Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-09-04
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GEN. GILL
MORE'S CHIEF OF ARTILLERY.
OPptcH or THE CHIEF or ARTmLsHY,)
Department Of the South, Morris Island. $. C.,
Auuust % 1863.

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Department Of the South Morris Island. S. c.,
August %, 1868.
General: | have the honor to report the
effect that ous preaching batteries have had
upon Fort Sumter, and the condition of that
work tonight.
Az the close Of the seven days lombard
ment the gorge wall Of the fort is almost a
complete mass OF ruins for the distance Of
several classmates. About midway on this
face the ramparts are removed nearly aud in
places quite to the arches, and but for the
sand bags with which the casemates were fill
ed, and which has served to sustain the brok-
en- arches and masses of masonry, it would
long since have been entirely cut away and
with it the arches to the floor of the second
tier Of casemates. The debris on this front
now forms rampant reaching as high as the
floor of these casemates. The parapet wall
of the two northeastly faces is completely
carried away, a small portion only being left
in the angle made with the gorge wall.
The ramparts of these faces are also total
ruin. Quite one-haf of our projectiles seem
10 have slruck the parade and parapet of theee
faces, nd Judging from the effect they have
had upon the gorge wall within our obsarva-
ti.n n the destruction Of masonry on these two
sides must be very great, and | am 81 the
opinion that nearly every arch IN these fronts
must be broken in But one gun remains in
position on these fronts and this is in the an
gle of the gorge, and think uuservlcaOle.--
I The ruin extends around taking in the
y northeasterly face as far be seen. A
portion Of this face adjoining the angle it
makes with the northeasierly face is conceal
ed, but from the great number OF missiles
which have struck in this angle during the
last two days, it cannot be otherwise than
greatly damaged, and do not think any guns
can be left on this face in a serviceable con-
diiion. The ramparts in this as well as in
the south easterly face must be plowed up and
greatly shattered. The parapet on this latter
face is torn off in many places as can be seen,
and | hardly think the platforms of the re-
naming guns on this face could have escaped.
/ With the assistance Of powerful glass cam
not determine that more than one of these
guns can be used, and it has been dismount-
/ ed once The carriages of the others are ev-
identity more or less shattered, and such is
! the condition si the parapet and parade in the
vicinity of this gun that it probably could
not be saved for any length OF time. In fact,
the destruction of the fort is so far complete
that il is to-day of no avail in the defence of
the halbor of Charleston. BY a longer fire
1t can be made more completely ruin and a
mass Of broken masonary, but could scarce
| ly be more poweress for the defence of abe
harbor.
therefore respectfully submit my opinion
that continuance of our FIRE is no longer
necessary as giving us no ends adequate tor
the comsummatlon of our resources.
Very respectfully,
JOHN N. TURNER,
Colonel and Chief Of Artillery.
To Brig. Gen. @. A. GILMORE, Command
ing department of South.
New York, Aug. 27.
/ A Charleston dispatch of the 22d, states
that from o'clock, a. m. until O'Clock p
M yesterday, the Federal fire on Sumter was
very heavy. 923 shots were fired and 70i
struck the Fort. The eastern face Of the
Fort was badly battered, some guns on the
east and north east faces. were disabled. The
flag was shot down four times. Five privste'
and two negroes were wounded in Sumter.
The fire of the federals on Wagner caused
five casualties, including Capt. Prlngle killed
Our sharp-shooters are annoying the Yankees
At ii o'clock, a communication from The
enemy, unsigned, was sent to Gen beaure
gard, demanding the SURRENDERED Sumter anc
Morris Island batteries, with notification
that the city would be shelled in forty-eigh
hours if the demand was not complied with
: Beauregard was on a Reconnaissance anc
Gen. Jordan returned it for the signature o
the writer
About o'clock this morning the Yankee
began shelling the city from a battery on th'
marsh, between Morris and James Islands,
distance of miles from the city. Twelve
s-inch Parrott shells fell in the city, but caus
ed no casualties. The transaction is regarde'
as an outrage upon ciyiliz warfare. Tn
0 shell firing had good effect in the exodus o
non combattants. At daylight this morning
! the enemy opened 6re on Sumter. The iron
sides has since opened, ami Sumter 10 reply
. ing. Wagner is firing briskly on the enemy
g advance works, 450 yards from our batteries
The steamer Arago, from off Charleston
: Bar the 25th. has arrived The following
' dispatch is from C. C. Fulton, editor of tn
, Baltimore American
i of Morris Island, dug. 24--hoon.-O
Saturday at midnight, Admiral Dahlgren
0 with I've monitors advanced in the darkness
7 on sum.e-, opening FIRE at 3 o'clock and keep
Q ing il up until 6 o'clock A dense fog aros
which shut out the fort from view.