The Portland daily press., 1863-09-07

From, Charieston-- The attack on Fort MouI-
trie - 4 Terrific Engagement Gen. Gil
Hore's Works srithin one hundred yards OF
Fort Uagaer Aftenpt to Destroy oar
Fleet ia StoHo Inlet by Torpedocs.
NEw YORK, Sept. 5.
The Hersld's Morris Island letter OF the LIST
inst, states that for two or three days past a
new rebel battery on Sullivan's Island has
been making iruitless attempts to annoy our
men in the advanced trenches. 1t is supposed
to be one of the ll-inch guns taken from the
keokuk. The firing IS very good, except its
range is short, and il is only al long intervals
that a shot from ii reaches the island.
Four monitors, the Passaic, Palapsco, Ma
liant and Montauk, came in yesterday after
noon aud engaged Fort Moultrie and the bat
shot at Sumter and Wagner.
The engagement opened ut $50, and for
about two hours was maintained with great
intensity, particularly on the rebel side. The
firing from Moultrie and battery Bee was ter
rife; their heavy guns ratified oil like Snare
drums in tattoo, and the water about the mon
itors was letting up in all directions. Several
shots threw tons OF water in perfect cataract
over their turrets and decks, shaking them
with the conclusion. Many shots struck the
monitors, but did little damage. The heavy
Tillc anu lo-iuCu SUciIs Oh lDe HOECiduS DuIst
with effect over and in Moultrie, and sent the
earth whrling in all directions. Fort Wagner
was repeatedly struck by the exploding shells
and somewhat damaged. She fired but few
shots during the contest at the monitors. Bat
terry Gregg was exceedingly active. Her heavy
gun was in play from the first to the last OF
the engagement and made some excellent
shots. The monitors shells went on all sides,
and had no effect in silencing her guns.
Sumter was struck several times by rifle
shells from the Passaie and Patapsco, but be-
sides detachmg masses of loose masonry it
did no further damage to the fort. No guns
were dismounted ii they exist. and no further
reduction accomplished. After two or three
hours fighting the monitors responded to the
general signal from the Ironsides to cease fir
ing and withdraw. What the object of the at
tack was has not been developed.
Some days since the enemy made sytem-
attic effort to blow up and destroy the gun
boats ahd transports in Stone Inlet by means
of torpedoes. Fortunately no serious damage
was inflicted upon any of the vessels by these
torpedoes, bnt the escape was quite narrow
enough for comfort. One torpedo exploded
little astern of the Pawnee, and blew her
launch, which was turning astern, to frag-
ments. A few minutes later tremendous ex-
plosion occurred on Bud Key, few rods be-
low the Pawnee, occasioned by another torpe-
do, sent down at the same time.
The Tribune's Morris Island letter OF the
LIST inst says Wagner will be held till the last
moment, and nothing. it is said, but want of
water will chmpel her to surrender. The
dead lie so thickly around her that water from
the shallow wells cannot be drawn. Com
PEELED by thirst some of the soldiers are so inn
prudent as to swallow it; the next day they
are in the hospitals, and before the close ofthe
week many Of them are in their graves.