Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-08-15

O, metal that cannot be resisted. The fail of
Sumter may be regarded As certain. There
need be NO doubts entertained on the subject
by the loyal North.
I had fne view Of Fort Sumter this morn.
ing about O'Clock, when the atmosphere u
clearer than at any other hour of the day.
With powerful glass could count the guns
and even the number Of sand bags between
each embrasure on the parapet. II was the
clearest view of the Fortress I have yet had
and examined 1t very carefully in all its
parte.
1 had previously heard that the classmates
were closed, and have now no doubt Of the
fact, so far As the second tier are concerned.
The lower tier was not visible from the point
of Morris Island across Fort Wagner, which
concealed them. As to the upper tier, they are
undoubtedly most effectually closed, being
filled ont with masonry, making smooth
fifteen feet solid sand bags closely packed inside
OF all the cas- emates, and that the parapet guns
alone will be used In the coming connict. Inc
reason they give for this is that the walls were
SO thoroughly shattered by the April attack
that they were in danger OF falling from the
conclusion Of the guns, and it was not deemed
safe to use them any more
This paragraph SHOULD be taken cum grdno
sehs, as Mr. Fulton, in his quarrel with Admit
raj Dupont, has committed himself obstinately
to the theory that Sumter was badly damaged
in the April assault while it Is doubtful if we
really knocked a dozen bricks from its front at
that time.-ED. STAR.l
At noon to- day two or three shells were fired
from Sumter towards our camps on Morris
Island each. The fuses, however, were too
short, and the shell exploded high up i'll the
air before travelling half the distance From
Sumter to our nearest camp the distance is full
three miles and q half, and the gun from which
they throw these shells is said TO be of those
from the keokuk. They also threw some shell
in the same direction from Battery Gregg, but
they all fell short.
The fact that the batteries Of Gen. Gilmore
are less than one.third of the distance from
Sumter than the point to which the shells of
Sumter reach will give better idea of the close
proximity of our batteries to Sumter than an
exact statement of the distance. Our guns, too,
ranging from $50 to 3CO- pound rifles, are more
powerful than any of those possessed by the
retels. With these immense batteries pouring
their shot and shell into the parapet of Sumter,
and seven monitors and the Ironsides within
500 yards pouring their son. FOUNDERS into its
lower classmates, the punishment will I'M
doubleday be more than bricks and mortar can
stand.
The impression now is that the rebels are
hopeless of Sumter and Morris Island, and are
lending all their energies to the fertilization Of
James Island and the strengthening Of their
inner line of defence.
;, Orr SUMTER, Aug: 10 just learn that
Gen. Gilmore has notified Admiral Dahlgren
that his works will be all completed, his guns
mounted, ard his batteries all in readiness to
commence the active work of the assault on
j
the Monitors, W it'll the Ironsides, are now here,
but q steamer was dispatched to Port Royal
last night for the four Monitors still at that
point, with Instructions to join the fleet here
on Tuesday, the 18th inst. They were sent
there to have their bottoms cleaned by a party
of divers, who have been sent here by the
Navy Department for that purpose.
We may, therefore, expect the grand assault
to commence on the 18th. 1t will undoubtedly
be one of the greatest land and naval battles
that history has recorded, when the heavy
character of the artilleryis considered. The
rebels have at least three hundred guns in DO.
sition, which they will be enabled to bring to
bear upon us during the assault, whilst we,
ding the wooden vessels and the land
batteries, will have less than two hundred
We will, however, throw the greatest weight
Of metal and be able to carry our Monitors up
to within five hundred yards of Fort Sumter
The whole iron-clad fleet will be here to-
mortar schooners, and all the wooden gunboats
will take an active part in the fight.
NAVAL BATTERY.
This battery was completed last night, and
is the most ad vanced in the line of works on
shore. 1t mounts the two immense w hitworth
the steamer Princess Royal, intended for Sum
ter, one three hundred pound Parrot, and one
two.houndred FOUNDER of the same description.
II will be commanded by Captain Foxhall A.
the Wabash and Canandaigua. II will be
supported also by about 700 marines from the
squadron, under command OF Capt. Reynolds
Two of our Monitors cruise up every night in
the vicinity of Sumter. On Saturday night the
Passaic was within rifle shot Of Sumter, looking
out for the rebel steamers that run to Cummings
Point.
The whole Monitor feet will be in readiness
for the attack on Thursday, aud there is a GER
tainty Of the taking OF Sumter, Battery Gregg
and Fort wagner. From two to six hours are
tanned on this subject in the fleet or ON shore.
The day for doubling is passed.
Two mortar schooners from Washington
arrived here this evening. Three more will be
here from Port Royal Tomorrow. They will
add to the terrible fen d'enfsT on Thursday, and
make Charleston trembie.
We all have strong hopes OF being in Charles
ton by Sunday next. That the Old Flag will
wave over the ruins of Sumter by that time
You may regard as fixed fact.
OPERATIONS ON SUNDAY NIGHT.
After the cannonading of yesterday morning
all was quiet up to shutdown, when the Rebel
batteries opened with considerable energy and
threw shot and shell to all parts of the COM
pass. This continued throughout most OF the
night, and some vigorous blows were given in
return from our batteries. At daylight this
morning, as conseG uence of the nights work,
a large number OF Rebels with ladders and
ropes were observed working on the land side
OF Sumter. The wall appeared broken and
has doubtless received some rough handling
during the night.
After daylight this monday, morning the
only firing has been some practice from Fort
Moultrie, the effort being TO get the range ofthe
channel about three -fourths OF mile from the
tort through which orr Monitors must pass to
get to Sumter.
MONDAY EVENING, August 10, p. n-The
Cummings Point Battery and one of General
Gilmores batteries have been exchanging COM
pliments all this afternoon, throwing up bodies
of sand thirty feet high. The picket Monitors
were up under the walls Of Sumter last night,
and exchanged few shots in the darkness.
n- WATER REGISTRARS ORRIoE.
L