Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-08-27
WOrcester DaiIp gpp
TIE DAILY spy.
Detailed Account of the works and
Siege Operations on Morris Island.
From the Now York Hines.

From the New York Zines.
OUR WORKS ON MORRIS ISLAND.
Morris ISLAND, Aug. 2l.-As the works on
Morris island-both for offensive and detens-
i've operations-aiford material for an impor-
tant portion of the history of the siege, |
shall endeavor TO describe with minuteness
their positions and form of construction. In
dong so will commence with the parallels
the first works erected by Gen. Gilmore after
taking possession of the island. The paral
lels considered by themselves, are three in
number, each of them extending from the
beach on the right to the marsh on the left
The first is distant from tort Wagner 1900
yards, and from fort Sumter about two miles
The second and principal parallel is so cum
strueted that its left is Coz yards from Wag-
ner, and the right $50 yards. The third and
last parallel is 1926 yards from Wagner. The
parallels are not built directly at right angles
with the length of the island, but in an obique
direction. the highest points resting on the
marsh. The topography of the island made
it necessary to give them that direction, about
one half of the surface being marshy ground
The rifle pits, which form the foundation of
the first PARALLEL were thrown up shortly after
our troops gained possession of the lower
part Of the island, under the superintendent
of the engineer officers of General Gilmore's
staff They were constructed in a single
night, and used first in the attack on Wagner
on the 18th Of July The intersticcs were
subsequently filled in, and the first parallel
erected. 1t is situated two miles from Light
house inlet, is 225 yards in length, and has
been the means of enabling much valuable
service to be performed, although during the
action, in consequence of the advance works,
it has been of secondary Importance.
The next step taken was the building of APP
proaches or trenches which should connect
the first and second parallels. That work
was finished in brief space of time, the
workmen having been protected by guns
mounted on the first parallel Next was con-
structed the second and main parallel, used
both for offensive and defensive operations. 1t
has length of 325 yards, and, perhaps, of
itself, may be considered as simply defen-
siYc work, as the siege guns which are used
in the offensive are mounted on earthworks
just at the rear. Beyond the second parallel
other trenches leading to the third parallel
which is the shortest of them all, being but
one hundred yards in length. Its distance
from fort Sumter is $3.50 yards The third
parallel is the advance work. and is used to
protect the shsrpShooters.
All the works beyond the first parallel were
constructed under the immediate supervision
of Capt. L. B. Brooks, of Gen. Glmore's
staff. The upper end of the island was for
merry used as quarantine ground, and when
digging the trenches between forty and fifty
dead bodies were exhumed. In erecting the
works the workmen were obliged to perform
their laborS under cover of darkness. The
rebel sharpshooters were constantly on the
alert, and the moment man showed the least
portion of his person above the trenches dur
ing the day he was sure to be fired at. The
enemy was supplied with telescope rifles, by
means of which he made some very excellent
shots.
Apart from the parallels, and at the left of
them, are earthworks which cont lined guns of
heavy caliber. Their mean distance from
Sumter is H. 100 yards. 1t is very tormida-
bic work, and it's guns did a vast deal of exc
cution.
Still further to the left and on the marsh, is
another earthwork winch faces Sumter. 1t
is reached by means of small creek, which
passes it at the left, and flows into Lighthouse
Inlet 1t was the last of the Notifications
constructed, and its sudden appearance one
morning must have caused considerable sur
prise in the enemys camp, he little suspecting
that his foe would venture to mount guns on
that spot.
The works above mentioned embrace all
that were constructed by Gen Gilmore upon
Morris Island. In the progress of their cree
ton Il number of lives were lost, and several
men wounded; but the casualties, viewing
the amount of work performed, were compar-
atively few. The troops, comprising General
Terry's division, did the larger part of the
work. About week before the lombard
ment reinforcements arrived from the north
and relieved, to great extent. Gen. Terry's
force.
THE ENEMYs WORKS.
The enemy's works have been already de-
scrbed in former letters. Fort Sumter
f,it, hnph fto Of
facing seward. On the southwest parapet
were stationed row of guns of the peculiar
kind called Quaker. Only one of the nine
guns was of long range. Fort Wagner, on
the northern end of Morris island, is an earth
work, as is also fort Gregg, on the extreme
northern point Of the island. They are dis
tant from each other two hundred wards
Both forts provided with bomb proofs
Wagner contained two l0-inch columbiads,
and two S-inch; also one large mortar and
three guns of small caliber. Gregg was fur
nished with four heavy guns. Forts johnson
and Simpkins, on james island, were each
provided with long range guns. The earth
works, extending some distance, on James
island, mounted five guns. Fort Moultrie,
on Sullivan's island, took no part in the action.
The above account of the rebel works was
obtained from two deserters on Thursday,
and audes to their condition in the early part
of the siege. The works nearer Charleston
are not taken into the account.
THE FIRST DAY OF THE B6MBARDMENT.
The bombardment commenced at daybreak
on Monday morning All the mounted guns
OF heavy caliber, excepting one piece on the
second parallel which had been accidentally
spiked, were brought into action A portion
OF the guns were directed to Sumter, while
the Others were pointed at Wagner and Gregg
AT 6 IL o'clock monitor rode up the chan
mel and commenced firing at Sumter. In
half an hour another monitor and the Iron
sides were engaged. At 10 A. NJ. five moni-
tors and the IrOnsides had come up and wpra
jolned at noon by five gunboats. The nort.r
schouners did not take any part in the .c
ton in consequence of the bombs exploding
within our own lines. rapid fire was kent
up on our part till late in the afternoon, when
the monitors hauled off, and shortly after the
gunboats ceased, firing only at long intervals
According to the statement of one of the de-
serters before alluded to, the first shot that
struck fort Sumter passed entirely through
the outer wall and also an inner wall of ma
sonry which had been put up to strengthen
the work. Throughout the day the firing of
the heavy guns was excellent. But few shots
seemed to miss the mark. The mOrtars did
very little execution. Most all the bombs
seemed to explode everywhere but over the
right place. Sumter fred but three or four
shots during the whole day. Wagner and
Gregg stood up resolutey to the work in the