Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-08-05
THE WAR NEWS.
THE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.
Correspondence Of the N, Y. 1imes,l

- kaTOllld, db lU.OO A. Me- anu ODhlItotOll
Bar ats P. NJ, on Thursday, July l3, arriv-
ed at this port yesterday afternoon, bring
ing 100 first and l72 second class passen>
gers, the usual mails, and having the prize
steamer Emma in tow.
Theintelligenoe by the Arago confirms
the telegrams already published from reb-
ell sources respecting the second assault
upon Fort Wagner, on Morris Island, by
Gen. Gilmores forces and the monitors,
mortar schooners and gunboats, under
Admiral Dahlgren. After the first uns
successul assault on the 10th instant, Gen.
Gilmore lost no time ir throwing up bats
teries on Morris Island, within 800 yards
of Fort Wagner, in order to reduce it by
siege. On the morningof the 18th, twelve
or fifteen heavy guns were in position, be-
side eight or ten mortars. Gen. Gilmore,
therefore, determined to commence the
attack, which was opened at ii A NJ.
The Commandment was conducted in a
spirited manner, Gilmore's batteries ini-
tiating the work, and Admiral Dablgren's
five monitors, the Irousides, two mortar
schooners and three wooden gunboats,
quickly joining in the engagement.
he enemy replied briskly from Fort
Wagner and Battery Bee, just beyond the
Cummings Point while Sumter kept up
a sharp fire from her southwestern face
among which were two rifled pieces of
heavy calibre. Most of the fire of the
rebels was directed upon the Monitors and
the other naval vessels, only an occasions
al shell being sent towards the batteries
Although the IRON clads were repeatedly
struck, they suffered very little real dams
age, and the only losses in the batteries
were lieutenant Of the 10th Pennsylva-
MIA regiment, who was killed by a chance
shot, and the wounding Of six Of the gum
ners.
Soon after o'clock the firing from Fort
Wagner ceased. 1t was then known that
our brave fellows had succeeded in dis
mounting one gun, and it was also pretty
well ascertained that another of the rebel
pieces had burst. These facts led to the
supposilion that the enemy had evacuated
the work, and 1t was determined to at,
tempt its occupation. For this purpose
two brigades, consisting of the 9TH Con-
necticut, the Sd New Hampshire, the 9sh
Maine, the 10th Pennsylvania, and the
48th New York regiments, under Brig
Gen Strong, and the 7th New Hampshire,
9th Connecticut, 62d Ohio, Tooth n. York
and SAITH Massachusetts,, colored, under
Col. Putnam, who had been under arms
all day, screened from the enemy behind a
range of sand hills. In the rear of our
works, were ordered forward
This was at dusk, and both brigades
were formed in line on the beach, the
regiments being disposed in columns, ex-
cept tie colored regiment which for some
reason was given the post Of extreme hon.
er and danger in the advance, and was
drawn up in line of battle, exposing its
full front to the enemy. This movement
of the troops was observed by Sumter, and
fire was opened on them, happily without
doing any injury, as the shells went o5er
the heads Of the men.
/ Gen SIrong's brigade under this fire
moved along the beach at a slow time for
about three quarters of a mile, when the
men were ordered to lie down. In this
position they remained half an hour, Sum.
ter meanwhile being Joined in the cannon
! ade by the rebels in Battery Bee, but
without effect upon our troops. 1t was
nov quite dark, and the order was given
for both brlgades to advance, Gen Strong S
leading and Col. Putnam's within sup
porting distance. The troops went for.
ward at quick time and in deep silence
until the 54th Massachusetts,, led by the
gallant Col. Shaw, was within two hun
dred yards of the work, when the mer
gave a fierce yell and rushed up the glacIs
closely followed by the other regiments o
I the brigade.
The enemy, hitherto silent as the grave
while our men were swarming over tn,
Ir1o Il Al II. -
grape, canister, and a continuous fusilad
of small arms.
The negroes, however, plunged on re-
gardless of this murderous reception, anC
many Of them crossed the ditch, although
il contained four feet of water, gaining tn
parapet. They were dislodged, however
in few minutes with hand grenades, ant
retired heller skelter, leaving more thar
hall their number, including their colonel
dead upon the field.
The 9th Connecticut regiment, unde
Lieut.. Col. Rodman, was next in supper
of the 54th, and they also suffered terribly
being compelled to retire after a stubborn
contest. The 9th Maine, which was mex
in line was broken up by the passage o
the remnant of the repulsed colored regi
ment through its lines, and retired in con
fusion, excepting three companies whicl
nobly stood their ground.
1t now devolved upon the Sd New
Hampshire siment TO push forward, anC
led by Gen. Strong and Col. Jackson il
: person, the gallant fellows dashed VI
against the fort. Three companies actu
ally gained the ditch, and wading througl
the water found shelter against the EN-
hankment. Here was the critical point o
the assault ard the second, which shout,
have been up and ready TO support tbei
comrades of the first, were unaccountabl
delayed. Gen. Strong tnen gave the OF
der to fall back and lie down on the claois
which was obeyed without confusion,
IL was while waiting here, exposed e
the heavy fire, that Gen. Strong wa
wounded. A fragment of shell enteret
bis thigh, passing entirely through tn
f ileshy part and making serious wound
although the bone escaped fracture. Th