The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-08-08
siege Of Charleston.

NEW YORK, July M-The following IS
letter from an officer on board the Chippe-
wa, in Charleston Harbor:
CHARLESTON, July I9.-The Chippewa
than any of she other gunboats, and hring
faster, mnking the best shots, &c, &C., yes
terday. We were on the right of the wood
en- side next to the monitors. The rebels
gave us but very few shots, giving most OF
their attention to the monitors, New IRON
sides and batteries. The gunboats were
engaged from Sa. m. till after 9p. m. The
iron-clads engaged the rebels at a little at
ter IL NJ, but our work was play COM
pared with the charge in the face of the ire
from Forts Wagner and Sumter. Ii the
move had been made two or even one hour
earlier than it was, Fort Wagner would
have been ours at this present moment.
After they got in it was SO dark, SO those
say who got out again, that the rebels fired
on rebels, Union on Union, Sumter killing
as many rebels as it did Of our men; our
batteries killing and wounding as many
friends as foes. The carnage, for l cannot
call it anything else, was awful. Our loss
was from 700 to 900 killed, wounded and
missing.
1t is said that the Massachusetts, saith
regiment led the van, and all but six Off
GERS were killed, wounded or taken prison
ers. They fought very hard. Our men
were in the fort something like two hours,
and it was nothing but the confusion and
darkness, and not being able to tell friend
| from foe that obliged them to get out
| Wagner is destined to be ours; it will be
| SO, for Gilmore is notthe man to give it up.
| NEW YORK, July 30.-The gunboat Paul
Jones arrived this A. NJ. from Charleston
| Harbor Sunday evening, she was or
dered here for repairs, being leaky and
having burst her well and founder on the
| eth. The siege of Fort Wagner continued
when she left. Gen. Gilmore had succeed
ed in erecting battery of heavy siege guns
within 1000 yards of the Fort, and every
thing was working favorably.
A correspondent states that the Presl-
dent will visit New England soon.
BY passengers by the Cosmopolitan it Is
learned that the principal guns of TT. Wag-
ner had been silenced.
Renforcements are said to have reached
Gilmore. besides several compound and
300-pound Parrot guns.
The rebel officers are excessively exas-
perated at being attacked by the 54th Mas
sachusetts. On being asked for the body
of Col. Shaw, the rebel reply was that he
has been buried along with his niggers.
Sumter and Fort Johnston, on James
, Island, kept up continued fire on oui
! forces; but the casualties average about SIX
per day. The troops and navy are III fine
spirits.
Intensive OpeTatlOuS ny zen. Nllilioi'
, are being actively prosecuted.
The Ifibune's Morris Island crorespon
dent says our entire loss in the late assault
on Fort Wagner according to official re
Y ports is 1,5l7. The rebels claim to have
y buried $50 ofthem. The extraordinary pro
: portion of killed could only have beer
: reached by the indiscriminate slaughter O
: Union and rebel.
S The officers the 54th Mass, (colored, } vii
: not be given up to us nor an official re-
port made of the negroes who have beer
e sold into slavery. The officers were treat
!, ed with unmeasured abuse, in fact all oul
r wounded at Charleston have been treated
most barbarously.
Opportunities to amputate were eagerl,
seized upon by the rebel surgeons, ant
it was performed in cases of the slightes
s gun shot wounds.
: On the left our batteries were advanced
!, six hundred yards nearer Sumter.
On the 18th six 2O-pounders were placed
: in position.