Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-08-28
TIE SIEGE or CHARLESTON.

THE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.
At time Of writing we have advices from
Charleston up to the 10Th. The account
says:
The fire Of our batteries is still continued,
and the masonry Of Sumter is gradually
crumbling and tumbing TO ruins. The rebel
flag was shot away twice on the 18th, but
was replaced. A violent storm ragged on the
18th, and continued on the 10. The sand
batteries, however, have got perfect range
and are demolshing the gorge wall. The
holes are deepencd, the assures have been
widened and the seams multiplied hundred
fold since yesterday. The parapet is com,
plcte.y demolished. The abutments at the
southeast angle are mostly torn away
Breaches made, through which our proiec-
tiles fly, crushing the opposite wall, are plain
ly SEEN Deserters state that the effect OF
, our shot on Sumter was terrible, and that
four mon were killed, and six in Wagner, on
Monday. .a -. ,.'. -
The rebel batteries on James Island con-
tinue heavy fire, but without much dam
age.
More guns were mounted at the front last
| night. Our heaviest pieces have not opened
yet. ..- Is H.. .
The following is from the editor of the Bal
timore Anseyican, who is with the fleet:
''FLAs-sHlr DIssMosE, Aug, Is.
1.-THE attack on Sumter commenced at
| daybreak yesterday morning, by the siege
batteries Of General Gilmore and the naval
battery on shore. At 6 o'clock, Admiral
Dahlgren proceeded on board the Weehaw-
ken, and, with the Ironsides and the entire
Monitor feet, attacked batteries Wagner and
Gregg, with fury, completely slencing Wag-
ner and almost silencing Gregg. The wood
Ell gunboats, seven in number, also Joined in
| the assault and enabled all Of the shore bat
teries to pour their shot and shell into Sum-
| ter.
| Alto o'clock the Admiral changed his flag
| to the Passaic, and with the Patapsco, pro-
ceeded to within about / 400 yards of Sum-
! ter, and stielled the sea wall with the riaed
| guns of three vessels for about an hour, with
marked effect Sumter fired about fifty re-
turn shots, doing no damage to the vessels,
| whilst the wall Of Sumter was badly Scared.
Fleet Capt. Geo Rodgers, of the Cats
kills, went in within loo yards of the beach
front of battery Wagner After firing a
number of shots, a shot from Fort Wagner
broke piece Of the interior lining, which
struck on the head of Commander Rodgers,
| instantly killing him, as well as Paymaster
Woodbury., who was standing at his side
| Both of their heads were split open. These
were the only persons injured on land or
water during the six hours engagement.
"The damage done to Sumter by the siege
batteries Of Gen. Gilmore is visible without
the aid of glass.
The rebels had erected false wall
against the wall exposed to our batteries. 1t
extended to within ten feet Of the top of the
wall, over 40 feet high and 10 feet thick, and
this wall is now mass of ruins, whilst the
old wall is bored full of deep holes, the par
apct crushed and ragged, and the Northwest
corner gashed and cracked down almost to
the waters edge.
THE harbor and Stone rivers are filed
with torpedoes. About dozen Of them
have been picked up in the Stone. One was
exploded under the Patapsco, raising her q
foot out Of water, but doing no harm
None of the vessels were injured in the
least. The Admiral and his officers are con-
fident in the ability of the Monitors to batter
down Fort Sumter lie is, however, anxious
to save the vessels for the heavy work re
quired of them after Sumter is taken, and to
let the army reduce Sumter if possible.
The fleet, except the Weehawken and
Nahant, all retired before 2 p. NJ, but they
remained to keep Wagner silent during the
afternoon, and to prevent the remounting of
guns. The shore batteries continued firing
all the afternoon and night On the wall of
Sumter, with good effect
" This morning the batteries are still at
work. The Wechawken and Passalc are
keeping batteries Wagner and Gregg silent,
and up 10 noon, when the Arkansas sailed,
the remainder Of the feet were at their moor
ings.
>" Gen. Gilmore announces that the work
thus far has been entirely satisfactory; that
the fort is greatly damaged and the work
progressing finely.
The Arkansas left the feet at o'clock
on Wednesday morning. At that time huge
volumes Of smoke were seen issuing from
Sumter, as if from the burning of cotton,
and the officers of the Arkansas believe the
fort would have been captured or entirely de-
stroyed by noon. Her guns were replying
feebly to ours. Fort Gregg had been entire
ly silenced Wagner still holds out.
THE bom6ardment continued without
cessation during Tuesday night, and was re-
newed on Wednesday morning, and, when
the Arkansas left, the firing was furious-the
Ironsides five Monitors and the shore bate
.ries being all engaged"
II ~. 90