Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-10-29


correspondent of the New York Wortd writes
| from Morris Island
| The siege of Charleston is still on the taps. You
have learned, this how che engineering skill of Gil
has battered the walls of famous Sumter into an
almost shapeess mass Of brick and mortar compelled
the enemy to evacuate Wagner and Cummings Point,
two of the strongest places they possessed of all the
approaches to Charleston. This the work CT the
army in in sixty days, and at loss Of two thousand
men. How meet to say, Well done, thou good and
faithful servants" Only those who have been present
and witnessed the operation appreciate the toll and
labor endured and danger encountered by our gallant
little army in this work. Day after day, and night at
ter night have they worked guarded IN the trenches
under the enemys fire, in bIl8ering and drenching
rain without 1nurnur. This army has d0re led by
Gilmore Terry Stephenson, Turner, and others equal
ly brave and the insuited flag Of cur country
now waving at the threshold Of the birthplace OF
treason.
When this siege began there was another party to
the agreement to take Charleston for it net expect
ed that Gfmores army could walk upon the W&ters.-
The navy had voice, and that voice said to the army
if you will silence the barbette guns CT Sumter will
60 in and finish the business. Agreed was the word
and the work began. Gilmore made this once famous
fort heap of rubbish-perfectiy harmless bat the
navy didn't go in. The admiral, upon occasion,
gave out that, certain night, he would 60 IN and
do the work but, when all in expectation that
the iron cads were about to open, he sends word 10
Gilmore that his pilot had discovered three guns on
Sumter. The General replies that has "piSot had
"
so nevertheless, the iron monsters did not go 2.-
The next bugbear the ten-inch gGns OF Battery
Gregg, Cummings Point, which Dabl8ren was
afraid Of Gilmore, willing to save the ison-clads from
scratch, agreed to silence these tarribi5 monsters,
which he effectually Gid By capturing them. These
once of the way, and the iron cads would certainly
go III " and play thunder generally, thearmg thought
But they have not done it. Battery Gregg has beon
ours eight days. AID for seven of these they ha7e laid
outside and never fred shot while the reoes Sui
ivans and James Islands are working Ike beavers to
strengthen their works. After the army had 10th
Wagner and Gregg, one monitor, the Weeha gken ven
ured in and laid Of the FONT part OF one day, Eot,
on returning, got agrCu III DCar MU1t;Tle This h~-A
on fierce fight oetwesn iron GAGS anof ha ;prt
batteries the 9b which lasted nearly c day, Ju8
was not through chace but cOmpGsOn ior they ~fEe
con PEELED to stand by the monitor ageouLd IL was
noble fight for they seL ced all the batteries and beS
up magazine This Only shows what they can GO
when there determination TO de- Since then they
have laid quiet to The ight showed the enemy
where their batteries wanted etreng thenng, and
which kind Admiral gives them ample time
% do.
Notwithstanding the army had silenceI Sumter. the
Admiral on the Sth sent flag OF truce to the enemy
and demanded it to surrender to the navy, which was
declined. That night without cooperating with the
army or consulting with Gilmore, he sent }arty OF
marines to attempt to take it, but failed viii, heavy
loss. The night before there only tea N IN
Sumter that night about three hundred. The den and
surrender, OF gave them warning COOpA ra-
cessful. Had modesty been consulted, she would havt
said to Gilmore belongs the right 10 demand the
render OF Sumter, for hs guns had made her qll
harmless. In all the bomhar0meuts OF Wagner 6r5gg
and SUMTER the irOn-cads have been we'll nigh useless
for the damage they did. All that has been SAID about
their lying "alopgsde of these works is ncwspa
ger bosh their firing has been done at very respeca
bic distance. They are expected 20 'go i and Crap
pie with the strong works old Dupont did last April
when he had no army to support him but they have
Cant. n
cer was killed. the iron clad5 Ume laely retired and
put their flags at halt-mast. / be work tioshed
for that day. Suppose the army should cease hting,
or ra her regiment retire every time officer
kilk d. what woul be thl Ught at htme THIS wasn't
the style of wooden gunbOats before iron clad
vented. The very strength Of these great mguste. s
seems to make them tmd. Compare their act on 'mi'h
that OF the army. Ev,ry day, for Yearly two mon .bs
long lines Of have marched up tie sXCsci be CT
under fe to the trenches, and the shot and shl ed
at them tr4at(d With ind ference. Not with tht
navy-E5hen in action TIE ficers and mn are proa ct
ed By impenetrabe iron and when cut tt acton .ey
are virtually out OF harm's way No wonder tnere IS
bad feeling daily growing up between the army and h
navy, when the forDe! is tolng all the time under fl
while the great ubbery iroa ceiS, ior week at tin
are living in secure waters without 0peuing their p0
except to air their turrets' lhty have bee M a Ft
proaeh among the so.ders Ole wants gas cases IN
them ordered from Nea Yoik, ard aro;hec su1ges, ,
that cohorn mortar be p!ac d on the beach buhin;i
three sand bags to drive item from tie haroDr.
must DOT be misunderstood wheh l spe K Of the
navy refer only to the responsible head ia tbe
ters Admiral Dablgren. TIE officers under him are
burning with desire to emulate the d3eds CT tie army
aud fu FL their share OF the contract in tie taking
Charleston. A braver, truer ST OF officers and men
never trod the quarter ck sni they sen8by feel the
false position their chief compes them to The
plain truth of the matter is, Admiral DahIgcen is &
failure. He is good enough about navy-yard to
pertinent with cannon but he is of account waatev-
er as the commander Of a feet Will the Government
discover the mistake they have made in seQding him