Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-08-29
I'D gglEaraph.
Afternoon Report.
The BOmbafdment at Charleston
Still in Progress. =

Still in Progress.
NEW YoRK, August ga Morris Island
letter Of the gath to the Herald, says seven
deserteFs who escaped from MOnltFie on
Thursday night to the MOntauk, among
much other information states that two
blockade runners succeeded in eluding our
vessels and ran safely into Charlestou on
last Sunday night. They were discovered
by our bI0ekaders and fired upon, but the
night was SO dark and misty that they were
quickly lost sight of. They were probably
portion of the large fleet due here from
Nassua with valuable cargoes.
On the 23d, making good his notice to
Beauregard, General Gilmore directed Lieu
tenant Zellmer, commanding the Marsh
battery 10 open with his rifled gun upon
the city of Charleston. During the night
and between one and two o'clock on Sat-
urday morning, fifteen shells Of Birney's
invention were pitched over the James Is
land batteries across the Island and Haf-
Dor into town. The effect of this demon
stration against the city was quite salts
factory to ourselves. Perhaps Beauregard
had considered Gilmoreis threat to shell
Charleston at q distance of four miles too
prepOsterous to demand attention. Ger
tainly the city had not been evacuated by
all the non-combatants. The visitors which
our Swamp Angel sent them created most
uproarious panic. The people were reused
by their advent and universal confusion fol-
lowed; aud that q general skedaddle ensued
was evident from the light of the burning
buildings, the ringing of bells from every
steeple and the screaming of locomotive
whistles. sss5s
The same correspondent says few. days
more delay may ruin everything. Sumter
was reduced because it was Ia the way OF
the navy, but Admiral DahlgFen has as yet
made no advance towards completing the
work which Gilmore has so gloriOusly
begun. The army is unable to do any
more. General Gilmore has perfected his
part of the contract, and it now remains
for the navy to enter upon aud perform its
part of the work. A weeks delay may
enable the rebels to replace Fort Sumter
by new batteries within the harbOr which
will make the capture Of Charleston as far
as il was before we fred the first shot
against it. There is deep feeling of fear
growing on shore that the fruits of our
glorious triumph will be permitted to slip
from our grasp by inexplainable procras-
tinatiOn ON the part of the navy. cannot
explain this seeming want of energy ont
part oEthe naval operations. tThey may be
able to do it, but some more reasons must
be given than those now in circulation or
the country will feel far from being salts
fed with the results of the naval opera
lions in this quarter.
MORRIS ISLAND, August 24.-There Is
little to note concerning operations of yes
terday, though Fort Sumter had been rem
dered useless for defense. The big guns
in our batteries were deliberately engaged
in rounding off its remaining angles and
putting on the finishing touches of its de-
struciOn. That Wagner is hard nut 20
crack must be apparent to people North.
II is NOT yet in our possession, though foot
by foot and yard by yard our brave soldiers
are digging their way into It. During the
bombardment of seven days not q moment
has been lost in the work before Wagner.
With its supplies cut of aud our men
working with pick-axe and spade under its
very parapet, the prospect Of its early
transfer to Federal ownership daily bright
er,e. me destruction of Sumter relieves
the guns and batteries which may be 9TH
erWise employed That Wa0,"-: =
tined to feel their power and yield before
them is considered certain that General
Gilmore means business is evident from
the fact that the Swamp Angel was again
trained upon the city last night and several
of her messengers forced upon the inhab-
itants, If any yet remain. The guns of
of the James Island batteries continued to
play upon this pet place of ours with great
animation all night, but without damage.