The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-08-27
THE SIEGE Of CHARLESTON.


TIE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON
Demand for the Surrender Of tie Cit5
-Correspoadence bet1een Beeurega4t
nad Gillmore-7He City Shelled.
The Charleston papers of Menday con
tain some very interesting Intelligence
from that city. The Courier furnishes
The following particulars OF the new and
important events in the bombardment
which have taken place:
The following is copy OF The communca
tion FROM Gen. Gilmore, received Friday
night At battery Wagner by Gen. Hagood, in
relation 10 the firing on the city, 1t Is en-
,lorscd Oh the back "Headqnafters Depart
ment OF the South, Morris Island, 9. A Gill
more, Brigadier General commanding" de
nanding The immediate evacuation Of Nor
fis Island aud Fort Sumter, or he will open
on the city of Charleston from his bate
ries:
corY.l
HEADERS DEPT OF THE SOUTH,
Morris Island, 8. G.,
August 81, 1863.
Geaerai: have the honor TO demand OF
YOU the immediate evacuation OF Morris
Island and Fort Sumter by the Confederate
forces. The present condition Of Fort Sum
ter, and the rapid aud progressive destruc-
tion w,ieh il is undergoing from my bate
ries, seem To render its completed molition
within n few hours a matter Of certainty. All
my heaviest guns have not yet opened
Should you refuse compliance with this
demand, Or should receive no reply thereto
within four hours after it is delivered into
the hands of your subordinate al Fort Wag-
ner. for transmission, l shall open fire on the
city of Charleston from batteries already es-
tlOlished within easy and effective range OF
the heart Of the city.
am General, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
{SignedD q. \. GILMORE,
Brig. Gen. commanding.
Official: f. Kealny, A. a. e.
TO Gen. Il. I. BeauregaTd. commanding Con
federate forces, Charleston, S. c.
Gen. Bcauregard being absent on recon
noissance, the communication, which was
unsigned, was received at headquarters about
a quarter to IL O'Clock Friday night, by Gen.
Jordan, and by him returned for the sigma
ture of the writer. The communication was
signed by Gen. Gilmore, and again returned.
1t was received at Gen. aBeauregard's head
quarters at 9 O'Clock Saturday morning.
Between and 2 O'clock, however, Satur-
day morning, the enemy commenced firing
on the city, arOusing our people from their
slumbers. Twelve S-inch shells fell into the
city, thirteen in all having been fired. For
tunateiy no person was injured. Several
shells flew in the direction of st. Michael's
steeplc, and fell either in the vacant lots in
the burnt district on King street, or more
generally struck in the centre of the streets,
as exhibited at the corner Of Queen and Rut-
ledge, where an 8-inch~ shell tore up the
plankroad and dug large hole in the ground.
Another shot entered the warehouse of &.
W. Williams & Co., at the corner OF llayne
and Church streets, entered the roof and ex-
ploded in the upper story, making large
opening in the brick wall Of the Medical Pnr-
veyor's stprehouse next door, and scattering
things in great confusion. Some loose straw
or packing was set on fire by the explosion,
which caused the alarm bell to ring and
brought out the iiremen. 1t was eX.iuguished
with little effort before il had made any pro-
gress. Four shells fell in this locality. One
large piece was picked up and exhibited at
the Guard House, where it was the subject
Of much curiosity.
There was good deal of excitement and
some surprise expressed at the enemy being
able TO reach the city from his present posi-
tion. The battery, VIC learn, is located in
the marsh between Morris and Black Islands,
distant fully Eve miles from Charleston, 1t
is said TO be- a superior iOrtif1catioii, and be
lieyet to mount from three to four Parrott
guns of different c:libre and long range. A
report was in circulation on Saturday and
Sunday that battery Haskell, on James Ia-
land had brought its heavy guns to bear upon
this new fortihcation and silenced the ene-
my's lire. The report, however, was ,o:
credited, no authentic information being re
ceiyed to that effect, although our battery Is
said to have bOmbarded the work on Safur-
day and yesterday with good effect.
The enemy have erected another battery
within four hundred and fifty yards OF bat
terry Wagner, from which a conf lhuai artii-
lery duel and mnsketry firing IS maintained
between the pickets in the rife pits On
Friday night Il party OF the enemy. estimate ed
at about one hundred and fifty strong, ad-
yanced with the supposed Object oi nahkihS
and storming the position Of our pickets-,
The latter, only eighteen in number, allowed
the enemy TO advance until witnfn shof'
range, when a voiley was poured M among
them, every shot telling, aud causing tue
whole party to retreat to their WORKS. oe'
eral are known to have been Killed aht'
wounded. The fire upon battery wagner
has not slackened since our last repofi. bu'
still exhibits no marks OF the ilery ordeal
and it is semi officially reported VIII heaf as
much pounding as ever. Battery GrcgS
which has been subjected to the same heav,
fire, is also reported in the same good order
and condition, Our casualties ut battery
Wagner on Saturday were foar killed ant
twenty-one wounded. -,
On SATURDAY afternoon the steamer Spaid
ing. Cant. Dexter; went down TO the neel
viii, fiag Of truce flying, having on hoare
II. p. Walker, Esq, British Coissul, and Col
Roman. of Gen. Beauregard's staif, bearing
q communication from Gen. Beauregard I,
Gen. GiliMorc. They were iaet by Lieut.
Forrest. of the Ironsides, who received theil
eommunications aud returned to his vesse
for orders. On his return Lieut.. Forces
stated that he was instructed TO say that tn,
| ,l,snatehes addressed TO the Admiral Wonit
| he replied to and sent nEder flag Of truce t,
| The NORTH Channel, while the dispatches 10
| Glen. Gilmore would be conveyed 10 him
and the reply necessary sent by flag Of true
| tn battery Nagaer The object, as We learn
| of Mr. Walkers visit was to solicit an inter
| view and request more time be allowed 70
| the removal OF non.eombatants. 1t bein
lat In the evening the interview could no
be had, but a reply was expected Sunaia
morning.
/ The following is copy Of the reply {
Gen. Bcauregard to the communicative {
Cen. GilImore, conveyed BY Col. Roman vi
| der fiag Of truce to the enemy's dag ship e
delivery:
Hno,ns DEr'r 8 G., GA, AND FLA, !
Charlcston. 3. c., Aug. q, 1858. /
S,r. Last night, ut ID minutes before
o,cIncE Iurin9 my absence on recoan0i
s.ner ~ my fortidcati0us, . communicates
was :receiyed 1T these headquarters, date
nHead0nar4ers Department of the boutl
Morrie Island, 8, q, August 2, M13 4
mandIng the aeaaa-e esactsa.ao.} ol eo