire on Battery Wagner from three
Parrot guns.
Out of little over eight hundred shots from the
four Yankee batteries fred at Fort Sumter yesterday,
hardly inbred struck the fort, all the rest falling
Short showing proof that the enemyS guns are losing
their efficiency.
The enemy, it is reported has mounted new guns on
guns are believed to be three hundred FOUNDER Par
rots. He has also mounted very heavy gun in tic
battery at Gadberry Hill
There has been no change of Importance in the po-
stou or number Of vessels in the fleet. Very heavy
firing commenced at o'clock last night and still con.
iii ued at the hour of closing our report at II O'Clock.
THE GALLANT DEFENCE OF FOPT SUMTER.
General Beauregard has caused the following compl-
mentAry order to be issued
HEAD'oRs DEPT &c. Ca, GA. AND FLA,
Charleston, S. c., August 81, 1864
General: The Commanding General has witnessed
with genuine pride and satisfaction the defence made of
Fort Sumter by Col Rhet, his officers and the men Of
the First Regiment Of South Carolina Regular Artillery
noble fruits of the discipline application to their duties
and the solderly bearing Of officers and men, andofthe
organization of the regiment. In tie annals of war DC
stouter defence was ever made, and work ever be-
fore encountered formidable bombardment 0s that
under which Fort Sumter has been successfully held.
Respectfully, your Obedient servant
(Signed) THOMAS JORDAN,
Chief of STAFF.
To Brig. Gen RIPLEY, Commanding lst Military District
s O., Charleston, S. G.
YANKEE AO CUNTS
THE MONITORS NIGHT ATTACK FORT SUMTER.
A correspondent OF the New York Herald, writing
from Morris Island, August 81 makes the following