Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-09-17
Fs9m the Charleston Courier, 9th inst
1.vaeua.lon Of norris Island Batteries.

I1vaEGUt&an Of Norris Island batteries.
Batteries Gregg and Wagner, after obstinate and
heroic defence Of seven weeks, have passed into the
bands OF the enemy.
the result was rot altogether unexpected. With tie
most powerful combined land and naval armament
yet brought 10 bear upon fertilization, with guns of
tn heaviest CabTe, and all the clements ana materials
tcessary to accomplish bis work, the greatest wo1der
is how little his immense force has as yet Effected
The advantages OF the position gained we trust he
will yet fad brings him to the dIabolcaI and
cherished object of his ambition. lie will be net
by resistance which think he little expects, and
which will yet teach bin that bis work has but Just
begun.
The incessant and furious bombarduent Of Battery
Wagner for over ortyeight hours reported in last
efectuay prevented the garrison from repairing dam
ages over night, and Sunday morning the solid shot
and shells falling thick and fast upon the bombproof
and in the sayports began 20 tell severely upon the
work and render it un:enable. Our men, too, were
hausted having no rest or relief for three four days
Communication with Morris Island very difficult,
cid our wounded la exposed tothe hot FIRE of the
emY The SHELLS tore up the graves OF the Dead adding
tenfold horrors to the bombardRent
Under these trying circumstances the order was given
for evacuation abont SIX O'Clock Sunday evening. Pre-
paratons we're mmedately made the guns spiked and
otherwise rendered useless, ard the batteries mined
TIE difficult task of transportation OF the tr0Ors frcm
the Island successfully Effected by barges manned
by crews from the gunboats Palmetto State and Chic
ora III der the command Of Lieut.. Ward The cheer
fu!ness and alacrty with which they performed the
work, deserves the highest praise.
To the crews of the Chicora and Palmetto State Is
also due the credit Of performing the arduous duty du
ring the siege Of Wagner Of transporting and relieving
the gRrri6Ons.
By one O'Clock Monday morning the evacuation was
| completed.
! The e1eny's howitzer barges appeared during the
evacuation, and endea7ored to intercept boats
Three barges two containing frCm fifteen to twenty
each are supposed to have been captured The missing
! boats are said to belong to the Chicora.
4 tie bef O'Clock
lowing was received from Major Elliott, commanding
| Fort Sumter
FoRr SUMTER, September $40 a. n.
Ill the garrison o s;orris Island who came here have
been shipped. Lieut. Haskes boat from the Chcora was
captured by Yankee barge. Two OF the crew came TO
| Island STEPHEN ELLIoTI,
| Major Commanding
| The last to leave the Island Col. keitt and a
number Of officers who experimenting and attend
ins the emberkaton of the troops. a SLOW match was
lighted by Captain Huguenin at Wagner, and by Cap
tain Le8egne at Greeg, but owing to defect il the
| fuses. no explosion took place at either toft.
Thus closed one of The most memorable deences on
record The heroic endurance OF our men under such
fire has been beyond all praise, and worthy the emnla
tCn of every Southern soldier now lighting Tor South
| eTn independence.
Our losses during the siege has been about seven hur
dred that Of the enemy between i've and six thou
| sand.
After the evacuation the firing from the enern5 gra-
duay slacke1ed, and in short time ceased altogether
Our batteries on James Island, however, kept Hp
steady fire. The news of the evacuation of Morris Is
land On Monday morning in the city caused some little
excitement, particularly among those who had not
heard the report the previous evening The excitement
soon were o however giving place to feeling OF con-
fdence in the final result.
Shortly after ten O'Clock Monday morning, the fol
| lowing dispatch was received in the city;
| FoRr SUMTER September Z 1868.
ing of truce from Admiral Dahlgren demanding the
surrender of this for been received by Lieut.. Brown
Of the Palmetto State. n
| [Signed) AsJor ELhIcII'
| To this the following reply was sent
| HEADQU ARTERs, September Z, 1868.
Inform Admiral Dahgren that he may have Fort Sumter
when he can take and hold i-that demands
rie and unbecomng; also that further igs Of truce
will be received from him General Gilmore, until they
satisfactorily explain their firing OF flags OF truce from
| these headquarters several recent occasions.
(Sigoed) THOIAS JORDAN,
| Chief of staff.
To Major STEPHEN ELLIOTT, Mejor Commanding For
| Sumter.
The conclusion OF the dispatch may be better under
stood by giving tha particulars Of the last gross viola
ton Of the ueage Of civilizei warfare:
On Sunday, Commander A. F. Warley went doWr
in the Juno under flag Ct truce to carry certain ds
patches and also with the purpose of discovering the
fate OF the missing officer He was fred on fourteen
times but came to anchor under fce and was met by
Ensign Porter This officer replied to the Command
ers inquiries that he had been away" on Friday
night and that though he had heard that there hao
| been capture &e not aware whether Major War
| ley was among the prisoners Or not. He added thai
he would INQUIRE and il Major Wagley was captive