Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-08-28
SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.
Official Despatch of Admiral Dahlgren.
THE ATTACH COMMENCED.

WAsnNnToS, August 24-The following was
received here this morning:
FLA0 STEAMER DIRsmoRE,
Or MoRRis lsTAAo, August Is, 1868. I
hon. Gideon IFriies,
Secretary Of he Mary, Wasiington, n. G..
M-festerdny was begrn another series Of
operations against the cnemy's works Enrly in
the morning General Gilmore opened all his
batteries upon Fort Sumter, firing over Fort
Wagner and the intermediate space. About the
same time moved up the entire available naval
'nrer, lending with my flag in the ehnwken,
followed by Natskill, Nahant enl Montuuk, the
pnssiac and patapsco in reserve, for Fort Sum
ter, 'he lronsides in position opposite to wag-
ner, and the gunhoats named in tho margin Mt
long rangc--Canandaigu Captoin j. +. Green !;
Mahaska, Commander ]. B. Creighton; Cim-
mcrone, Commander A. X. llugh"l; Ottawa,
Lieutenant Commander ". b. Whiting; Wissa
hickOn. Lieutenant Commander j. u. Davis 3;
Dai Ching, Lieutenant Commander J. C. Chap
lin; LodOna, Lieutenant Commander Il. Broad
head.
As the tide rose. 'hp Wcehawken was closed to
about 150 yards of Wagner. The other three
Monitors followed md the lronsides went as
near as her great draft of water permitted.
After steady and we-directed fire WagAer
was slcnced about 80 A. NJ, and that Of our
own vessels were slackened in consequence.
Meanwhile the fire of our short batteries was
working ollectualy upon the gorge of Srmter,
which appeared to have been strengthened II
every possible manner.
AZ tbs time the iag was shifted to the passaic,
which, with the Palapsco, both having riiled
guns, steamed up the chr mel to within two
thousand yards of Fort Srmter, when fire was
opened on the gorge angle Of the southeast front
of the work The Patapsco fired very we'll and
is believed to have struck the southeast front
nine consecutive times. To AZ this Sumter
scarcely rep'el, Wagner was sienced, and
/ Battery Gregg alone m0iuta'leI a de- berntc fire
1 ut the PAssaic and Patapsco.
ltwas now noon, he men have been hard Mt
work from iaybreak- aud needed rest, SO With
dew the vessels to give them d'"ner.
Dr. ng the afte. aeon or" shore batteries con-
tinue1 the fire at Srmter, with title or no reply
from the enemy r1d l contenicd myse'' with
sending up the rassiac and Patapsco to prevent
WakAcr from repairing damages. The fort re.
piled brisly, but n II biief time left off filng
am not able to state y,th exaotness the result
of the days work, but am wen satisfied with
what distant view of Srnter allowed me. Our
entire power is developed, rs it will be daily,
while the enemy is f.maged without being able
to repair.
The officers mud men Of the vessels engaged
have done their duty well, and will continue TO
do All went well with us, save one sad ex
cepton Captain Rodgers, my Chief of staff, was
htllNNi 10 ho hNll ~ WuuuuHiIt VIM Mho
standing uear him. Captain Rodgers had more
than once asked on II IS occasion il he Should 60
with me, usual, or resume the command Of
his vessel, the Cntskill, and he repe lted the
query twice in the morning, the 'gst time on the
deck of the Weehawken, just while preparing to
move iuto action. la e .ch instance ! replied,
"Do as you please" He finally said, "Well, |
will go "a the Catsl''ll, rad the next t'nc with
you"
uha W.aha N l,nu ,voo Iv;u,r shout ono a. a,aaud A
yards from Wagner, and the Catskll, with my
gallont friend, just inside Of ine, the fire of tho
fort coming u steadily Observing the tide tu
have risen little, directed the Weehawkeu 10
be carried in closer, and the anchor was hardly
weighed when noticed that the Cntskill was
also under way, which ! remarked To Captain
Calhoun. 1t occurred to mo that Capt in Rodgers
detected the movement Of the WeehAwkcn, and
was determined 10 he closer to tue enemy II
possible. My attention was called oil imInedi-
atcy to the Weehawsen, and soon after il was
reported that the Catskill was going out Of the
action with signal flying that her Captain wns
disabled, lie had been Killed Instantly.
1t WAS but natural that | should feel deeply
the loss thus sustained, for the close and conf
dental relation which the duties Of Fleet Captain
necessarily occasions impressed me deeply with
the worth Of Clptain Rodgers. Brave, intelh
gent and highly capable, devoted to his duty
and to 'lie flag under which he passed his life
the county eaprot afford to lose such men. Q
a kind aud generous nature he was alway
prompt to give relief when he could. hay,
directed that a respect be paid TO his remains
and the country viii not, am sure, omit +,
honor the memory Of one who has not spared hi
lite in her hour OF 'ial.
have the honor to be, very respectfully, yor
phedient servant,
JomN a. DAuLdngN. Rear Admiral,
Command lg South Atlantic Bockad'ng Squad
IOu.