Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-09-18
SIEGE or CHARLESTON

FORTRESS MONROE, sept. y.
The Richmond Enquirer contains the fol-
lowing
Charleston, Sept. morris Island was
evacuated yesterday afternoon. The enemy
had advanced their sappers up to the mouts OF
Wagner and it being impossible TO hold IT,
Beauregard ordered ite evacuation at noon
The enemy hold Cummings Point, in full
view of the city Heavy firing is now going
on between our batteries on Sullvan's Island
and Fort Moultfie and the monitors.
The Richmond Wing Of the sth has the
following
Charleston, Sept.7.-The bombardment was
kept up without intermission all day yesterday
and far into the nj ht. About 800 of our men
we're killed and wounded stWegner ana Gregg
The attempt to attack Gregg was repulsed
before the enemy had completed their land
ing. Before evacuating Forts Gregg and
Wagner, we spiked the guns and withdrew
noiselessly in forty bArges. Only one barge
containing twelve men was captured. All
quiet this morning
Charleston, Sept Moon. A dispatch
from Maj. Elliot, commanding at Fort Sum
ter, announces that flag of truce, demanding
the immediate surrender of the Fort, has just
been received from Admiral Dahlgren. Gen.
Beauregard replied to Dahlgren that he can
have Fort Sumter when be takes it. and that
in the meantime such demands are peurile
and unbecomiIg.
/ Charleston, Sept. 7--sP.M. At 6 o'clock
this afternoon the Ironsdes and Monitors
approached Fort Sumter, closer than usual,
and opened a hot fire against it. Our Bate
ries on Sullivan's Island including those Of
Fort Moultrie replied heavily. The firing is
still going on.
New York, Sept. 10.
The Herald's Morris Island letter Of the
Oh states that rebel barge containing Ma
jor Lally. chief of artillery on Gen. Ripey's
staff. Surgeon Charney and eleven men we're
captured by Lieut. Higginson Of the Frigate
Powhattan last Friday night near Ft. Sumter.
On Sunday morning all our batteries again
opened on Wagner, and the firing is now GO
ing on most vigorously. Before o'clock,
all the monitors aud the Ironsides took up
position in line before the rebel works, and
began their work Of the day. Up to this
time 90 o'clock they have been firing rapid
y, and with good effect.
Not gun has been replied to by the reb-
els on this Island, though the batteries on
James and Sullivsn's Islands are in fall blaze.
We are trying to break the bomb proof.
the work is going on most satisfactorily as
close. We think we have them tight place.
The steamer sails too soon to jsstify con-
lectures as to the result but we are all hope
full. The Arago will bear the result of our
operations to the world.
WAsHINGToN, Sept. 10.
The following was received here this al
ternoon
DEPARTMENT or THE SouTH,
I HEADQUARrBRs In the Field Sept. :
To M1j. Gen. Halieck
General have the honor to report that
Fort Wagner and Battery Gregg are ours.
Last night our sappers crowned the crest of
the counter scarp of Fort Wagner on its sea
front, masking all its guns, and an order was
given to carry the place by assault by o'clock
this morning, that being the hour OF low tide.
About 10 o'clock the enemy commenced
, evacuatng the Island and all but seventy five
of them made their escape from Cumming 5
Point in guard boats. Captured dispatches
show that battery Wagner commanded by
Col Keith, of S, c., and garrisoned by 400
men, and battery Gregg by between 100 and
200 Battery Wagner is work Of unequal
kiud Its bomb proof, well sheltered, capa-
BILE Of holding $500 men, remairs in face af-
ter the most terrible bombardment to which
any work was ever subjected. We have cap
tured 9 pieces of artillery, and large sup
ply Of excellent ammunition. The city and
harbor are now completely covered by my
guns.
1 have the honor to be, General,
Very respectfully your obd't servant,
@. A. GILMORE,
Brig. Gen. commanding.
Col. L. Z. Potter, chief of staff, telegraph
o1 Il. 70 Hal
that when on Tuesday afternoon Capt. CHS
holm of the steamer New York left Charles
ton harbor, the rebel flag was still flying at
Fort Sum,er but no guns were mounted, and
only very small force remained there. Five
monitors and the lronsides engaged Batteries
Beauregard and Bee from a. m. until 2 p.
: m on Tuesday the Sth
A shell from one of the monitors exploded
in the magazine of fort Moultrie and the south
eastern pNrapet was seriously damaged by the
explosion
New YORK, Sept ll-ll.45 A. M.
The Richmond Dispatch of the Sth says it
was rumored yesterday that dispatch had
been received by Gen. Cooper announcing
the withdrawal of the troops from Forts Wag-
ner and Sumter. We think this ia highly
probable, ss gentleman from Charleston on
F, Friday says the enemy at that time were
within rs yards of Wagner, and Sumter is
entirely in ruins. The same gentleman says
the Yankees troubles have not yet commenc-
ed, nor will they commence until they get in
: TO the harbor The universal belief at Charles
ton was that Sumter and Wagner would be
taken, but that Charleston would not be-
Our informant expresses the opinion that the
iron-cads would never get out of the harbor
if they once got into it.
New YORK, Sept. II.
The Times Morris Island correspondent OF
i the 7th stales that Wagner and Gregg were
evacuated by the rebels at IL O'Clock last
night. To Gen. Gilmore must be assigned
: the honor of achieving another splendid tri-
: umph Seventy prisoners were captured oy
= party under command of Maj Sanford, ol
' the 7th Connecticut regiment. The prison
ers were endeavoring to push off in boats
! from Gregg, and were intercepted by our
= men who we're also in boats. The guns in
y both forts were spiked when our forces enter
ed Wagner and lighted fuse leading to the
magazine was discovered and Immediately ex-
tinguished--a few minutes later and a terrific
explosion would have ensued. The guns
. found in Wagner consist Of -four naval how
+. ilzers, Que siege howitzer, two columbiads