Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-09-04
THE NATURE OF GILMORE'S EURURE OpE.
NATIONS AGAINST CHARLESTON.

correspondent Of the New York Herald
writes:
"The accident to the oO-pound PARROT gun
does not as was At first supposed disable that
gun Inc injury was received from the un.
timely bursting of shell, just as it was pass
ing out OF the muZzle of the gun. This accident
blew OFF the muzzleband; but the remainder of
the piece is uninjured, and in as good coudi
ton as ever for practical work. On this Won
may rely. may also add tas it can Certainly
give no 'comfort" to the enemy that inmedi.
21eiy on TINS accident being reported here Gen.
Cullum telegraphed an order for another BOO
pounder OF the same make to be forwarded
ana In less than twenty -four hours from the
date OF the despatch the gun was son the calm
wat rs OF the deep blue sea-" resting snuplv
In the hold Of one Of our fastest steam trans.
ports, bound for Lighthouse Inlet
II Ia not generally known, but it is neyerthe-
less true, that Admiral Dahlgren is and has
been for the last ten days confined to his bed
hy sickness, or has been only able to crawl on
deck or into tho pilothouse critical occasions
at SAD expense Of ease and comfort. The
aoominable atmosphere Of the iron .clads has
tAken mold OF his system, and nothing but his
nigh resolution, and the necessity he is under
OF yindicatlng the action of the Navy Depart
ment, which placed him in command, can long
sustain him under his present debility. So
liked Is his determ ination TO 20 through with
ms work, however, that he has not in any of
his dispatches to the Department even referrod
TO his 1.-The alth; and it is only by private let.
tiers from sympathizing army officers that we
hi ar OF his condition.
"AunIral DanlgrenS caution In the opening
OF the Charleston conflict will be abundantlv
justified when the nature Of the work vet to he
accomplished Is Understood by the public
Fort Sum'er-weakest fer defence, most pow.
eriul for the otfensiye-is now happily elm
mated from the problem which the iron. clads
nave yet to solve. But Forts Moultrie and
Johnson still remain to be settled with, and in
the attack upon these Gen. Gilmore can give
but little assistance. Against Fort Moultrie
tie strongest defensive work in the harbor, he
can do absolutely nothing. Fort johnson ia
on the extreme left Of Beauregard's line of de.
fences stretching across James Island from the
harbor shore to Secessionville. To attack this
line In general would require a force more
than treble that now at Gen. Gilmores dis.
posal and the only means Of advancing nm.
der cover against the tort would be to start
trenches, ZigZags and parallels from where the
"Swamp Angel Battery is now located along
the narrow strip of hard sand shore which lies
between the swamps and the harbor This
strip OF hard sand would offer very nearly the
same obstacle to trenching that would be Of
ftred by the pavements and sub.soil Of Broad.
way; and, exhausted as his men are by the
labors they have already performed, and the
malarial saehexy which has reduced their
systems, 1t is doubtful II his whole force, ap.
plied to the spade and pick for the next three
months, would suffice to advance q mine un.
Ger the walls of Fort Johnson"