Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-09-01
TIE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.


, The Charleston papers OF Friday last bring
few additional particulars Of the assault on
battery Wagner. The reported assault on the
battery Tuesday night ended in heavy tight
between the pickets.
The enemy advanced in strong force, evil
IDENTIFY intending to surprise our pickets, and
capture the rife pits. His force is supposed
to have been between one Thousand and ff-
teen hundred strong, with q battery Of light
artillery. Our force was only between two
and three hundred. consisting of attachments
of the Fifty-fourth Georgia and Sixty.frst
North Carolina. The fight lasted about an
hour, when the Yankees retired, carrying o&
their dead and wounded Their loss is believed
to have been considerable, as our batteries on
James Island kept up heavy fire during
the action. Our loss was FIVE killed and nine
teen wounded. The Fifty-fourth Georgia re-
giment suffered severely.
The Courier" gives the following account
of the operations of Wednesday night, in
which it is reported some sixty Of our men OF
the 6lst North Carolina were taken prisJu-
ers:
The reported recapture OF the rifle pits was
incorrect 1t appears from those who parti-
cipated that our advanced picket force Of
eighty men occupying the rifle pits were
fanked and surrounded By On Overwhelming
force of tho enemy, who had been massing all
day for the purpose. About twenty only
made their escape The Yankees advanced
with three regiments unexpectedly. Our
men fought calamity, but were ovcrpowered
by superior numbers. The enemy, however,
suffered severely. Our. h"witzers kept up a
steady fire, raking the encmy's columns with
grapeshot and doing much execution.
A severe musketry fight also occurred. One
of our men who escaped, after being taken
prisoner, reported the enemy Immediately on
taking possession of the rifle pits commenced
to throw up more sand, &C., for strengthening
their position.
The firing between the land batteries was
worry slow yesterday, that of the enemy being
directed principally on Battery Wagner. Fire
was also kept up on Fort Sumter, but with
little effect. 1t is believed the enemy;s guns
are wearing out from the severe ordeal to
which they have been subjected.
The fleet kept quiet yesterday. The Iron
sides and four Monitors were reported moving
up, but they had not opened fire up to u late
hour. Nothing authentic has been received
in relation to the number of casualties at Bat
terry Wagner on Wednesday night or yestcr-
day
Cen Colquitt is now in command of the
forces on Morris Island.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN SENIOR ,MoNcADo,
SPANISH consul, AND GEN. GILMORE.
The following reply of Gen. Gilmore 10 the
communication addressed by the Spanish Con
sui, Senior Moncada, protesting against the
short time allowed for the removal of Spanish
| subjects, non-combatants, and asking in the
name of his Government for longer period
and postponment of fire against the city, was
received by flag truce at Battery Wagner, on
! Sunday:
| DEPARTMENT or TIE S0uTH,
Headquarters in tho Field,
Morris Island, s. c., P. NJ. Aug. %.
The Spanish Consul, Charleston, S. c.:
SIR have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt Of your letter of this date. desiring Of
me q suspension of the bombardment OF Char
| lesion for "a hours, to allow the subj Gets ofthe
Spanish Government to depart from the city.
I had supposed that ample time had been
given for this purpose. The commencement
Of the attack some forty days ago is regarded
rs having been plain and emphatic warn
ing that the city might be fired on at any
time.
Nothing. however, is further from my wish
than to endanger the lives or property Of the
subjects of the Government which you repre-
sent, and I cordially accede to your request.
! No further bombardmcnt Of Charleston need
be apprehended until IL o'clock, P. NJ, TO-
! morrow.
| have the honor to be, sir,
Very respectfully,
Your ob't serv't.
q. A. GILMORE,
Brig. Gen. Coming
The following is the endorsement on the re-