The New York herald., 1863-09-11
T RIPPLE SH EFT.
New York. Friday. September IL, 1863.
THE SITUATION.


The official report of General Gilmore to the
War Department, describing the capture of Fort
Wagner and Battery Gregg, was received yester.
day. He says that ON the night of Saturday the
sappers crowned the crest of Fort Wagner on its
sea front. and orders were issued to take it by
assault at nine o'clock next morning, that being
the hour of low tide. The enemy, however, aban-
doned the place during the night, and all escaped
from Cummings Point except seventy five, who
were captured in a boat. Fort Wagner is de-
scribed by General Gilmore as a most formidable
defence. II was garrisoned by fourteen hundred
men. under command of Colonel Keitt, Of South
Carolina. The harbor and city of Charleston, he
says. are now completely covered by his guns.
Nineteen guns were captured at Fort Wagner.
Tuesday night; but only few men remained there
and no guns were visible. Five Monitors and the
Ironsides were firing on the batteries Bee and
Beauregard, from five o'clock on the morning Of
Tuesday until two in the afternoon. A shell from
one of the Monitors exploded In the magazine OF
Fort Moultrie damaging the southern parapet
tion untenable.
The capture OF Chattanooga by the forces Of
General Rosecrans is fully confirmed. A special
despatch from Newton, Ca, to Cincinnati, dated
the 9th. says" At twelve o'clock to-day General
Crittendcn took peaceable possession of Chatta.
nooga. and General Wood was put in command OF
the place"
The principal portion of the rebel infantry left
Chattanooga the same day, the cavalry remaining
till next day. The strategy of General Rosecrans
whereby the evacuation Of Chattanooga was rem.
dered necessary, cannot be too highly regarded.
Without any considerable loss of life, but Simply
by well arranged plan which his fine military
mind conceived, and his cool Judgment helped TO
execute the city fell into possession, and Ten
nessee was placed virtually at our disposal.
Cumberland Gap, which was held by General
Frazer with two thousand rebels and fourteen
pieces of artillery, surrendered at four O'Clock on
Wednesday, TO Gen. Shackleford, who commands
General Burnsides advance. Our forces now hold
the Gap.
The news from Arkansas is important. Tn,
rebels have evacuated Little Rock and retired
forty miles westward to Fort Washington
Official intelligence Of the capture OF For
Smith. Arkansas, was also received at Leaven
worth yesterday. The rebels, four thousan
strong. under Generals Cooper and Cabell, ac
before General Blunt and dispersed in all a
rectons General Davidson met the rebels q
Bayou Metoir nine miles from Little Rock, on III
9th ult., and drove them across the creek. Tn
rebels, who were three thousand strong, burnc
the bridge behind them and betook themselves :
the woods. The abandonment OF Little Roc
must have Immediately followed this movement.
We give a most interesting history of affairs h
che South to-day, in the shape Of extracts from tn
journals OF Richmond, Savannah, Mobile an,
Augusta, Ca, from the 2sth nit up to the sth ips,
The military policy OF Jer. Davis, to coucen,ra,
the rebel armies in a few important points. 1
streuuously advocated. so also Is the propos;,io
to employ slaves as soldiers.