New-York daily tribune., 1863-09-03
DEPARTMENT or TBE SOUTH
MoRm. ISLAND. 5. C., sp. N. Aug q. l-',a. }

HEADQp pAB1LAs IN IiY FIELD (
MoRRI- LELAND, D C., sp. N. Aug u l-'1)
SIR: have the honor b. acknowledge the receipt 81
your communication of this date complaining that one
Of my batteries had opened upon the City ofChafston
and thrown number Of heavy iine shells into the city
The inhabitants OF which Of course. were asleep and
unarmcd
Ny letter TO you demanding the surrender OF Fort
Sumter and Morris Island and threatening Ia default
thereof TO open FIRE upon Charleston. was delivered
near Eert Wagner at IL :l5 O'Clock a m OF the 2lsi
inst and should have arrived at your headquarters IN
time 70 have permitted your 10 reach lie within
the limit assigned. namely four hours.
The fact that you were absent from your headquarters
at the time Of its arrival may DE regarded unftu
nate circumstance for the city Of Charleston but 1t is
one for which clearly not responsible This letter
bore date AZ my headquarters and officially deliver
cd by an officer Of my staff The inadvortent omission
Of NV signature doubtless affords grounds for special
plcading But It IL not the argument Of a commander
.oicitous only for the safety Of sleeping women and
children and unarncd men, Your threats Of retaliation
for acts Of mine which you do not aege 10 be In vio
ation Of the usagos of civilized warfare except re-
CARDS tue lcneth Of time allowed notice Of my nten'
ton are passed by without comment will, however,
call your attention to the weesablsbed principle Tint
the commander Of place attacked but not invested
having It's avenues Of escape open and practicable has
no hight 10 notice Of intention Of bornbaIdment
other than that which is given by the threatening ati
tude Of bis adversary Even had not this letter been
written the city Of Charleston has had according to
your own computation forty days notice OF her danger
During that time my attack upon her deienses has
steadily progressed
The ultimate object Of that attack has at no time
been doubtful II under the circumstances the life oi
single poncombatant is exposed TO peril by this BON
bardment Of the city the responsibility rests with those
who have first failed to the noncombatanta or
10 secure the safety Of the city amer having held control
Of all its approaches for period OF nearly TWO years
and half in the presence Of threatening forcc and
who aerward refused ~ accept the terms upon which
the bombardnent might have been postponed From
various sources official and otherwise am led To be.
eye that OF the women and children Of Charcson
were long since removed from that city, But upon
your that the city is still full Of them should
row thus giving you two days from the time you ac-
2lst inst.
yery respectfully your obedient servant
o. A. GILLMOKE, Brig. Gen. Commanding.
o IT. BEAuusoARD COMMUNICABLE Confederate Forces
Charleston, b. q.
II opnears TINT the Spanish and British Consnis re-
snectiyey addressed Gen. Gilmore on behmi oI inc
~ their countries in CHARLESTON snd nc chccr
fnv suauepdcd the boinbardment h- .wcntyiour nou'
N oive them time 10 leave .e city Nothing waS i"i'
e he savs from Lis wish than to cndanger their h'es
and property