Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-08-08
THE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON
Condition OF the lron-CInds.
Correspondence of the Baltimore American
Dnp.r Rny.r I,,l,,

Correspondence Of the Baltimore American
PoRT ROYAL, July 81.
I find that. although there is considerable
confidence entertained rs to the ultimate
result of the undertaking, that no very
rapid progress is looked for. Like all sicgcs,
it is work of time and it has been under
taken by General Gilmore and Admiral
Dalghren with no anticipation of progress
ing with any great rapidity. The dctcnccs
of Charleston. by both land and sea, were
greatly strengthened since the first attack
under Admiral Dupont, which did nothing
but demonstrate their weak points, and en-
able them to strengthen them. All the
works on the lower end of Morris Island
which have been taken by Gen. Gilmore
were not then erected, and the parapet guns
of Sumter were not regarded by the enemy
as of any great value. The guns of the kc-
okuk were also then in our possession.
The naval battery, which mentioned
yesterday as in progress of erection, under
command of Capt. Foxhal \. Parker, Of the
Wabash, to be manned by about three hun
! drcd blue Jackets. will not be able to open
on the enemy probably for a week to come,
and until it is finished nothing decisive may
| be looked for We will have our daily
bomhardment, the Monitors will 90 up be-
| fore dinner, after dinner, and after tea, in
squads of two or three, regularly relieved by
| the Ironsldcs, keeping the enemy closely
| packed away in his rat holes" night and
day during this sultry weather, giving him
no opportunity to cook, or eat, or sleep with
any degree Of comfort. The sailor boys are
confident of success when they are ready and
will dash in with their usual vim.
! Wagner responds and will continue to re
spond with an occasional gGl. Sumter
about once in ten minutes throws n heavy
rifle shot at the impcnetrablc arn!or of our
iron clads. or hurls a shell in the direction
OF the land battery. and occasionally there is
Il report coming from the direction of James
Island, showing that General Gilmore is
| keeping close watch and ward over any
flank movements that may he attempted by
the enemy. He is also assisted in this work
by some Of the smaller gunboats and all
was progressing well in that direction at
last accounts.
AS to the fall of Sumter soon after the
fall of Wagner, no one seems to have the
least doubt. Fort Wagner, which was pass
cd by in silence by Admiral Dupont is un-
doubtcdly the key to Charleston, as cvnccd
by the indomitablc dctocc made by the enc
my, with such terrible loss. There proba-
bly, never was a fortiication bcscigcd with
such trightful sacrifice of life 10 the brscg-
crs As has been the case of Fort Wagner,
and from the preparations making, there is
no doubt that bloOdicr times are yet in store
for them.
The results Of the siege, so far as our iron
clads are concerned, are emphaiicaly salts
factory. The lronsidcs' walls of solid iron
have proved impcnctAblc, though she does
not 90 into such close range as the Monitors
but still she has only so far received numcr-
Gus scars of war, which have bcuutiticd
rather than disfgured her appearance, or
lesscncd her efficiency. The pivots of her
port-stoppers work smoothly, and her gun
ners have been drilled to state of efficiency
that is truly admirable.
The Monitors go in and come out, and the
fight daily progresses with the report no
body was hurt" so tar as the iron clads are
concerned.
OF course there are few casualties in III,
shore batteries, but very few in view of the
magnitude OF the undertaking, or the punish
ment of the enemy.