The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-08-28
FROM CHARLESTON.
Details Of the Siege.
Bombnrdmcnt OF Fort Fisher, at vii.
mington, N. g.

New YoRk, Aug. 20.
| Tho following interesting letter h from Mr..
c. G. Fulton, editor 70 the Baltimore Ameri-
can -
"Ovp CHARLEsrowS, Friday noon, Aug. %.
Fort Sumter still flies the rebel flag, but its
west wall Is mass Of ruins. Shells 20 into
the fort and explode inside, some Of them pass
ing through the east wall going In on one side
and coming out Of the other.
An eastcrly storm prevailed on Wednesday,
but broke away on Thursday. We now have
fine weather. and II Is expected that the mont
tiers will 20 In force to Sumter this afternoon.
The Ironsides and our wooden vessels havo
shelled Wagner and Gregg every day, keeping
them quiet while our shore batteries ore ham
mering Sumter.
Seven North Carolina descrters' from sulli-
vans Island were picked up in boat last night
by the Montauk. They say that the rebels arc
preparing to abandon Sumter and blow II mp |;
that they have been taking the guns out Of Il
ever since the attack upon IL In April last,
which demonstrated their inability to hold II !;
that there ore not more than five or eight guns
in the fort, the remainder being "Quakers :"
that the Gordon OF beer barrels arc merely in
tended to sustain the telegraph line between
Sumter and Moultrie, and arc no part Of tho
distractions Of the harbor that the North
Carolina troops are anxious to go home. and
arc oiinost III statc vi uiutihy tnat TIC rcpeis
all anticipate the fall Of Charleston that the
walls of Sumter wore extensively preached in
April, and that there is great scarcity Of pro-
visions among the rebels.
The flag of Sumter has been shot away four
times, and now there Is no flag up.
The rebel batteries ON James Island throw
shells night and day into our lines, but do not
cause moro than one or two casualties daily.
Admiral Dahlgicn Is anxious to let the army
and naval batteries finish Sumter, expecting to
have plenty Of work for the monitors in taking
the interior line of dcfenses OF Cbarlcstown.
A flag Of truce was sent to Wagner on Friday
morning, and firing ceased during tho inter-
view, when II was renewed again. Gen. Gil
more notified Gen. Beauregard that he wonld
commence to shell the city within forty.eight
hours, and requesting hin to remove the women
and children.
The whole monitor feet went mp on Friday
night for another assault upon Sumter. Tho
Passaic got aground, md 30 much time was lost
In getting her of that the expedition was aban-
doned for the night. The rebels did not dis
cover her position, though she was within half
mile Of the fort."
Orr CHAnLEsros, Saturday, Aug. ~. Sumter
this morning Is IN immense ruin. The rear wall
Is battered down and the interior OF the fort is
open to view Our shells strike against the In
side Of the front wall, which Is greatly shat
tered, and ct times shells pass entirely through
the front.
The flag Of Sumter was shot away four times
on Friday, and new flag Is up this morning.
The weather Is very hot and no leo Is to be
had. Nothing but warm condensed water,
Should there DO no accident tonight, the old
flag will float over Sumter tomorrow Sun
day..
BALTIMORE. Aug. 90. The American has Rich
mond papers to the 18th inst, which give the
following intelligence:
CHARLESTON, Aug. "a evening. Tho Ere
Of the enemy on Sumter has Stacked to-day.
The feet has not participated In the attack. At
IL O'Clock last night the enemy's guns opened
on the city, firing IS and 8 inch PARROT shells.
Non.combatants arc leaving the city In contin-
uous streams.
WuMISarox, N. c., Aug. "a. Yesterday
morning the frigate Minnesota and six gun
boats b0mbardcd Fort Fisher, where the steam
er Hebe ran aground some days ago, she being
protected by two small guns and fifty men.
Tho enemy attempted to land. but were repuls-
ell with one killed.
Being reinforced the enemy finally succeeded
In destroying the goods landed from the steam
er and set her on 6re. Wa lost one killed, three
o whitworth gun and another small
gun. Our foroc were In possession Of the wreck
last evening.