Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-08-24
CONFIDENCE IN THE FINAL RESULT.
ARRIVAL OF PRISONERS AND WOUNDED

FLAGSHIP AUGUSTA DIssMoRE, Tuesday
morning, Aug. IS.-The attack on Sumter was
commenced at dayhreak yesterday morning by
the siege batteries OF Gen. Gilmore AID the
naval battery on shore. At six o'clock Adj
miral Dahlgren proceeded on board the Wee
hawken, and with the 1ronsides and the en-
tire Monitor fleet attacked Wagner and Gregg
with great fury, completely silencing Wagner
and almost silencing Gregg. The wooden gun
boats, seven in number. also joined in the as.
sault and enabled all the shore batteries to
popr their shot and she'll into Sumter.
Eft 10 o'clock Admiral Dahlgren changed his
flag to the Passaic, and with the Patapsco pro-
ceeded to within about 400 yards of Sumter
and shelled the sea wall with the rifle guns of
those vessels for about an hour, with marked
effect.
Fort Sumter fired about fifty return shot, do.
ing no damage to ourselves, whilst the wall of
Sumter was badly SCARED
Fleet Captain George W. Rodgers took com.
mand Of his old vessel, the Monitor Cattskill,
and went up into the fight, going within $50
yards Of the beach in front of Fort Wagner
After firing number of shots ball from
Wagner broke piece Of the interior lining,
which struck on the head Of Commander Rod.
gers, instantly killing him, as we'll as Pay
master Josiah g. Woodbury., who was stand.
Ing at his side. Both of their heads were split
open. These were the only persons injured
on land or water during the six hours engage.
ment.
The damage done to Sumter by the siege bat.
teries Of Gen. Gilmore is visible without the
aid OF glass The rebels had erected a false
wall against the wall exposed to our batteries
1t extended to within ten feet OF the ton of the
wall, and was over forty feet high and ten feet
thick. This wall is now q mass of ruins, whilst
the old wall is bored full OF deep holes, the
parapet crushed and ragged, and the north.
west corner gashed and cracked do WIN almost
to the waters edge.
The harbor and Stone river are filed with
picked up in the Stono, and one was exploded
under the Monitor Patapsco, raising her foot
out of the water. but doing no harm to the yes
s., none Oh me vessels were injured in the
are confident In the ability OF the Monitors to
batter down Sumter. He is, hoWey ar anxious
TO save the vessels for the heavy work required
OF them after Sumter Is taken, and to let tho
army reduce Sumter if possible.
The Meet, except the Weehawken and Ma.
liant, all retired before two o'clock. The latter
afternoon. and to prevent the rem ounting of
their guns.
The shore batteries continued firing all the
afternoon and night on the wall of SUMTER
with good effect.
Second Days Bombard ment.
This Tuesday, morning Is cool and clear
and the shore batteries are steadily at work.
Inc Weehawken and Passaic are keeping
when the Arkansas sails, the remainder of the
fleet are lying at moorings.
The bodies OF Commander Rodgers and Pay
master Woodbury. have been emba lined and %
North in the Arkansas.
Cen Gilmore announces that the work thus
iar mas been entirely satisfactory, that the tort
Is greatly damaged, and the work of the reduc.
non progressing finely. Admiral Dahlgren is
much depressed by the loss OF his Fleet Cap
tam. but ID highly gratified with the operations
OF tne meet and army and is very hopeful OF
Up to the moment Of sailing, at noon, siege
guns have been hurting about five shells per
minute at Sumter, with marked effect Two
Monitors, the lronsides, and some of the gum
boats were shelling Wagner and Gregg. F.
The Plan Of Attack.
The following In relation to the proposed
plan OF attack on Fort Sumter was received
from our correspondent by q previous arrival.
but its publication withheld until we had posi-.
tive knowledge that the bombardmept had COM
menced.]
The most perfect harmony and unity of ac.
don exists between General Gilmore and Ad-
mlral Dahlgren They not only have hourly
conversations by signals, but nearly every
evening the Admiral crosses over to the Island
and has personal interview with the Gener-
al.
The plan of attack agreed upon is to be
earnest but not rash. The siege batteries of
General Gilmore will, at q given signal open
on Sumter, and the Ironsides will 20 in and
anchor in front OF Fort Wagner, and will, as
she has frequently done before, keep silent tha
guns OF that work by the constant use Of her
powerful battery. Thus Wagner, which is
only about four hundred yards from General
Giimore's advance batteries will be pre- vented
1rom annoying the gunners whilst they pour
their shell against rear wall OF Fort Sumter
In the meantime Admiral Dahlgren will ad.
va vance towards Sumter in the Monitor Passaic,
followed oy the PatapscO, both OF which yes.
sells have rifted guns. They will not at first
advance further than from eight hundred to
one Thousand yards from Sumter, where they
Will anchor and test the effect OF their eleven.
inch rifles On its walls. The fight will thus
progress until full test is had of the power of
the rifle guns on shore and the rife guns afioat
to destroy its walls Five Of the wooden gun
boats, with ninein rifles, will also stand off
IN the Swash channel, and throw shell into |
MouitrIe and Battery Gregg at longe range.
slye power Of the Monitors and allow General
Gilmore full scope with his siege guns. III,
aver the ngnt progresses some time al long |
close the contest by rushing in with the whole |
Monitor feet with their smooth bore Is.incn
guns at short range, he will signal them at |
once es mus the night may possibly be only In
my, or II may be conclusive, according to cir |
cumstances. The operations on land will, |
however, be with the whole batteries At COM
mand. numbering. with the mortar and siege |
guns, about sixty pieces.
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPArCH.l
Arrival Of Priseners and Wounded-Sum.
ter on Fire, &C., &c.
PHILADELPHIA. August 23.-The United
States supply steamer Arkansas arrived at the
Navy Yard to-day from the South Atlantic
blockade Squadron, with ITO passenser-pris.
oners and wounded.
She Left Charleston harbof on Wednesday
morning. She reports that the navy aud army
shore batteries have done tremendous destruc-
ton on Fort Sumter. The south and east faces
OF the fort looks like q honeycomb, and the
complete demolition and establishment OF its
walls are looked foa In q week.
The Arkansas experienced very heavy wealth
er from Charleston to the Capes Of Virginia
The Arkansas left the feet at 7 O'Clock on
"wednesday morning. and ct that time hugo
volumes Of smoke were seen issuing from Fort
Sumter, a. II from the Burning Of cotton, and
the onaeers Of the Arkansas believe the fort
would b captured or entirely DESTROYED by
noon. S1mtsr.s guns were replying feeblY TO
our shot.
Fort Gregg had been entirely silenced. but
Fort Wagner still held ont.
The bombardment continued without cesSa.
ton during Tnesday night and was rene wed
Aw.A-