Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-08-25
PART OF FORT WAGNER A sHApELEss MASS
GILMORE AND DAHLGREN SATISFIED WITH
THEIR SUCCESS.
THE ENEMY TO HAVE NO BREATHING TIM.

ndval forces commenced yes3Ioay mofnlnes
and has up to this moment progressed as favor.
ably as the most san uine could desire. The
reduction Of a strong brick fort, resting upon
foundation of granite, at a distance of two miles
and quarter, is something new in the worlds
history, although in this age Of revolutions not
at all wonderful, and is to be now looked for.
TIL, re is nothing man caI make that man can
lot also destroy. Ever sand earthworks must
succ umb at last to the ingenuity and persever-
ancr OF some superior genius and Fort Wag-
ner, impregnabie rs she has at times appeared
TO be, be rent and torn to drifting heaps, and
her heavy guns and bombproofs lie smashed
and shattered upon the shores OF Morris Island
At this moment OF writing, two O'Clock p m +,
no fiji: can be seen flying from Fort Wagner,
no reply to the ifteen-inch guns OF the moni-
tors is heard, no soldiers peer above the para
pets; that portion OF the fort wner. the bomb.
proofs were situated before tn" assault of the
18th Lars a shape mass OF sanu and timber,
ana TIE rutr, furi read to Or occupied by our
forces whenever the order shall be given:
hut Sumter guns are still alive. A few
send their shell wildly in the direction of our
batteries, but as yet have effected no injury
whatever. The guns upon the seawall may
be said be pl acticaily silent. AT the distance
we are from them they can embarrass our gun
Gers but little, and since wide gaps have been
opened in her sides by our heavy rified Par
s., n.
daiions and hasteps the hour OF her fall
But whether Fort Wagner has really sue
cum bed or not, whether the profound silence
is assumed or necessitated, whether thirteen
hundred strong men still liz safe within tina
tomb. proc s or silently evacuated them during
the darkness OF lat night; OF one thing We are
positively certain, and that is that Sumter, the
fortress upon which the gaze OF the whole
nation may be said TO be turned, beneath the
most terrible fire ever before con aentrated upon
a similar structure, is fast falling into rufus.
Four rifled shots were sent through her gorge
wall last Satul day evening; min. more Oh Sun.
day evening, and at daylight yesterday morn
ing the bombardment opened in earnest, to
close only when the battle flag of the enemy
stripes again float over them. Between 300
and 400 shots have already passed into and
through her gorge wall, nearly SO through her
SEA. wall, and about ~ have gone directly into
the fort. Immense heaps OF brick and mortar
have fallen into the sea, choked up the sally
port, and made a pile of ruins, between the
bastions, over which stormtng party could
climb into the fort If 1t were at this stage
deemed practical BY this evening it is con.
fidently expected that the gorge wall will have
been completely crushed in, but whether the
chivalry OF South Carolina will then deem 1t
prudent to surrender remains to be seen. Sand
bags rapidly filed and piled up across the tort
in front OF the classmates may protect them for
day or two, but for day or two only Fort
sfa-wall of Sumter dismounted, so rapid and
and SO heavy fire can them be poured into
her that it would be folly, bordering upon
madness, for her garrison longer to hold cut.
By tomorrow morning the heaviest rifle
guns known TO the artillery service will be In
position, with the most experienced gunners
In the country on hand to direct their fire.
Educated officers, who have had much expe-
rience in reducing fortresses both in Europe
and in this country, consider the reduction OF
the fort within. the present week beyond
doubt.
Although Forts Sumter and Wagner had re.
piled but little to our fire, the batteries on
James Island extending from Fort johnson to
within two miles OF Lighthouse Inlet, have
kept up an incessant cannonade, both by day
and night, but thus far have inflicted but little
injury. But few shells have burst within our
batteries. Nearly all fall over or fall short
The North end Of Morris Island, without any
exagr GRAFTON, may be said to be almost as thick
ly paved with shot and she'll as Broadway Is
with granite blocks.
MoRRIs ISLAND Aug. 10, Nine O clock p. NJ
Inc terrible wind storm spoken of in my hasti.
ly wIittt dispatch Of last evening still contin.
ues, although at this hour with some signs OF
abatement This storm has very materially in
caused some batteries to be suspended. The
navy mas done nothing since the storm COM
menced.
A close examination of the gorge wall Of
Sumter has led many officers to think that no
practical breaches have yet been made, al
though the immense pile of debris extending
from the base almost to the parapet, and the
huge holes scattered all along between the bas-
tions, give it almost the appearance Of total
ruins. This debris is formed prin cipally by the
sand bags which were placed in front Of the
saliyport and along the base of the gorge wall,
and extending up about one-third the height
OF the wall.
Two deserters from Fort Gregg, who formed
part of boats crew plying between Forts
Gregg and Sumter, came within our lines this
this morning. They left the fort on Sunday
morning, having been hiding in the creeks be-
tween the tort and our batteries until this
morning. They say that the first experimental
shot, fired last Saturday, passed through the
gorge wall and into the officers quarters, pen
etrated the wall facing Sullivan's Island nine
feet, knocked pile OF brick down upon steam
boat unloading sand bags at the wharf, tum-
bling over her smokestack, pierced and explo-
ded her boiler, and killed four negroes. They
also state that after we have preached the gorge
" all we have got to demolsh wall of cotton
bales and sand bags behing the gorge walls and
filling the classmates and officers quarters, and
extending from the sea wall to the wall facing
Charleston.
The approaches to Wagner are SLOWLY pro.
crossing. The high water last night swept en-
tirtly over the north end of the island, making
the point upon which Forts Gregg and Wag-
ner are situated entirely an island, and render
ing it difficult for engineers to work.
The deserters report that the three forts are
gar isoned by over 1900 men, 1900 being In
Fort Wagner. 1t should be remembered fhat
these deserters left on Sunday, and before the
bombardnent Cola menced in earnest. The re-.
duction Of those formidable forts has thus far
been almost entirely the work OF the army.
The navy has accomplished but little, but
very few OF the shots from the Monitors hay.
Ing hit the forts. But two Monitors, however,
have directed their fire upon the tort.
Mr.. Fulton writes to thu Baltimore Amertcon.
At one O'Clock the Admiral returned to the
flagship, having been nearly six hours In action,
and all the fleet were then telegraphed to with.
draw for rest and refreshments. On reaching
the flagship the Admiral Immediately cemmu.
nicated by signals with General Gilmore, and
shortly received the following congratuiatory
answer: ~ am entirely Satisfied ,riH the opera.
apith Holes"
INCIDENTS OF THE FIGHT.
1t Is the intention OF General Gilmore to
give the enemy no breathing time, but to keep
up the fire night and day until the west wall
gives way.
The Passaic and Patapsco were about 1,4oo
yards from Sumter. They had q good view of
the distractions In front Of Sumter. Two YES.
sells are filed with water and keeled over, sup.
posed to support chain across the channel
They could also zee the Gordon OF barrels
across the harbor from Sumter to MouHrie
The Patapsco had a torpedo exploded under
ner ~nen near Sumter, lifting her foot out Of
the water, but doinR no dama1e