Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-09-19
LATER FROM THE ATLANTIC SIDE.
DATES TO SEPTEMBER 0.

DaTTtu. AHo OtCTetdTy VI the treasury, 1Or
some time past, has been engaged in prepar-
ing new regulations for trade with the rebel
States, suited to the altered condition of af-
fairs, occasioned by the opening of the Mis-.
sissippi river. These will be completed in a
few days, but may have tobe submitted to
the approval of the Generals commanding the
Department of the South before they will be
ready for publication. The revenue from the
public domain being scarcely more than NOM
inal no additional lands will be Immediately
advertised for sale.
A Morris Island letter, of September LIST,
to the Herald. says: For two or three days
past a new rebel battery, on Sullivan's Island
has been making fruitless efforts to annoy
our men in the advanced trenches The cali
bre Of the gun employed is not certainly
known, but it is supposed to BE- one Of tho H.
inch guns taken from tho Kcokuk. The
firing of the gun is very good, except in one
very important particular, its range being
short and only at long intervals shot from
it reached this island. Those thrown thus
far have been solid shots, and have done
no damage other than to the sand hills which
have been hit. A great majority fell into the
water, outside the beach. -Four Monitors,
Passaic, Patapsco, NaAant and Montana,
came in yesterday afternoon and enga-
ged Fort Monltric and the batteries on
Sullivan's Island. firing an occasional shot at
Sumter. Wagner was engaged, the firing
commencing at $3.50 in the afternoon, and for
about two hours the fire was maintained with
great intensity, particularly on the rebel side.
The firing from Fort Moultrie was terrific
The heavy guns ,attled off like snare drums
in tattoo, and scattered the water about the
| Monitors, The heavy rifle and 15.inch shell
ofthe iron-clads burst with effect over and in
Fort Moultrie, and sent the earth whistling
in all directions. Fort Wagner was repeated.
ly struck by tho exploding shells, and SOM
what damaged. She fired but few shots
during the contest at the Monitors. Battery
Gregg was exceedingly active, and her heavy
guns were in play from the first to tho last of
the engagement, and made some excellent
Shots The Monitors shells went wildly ON
all sides and had no effect in silencing her
guns. Fort Sumter was struck several times
by the rife shells from the Passic and Pa
tapsco, hut besides detaching masses of loose
masonry, did no further damage to the fort.
After two or three hours the Monitors with
drew. The object Of the attack has not been
developed,
| Some days since the enemy made a system
attic effort to blow up and destroy the gunboats
in Stone Inlet by meant of torpedoes. Fol-
tunately no serious damage was inflicted on
the vessels by their internal machines. One
torpedo exploded little csten ofthe Par
nee. and blew her launch. which she was
towing astern to fragments. A few moments
later tremendous explosion occurred on
board the Key. few rods below the Pawnee,
occasioncd by another torpedo sent down Mt
the same time. From facts since ascertained,
it is certain that the rebels sent down on that
night ut least ten of these inventions, three or
four of which exploded. and four were picked
up. One driftrd through the fleet and trans
ports. and up Folio river, and exploded under
the bows Of the mortar schooner c. Il. W.
liams. but occnsioned no damage. The tor
pedo was precisely like those found in Light
House Greek, and 60 off at the slightest con-
cussion.
The Tribune's Morris Island letter states
that Wagner will b. held to the last moment.
The dead lie so thckly around her wallis that
the water from her shallow wells cannot be
drank. If compelled by thirst should some
of the soldiers be so imprudent as to swallow
it, the next day they are in the hospitals,
and before the close of the week many of
them are in their graves. l believe attempts
have been made to supply the garrison from
Charleston, but thus far only small quantity
has been furnished, and only ut midnight. or
under cover Of dense fog in the morning.
have any vessels been known to reach them
for tho past eight days. If the Monitors
would only cut off the communication for
one week longer, the fort would be in our
possession, and with Wagner, Gregg, and
the whole of Morris Island once ours, the
Stars and Stripes in few hours would wave
over Sumpter. We are now within hundred
yards of Wagner. and by tomorrow our
heaviest Parrot guns will be able to deliver
their fire at a distance Of 200 yards, into every
embrasure commanding the beach. and engag-
ing one on every gun looking seward
Memphis, Sept. 4-The reported arriving
Of rebels across Bayou Metoe is confirmed.
The rebels on the other side are strongly for
tilted and a big fight is contemplated. Gen.
Price is in command. He is said to have
$4,000 men and expecting to be reinforced by
5000 men under Dick Taylor. and by Gen.
Albert Pike with 1000 Indians. Gen. Da-
wilson's position is very strong. Many Of
his men are sick with chills and fever, but in
this respect they are no worse off themselves.
Two gunboats were recently sent to disperse
guerrillas concentrated at Morgancea, La,
aud shelled the levee for two hours, compell-
ing the guerrillas to abandon their position
with a loss of 81 killed and wounded A con-
siderable force of guerrillas is reported con-
csntrated at Tompkins who have planted two
12-pounders there. A gunboat has been
sent to shell them of. The steamer Sallie
Robixsos was fired into few days ago by