The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-08-26

A fac of truce bnat arrived at City
Point on Monday with 372 prisoners
who were captured at Gettysburg. Many
Of them were of Pickett division. and
belonged to Norfolk. Gel Meredith, the
new u. S. Commissioner N Exchange.
was Oh the boat, and conference was
held between him and Hon. Robt. Oulh
relative to the cartel, the result of which
has not yet transpired. BY this boat we
have full files of the New York papers OF
the 22d, and get the following news from
them:
THE APPROACH TO CHARLEsTOE--THE BAT
TIE OF THE ENGINEERS.
The Boston journal thinks that the
contest now going on at Charleston be-
tween two Of the best, if not absolutely
the two best, engineers in their respec-
tive armies, is extremely interesting in
every point of view, besides that which
concerns itself with the national bearings
of the result. 1t says:
1t is universally admitted that if Bcaure
gard is good for anything in the way Of gen
eralship, il is as ali engineer And he proba-
bly, is very accomplished and ingenious in
that line Of service. lis actual exploits thus
far are not proofs Of great originality, as per
haps the occasions did not call for il, hut
they show no defects in his claim to be a
iirstclass engineer. But Gen. Gilmore, in
his reduction of Fort Pulaski, demonstrated
highly original and brilliant qualities. What
he accomplished in that case is well known,
but the following statement by the Philadel~
phia North american Of the immense bar
riers of routine opinion which he had the
boldness TO attack and demOlish at the same
time, best shows what stun the man Is made
of:
II is stated that Gem Wright, for three
wears chief Of the engineer bureau at Wash
inc1on, after careful survey pronounced
most positively against the practicability of
an attack on Pulaski, stating that there is
not old iron enough in America to take that
fort. Gen Totten, long the head of the en-
tire engineer corps, IS reported 10 nave saii'
YOU might as well undertake to lombard the
Rocky mountains from Tybee as Fort Pulas-
XII. Gen. Robert f. Lee gave rebel testimony
to the same point: 'The enemy may fill
yolr fort with shot and shell, but they can
not breach IFS walis.p But the Mcredulons
Gilmore insisted on an opportunity TO drag
some cannon miles across Hoailng marshes
to little firm land, on which he proposed to
plant them for a preaching battery, and by
so. The world knows the effect on Fort PI,
Iaski. and are now informed that its consc-
auence with the branch of the service to
which he was attached w&is to make General
Gilmore .the best hated officer in the enSl-
neer corps" ,
In the present struggle Gilmore has dis
PLAYED decided superiority over BeaureSaru
in one respect-that is, in getting his loot
hold on Morris Island. Ii he had been Eept
h.. hpen---ftyA
could have made no progress 'but tnat nav
in. been secured and held, he has q ialr heid,
and need ask no iavors. At the very starting
point. therefore, Gen. Gilmore erinced a
.yeneralship Of q higher grade than belongs
TO the strict department OF engineering AS
for what is to come. the experience OF fuias-
hi can only give us confidence, without de
tcrmining specific results, the conaitiohs ol
the problem being so different. sumter is
farther off from Gen. Giilmore's batteries
than was Pulaski il is Of stone instead oi
brick, and is additionally protected by tiers
of cotton bales. On the other hand, Gen.
Gilmore has much heavier and better ord
nance than he had at Pulaski, and more bat
teries. besides having the aid of the iron
clads. The balance Of the conditions ID be
lievcd 10 be not against the present under
taking, but experience alone can settle the
Rut Gen. Gilmore and his gallant troops,
as well as the whole lloyd public, arc san
ruine ia the conviction that his success is
only question of time. 1t is military
axiom that every fortified place can betaken,
If only the proper means are expended: The
Goyernment means that there shall be no
failure iu the II in this case. Men, ordnance,
and the requisite material OF oil Kinds Wiil
be supplied In abundance Irt the people
therefore, be in no haste to see the cradle o.
rebellion br0ught low. The work must go
on scientificalIy TO he effectual, and should
mt he hurried II was reported that the
grsud attack was to be opened last Thurs
DAY, but wc.are assured ON good autnofi.s
thaf Gen. Giilmore will not BE- ready TO givt
the vorsi for action before to-day or tsslnor
row. row Perhaps, also, a day or twos additions
delay may lie necessary. Bat the third con
test & CkarIestop, this time the battle of tn
eneinsefs. viii so0a begin, and wlh, ue =. =.
conadsst, mascA steAdaly on fofhs compaes'