Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-11-18

1 Zhe B0WbaTdWSHf of SHN1tsT CoHfHVed-
I ReItrietiOaS IpOa COrresp0AGsHts-FaHii
. n the sustOm' Department, James IsIaN
The NaVy-T1s NsIO IroHsidsS-Lesv
efAbstHsS- WiHter Quartsss-
coTrospoDdenes New YORK TFEbuue.
j Folly Island, S. O., Nov. IL, 1868.
: Nothing of Interest beJond the mere fac
of the continuance of the bOmbardment o
} Fort Sumter, or rather what ts left Of Il
has transpiFed since last adViees. Oui
firing for the past week has been lees heAvJ
and continuous than before, with Occa'
Si0nal mortar practice. hegunb0at Com
modore McQOnough, stationed in Light
/ House Inlet, occasionally throws o feN
shells at James Island aud Seeessionville
On Sunday last the enemy opened from
their batteries In that neighbOrhOod upon
the steam ferry. boat Philadelphia, Engaged
10 eonVeSlng some troops from PaWneG
L4ndins, their shots fAilinS 20 Feaea the
steamer.
At Fort Sumter the sharpshooters baVe
been again busy firing intO the embrasures
of Gregg, where our guns succeeded in
IdismopnIing rihed cannon OF the Rebels,
in abAttery to the left Of Simkius, on James
Island.
BEsTRIcTIoAs UPoN coRRBsPosDENTs.
Correspondents in this Department are
required 70 observe certain regulations re.
speeling news of SO stringent character
as to leave very little TO communicate for
the information Of the public. With the
object in view that no contraband iuformA-
ton shall reach the enemy through news
paper channels q censor has been appoint
| ed, who strikes from each dispatch what
ever bis judgment may deem un6t for
publication.
FAULTS IL TIE CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT.
Numerous complaints are made against
the agent Of Customs at Hilton Hsad, for
detainipg vessels loaded with stores for the
army 4 much longer time than Is necessary,
thereby causing great loss by decay not
to the trader, but much Inconvenience TO
the soldiers. The scarcity Of fruiIs end
provisions is much felt.
JANEs ISLAND.
The rebel works ou James Island are
very extensive and Of decidedly formid-
able character. Some Of the heaviest guns
which have yet been used by the Conted-
crates are mounted IN them, commanding
Norris Island Gud the entire harbOr of
Charleston. In q stragetlc point Of view
James Island 10 Of value 70 rs only in pro
portion as il Is Of importance to the enemy |
in resisting an attack. Our forts 90 Nor
KS IbIAuu 1L6 - GuGGbINVt VI bVotlJ SSt "
shell the city as they would be II located
on James, 70 capture which a large infAu-
try force is necessary, aud heavy sAcri.
dee of lite inssparable from its accom-
pIishment The Islands surrounding
Charlsston harAOr are so limited in area Is
not 70 admit the mHneuyeFing Of any con-
siderable body Of troops, thereby preclud-
ing the possibility Of its eaptnre by tutan-
Try except from the main land. In view Of
these facts and contemplating the rsdue-
tion Of Fort Snmter d = preliminary step,
Gen. Gilmore appears 20 have been right
in the selection Of Norris Island as the
ground for operations, inasmueh as Cum
mings Point, NJ the north end, is the near
est land approach to the fort, being distant
from Il about fourteen hundred yards. The
work OF the army then, when We remember
that it would require = very large force to
effect the capture Of Charleston by its aid
alone, seems now compelled; the residue
of the programme remains with
THE NAVY.
As 10 Admiral Dahlgren's views In re-
gard to the work before him, have to say
that be expresses himself perfectly con6-
dent in the success Of his plans. Tue pub.
lie, however, ought to be warned against
too sauguine belief in the result. The
apparent difficulties are great; others IN
looked aud uuprovided for may arise, and
the causes Of defeat be estimated in q bal
auce with upjustigable and extravagant
expectations. The time is near at band
which will determine the issue, alike em-
bracing vast national interests and iuVOlV. |
ing unsettled problems in science. Should |
the result be that Of failure, which Is by DO
means improbable, the public must be will |
ing to relinqutsh, for the present Of lEast,
ali ideas Of the capture of Charleston.
rHE lxvuLxERABlLITY OF THE INV IRON
sIDBs.
The late attempt TO blow up the new
Ironsides with torpedo, and the failure
thereof seems TO have eugeudered u belief
in the minds Of many that her hall is tor
pedo proof. The sooner this impression
is removed the better, if it prevails 70 any
extent among scientific men. A moments
reflection is sufficient TO convince one OF
the AbGuIdity of it. The IrOnsides was At
tackled by an extremely small vessel; the
torpedo was attached 70 the stem or bow
OF this vessel, not sunk so as 70 go under
the keel Of the frigate, but floating par
tally above water aud coming in contact
with her side. Had il exploded under-'
| Meath the frigAts it would have blown her
out Of the water, and Oceasioned serious
Injury; as il WAS the force of The explosion
recOiled upon the smaller vessel, sinking
her Instantly, aud giving % the larger one
onIy slight shock Which caused her to
heave little TO one side ~ If struck BY
heavy sea-
LEAvEs OF ABsExCB-wINTea QUARTERS.
Everything on the island looks like a
disposition to go into winter quarters.-
Furloughs are being granted TO both oti-
GERS and men. for period Of twenty days,
70 visit their friends 10 the North. Capt.
Shaw, of the Sd Rhode Island Artiitesy,
sails in the Arago, having recently been
} appointed LisutenGnt Colonel in rsg!-
ment now forming. ospt. Chadwick, As.