Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-08-27
FORT SUMTER AND BATTERY WAGNER.

Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer august I3h
In company with Gen Ripley aud several gentlemen ]
visited Fo Sumter Cummings Point and the celebrated
Battery Wagner.
On arriving at Fort Sumter we found large force at
work. protecting the walls of the fort by png up sand
bags twenty feet thick in anticipation Of the xpected
assault We found every thing in fine condition aud wit
nesed for some time the throwing OF shel from large
mortar which howed through the air bursting over the
enemys works on Morris Island Prudence prevents me
from giving you description of most interesting
matter, which, Of course cannot be mentioned and there
fore give you but the bare outline Of our visit
From Sumter we pulled to Cummings Point, thr.
teen hundred yards distant, Morris Island the shell
from Sumter flying our heads. We found Battery
ceeded down the beach for threequarrers OF mile until
we came 10 warworn Wagner. ElteriDg d narrow pas-
sage which leads TO the centre OF the battery, reminding
one of the massive Dungeons Of DID, you pass under iu
mense hcknesse OF earth and sand are contained
the quarters aud magazine of the garrison called the bomb
proof This pile Of earth overhead is supported by vast
beams pillars, aud ratters. The walls over twenty
feet 10 thickness The bastons are also very strong and
present two acehe south toward the land and the
toward the sea- We ascended the ramparts to the
'front.' but il too dark to obtain good view We we're
shown the works by Col George Harrison Of the
EgbtysecOnd Georgia acting brigadier general
and who Is at present commanding the forces Morris
leland While ou the ramparts could distinctly see
the shell from Sumter burst the euemys works.
AreconnossaDce made last night toward the enemy
marth battery at the mouth of Schooner Creek where
Of the eneuys picket boats captured short time
between Morris and James Islands aud about
quafors oi mile from Battery Waguer The enemy was
found to be in some force and scouts withdrew with
out attracting attention From this point the enemy has
displayed for the last two nights strong ca cum light
which throws its rays upon Wagner Gregg aud Sumter
which for the purpose Of enabling them to get the range
at night The nearest advanced work of the enemy now
within eight hundred yards Of Wagner and they are still
working away like beavers with the expectation of soon
completing their battery Of heavy long range guns TO
sumter We not inactive and in two or three days
they will hear music from quatsr least Ipected Matters
laat tpatin
soon have hot work Of it. We are, however in a condi.
ton to give the enemy warmer reception than he i'm
agnes Gen Ripley having made every exeron to put the
harbor in the best state of defence and has taken the
sponsblty Of supplying many deficiencies on bis own ac
coua When the ball s really opened there will be ter
rble bowling,
From the Richmond Examiner Of august 81.
We have not heard either directly indirectly that
Sumter has aen been destroyed evacuated but from
the despatch which il published this morning 10 s
able to be supposed TINT il has been much injured, and
may become unteDabe The event has provea, what was
hitherto theory that toe heavy ordnance now used VIII do
considerable injury to Notifications constructed OF any
known materials other than earth even at the distance of
three thousand yards Wagner exposed during forty days
to the whole artillery of the enemy at only eight hundred
PAGES still holds its own and IN danger only from the
csnuonade would evidently last forever while Sumter
which receives the shot Of single battery at the immense
distance stated with occasional assistance from scary
ntors suffers severely and probably would have already
crumbed but for the sandbags with which ts walls have
been streng gthened Sumters walls brick and con-
crete sixteen feet thick Wagner is simple earthwork
But Sumter and Wagner have necessary connerion
with the ultimate result at Charleston. That city s on
the land and until feet clear the harbor no eectual
operations be commenced against it, Even n should
do learn through the highest engineering authority
Of this country, that Besuregsrd maintain himself
against any force that has been is likely TO be sent
against bim III Morris Island shall fall entirely into the
possession Of the enemy he may shut up Charleston az
port Of entry but IL will not enable him 10 take the city
while its defenders are determined TO 6ght 1t out"