Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-08-26

QeblEOyeu1 OF oNHCuhLru uut AaN'" 49,
despatch which is published this morning,
it is reasonable to be supposed that 1t
has been much injured, and may become
untenable. The event has proven what
was hitherto theory, that the heavy ord
nance now used will do considerable IN
jury to Notifications constructed OF any
known materials other than earth, even at
the distance of three thousand yards
Wagner, exposed during forty days to the
whole artilleryof the enemy; at only eight
hundred PAGES, still holds its own, and II
in danger only from the cannonade would
evidently last forever; while Sumter, which
receives the shot of single battery, at
the immense distance stated, with occa-
sioual assistance from scary monitors, suf-
fers severely, and probably would have
already crumbIed but for the sand bags
with which its walls have been strength
ened. Sumters walls are brick and con-
crete, sixteen feet thick Wagner is sim
pie earthwork with bomb proof.
] To the general public of this continent
the fact has the air of novelty; but the
events of the Crimean war have caused it
to be quite Familiarity known in Europe
The Car Nicholas fancied that he had dis.
covered the means of rendering walls able
to resist cannon shot by building them
with block OF solid granite enormous in
magnitude. Yet the FIRE of feet pound
ed them to fragments at Sveaborg and
Bomersund. Sabastopol was "the labor
of an age in piled stones " but its siege
would not have lasted ten days had not
the engineer Totlebed constructed, in the
brief interval between the battle of Alma
and the investment, a series of earthworks
\ which exhausted the whole force of Eng
land and of France, cost ten nonth's oiege,
and the lives of a hundred thousand men.
4.
| thing in the nature of stone, If long
enough continued; but fred into a bank
of earth, they render it only a little better
| protection to those behind it than it was
before. Such works can only be takes as
the earthworks of Sabastopol were finally
taken-by approaching the trenches till
they nearly touch the batteries, and then
rushing in with an overwhelming assault.
But Sumter and Wagner have no neces-
sary connection with the ultimate result at
Charleston. That city is on the land, and
until a feet can clear the harbor, no ettec-
| tual operations can be commenced against
it. Even if it should do so, we learn
| through the highest engineering authority
of this country that Beauregard can main
tain himself against any force that has
been, or is likely to be sent against him.
If Morris Island should fall entirely into the
possession of the enemy, he may shut up
| Charleston as port of entry, but it will
not enable him to take the city while its
defenders are determined to fight it out.
CHARLESTON.
| From the Richmond Dispatch.
The object of general interest and atten-
ton now is Charleston. The enemy has a
particular hatred for that city, and would
enjoy sweet revenge in its capture. He
is concentrating all the strength of engi-
merry, naval and land, which it is in bis
power to bring to bear upon its defences.
The weight of metal that will be employed
before the decision of the question whether
Charleston shall be taken or not, will ex-
coed that concentrated in any of the sieges
of the war, so notable for the magnitude
of the means employed in them. The en-
envy is never so completely at home as he
is in such attacks. Let him but undertake
an enterprise where his machinery and the
spade are chiefly available, and he proceeds
upon it with a perseverance and energy
that have never been surpassed.
So, in the essay to break through the
defences of Charleston and reach the heart,
of that city, he is engaged in the employ
ment that suits him best of all, if any that
is warlike can be said to suit him at ALL
The bombardment of the place will per-
haps EXCEED anything in history of the
kind. But there are defending Charleston
as brave men as ever walked the earth,
men who love their country. and consider
| it glorious to die for it. They are COM
manded by an officer who is one of the
best military engineers of his day, and
who has earned q brilliant fame in this
war If taken at all, the place will not be
reached until all that man can do has been
done to defend it, and we are gratified to
learn from the Charleston Mercury that il
has been determined to defend the city
city ''street by street, house by house, as
long as there is foot of earth left to stand
upon" This is in accordance with the
expressed wish of the Convention of South
Carolina in 1861, when an attack was an
ticipated. But Charleston has not fallen,
and there is good reason to be not only
hopeful but cheerful about its fate. 1t
will be settled soon, and We hope, by the
signal repulse of the enemy.
THE ARMY OF NoRTHERN VIRGINIA.
From the Richmond WING, August 1s.
The situation of General Lees army is
unchanged, but the force of the enemy
that occupied position on this side of the
Rappahannock has all fallen back across
the river. This would seem to indicate
that Meade had no intention of giving bat
tie at present. Indeed, it is believed that
his army is badly demoralized, and in no
condition for offensive operations. The
telegraph informs us that ten from each
company have gone North to gather up
conscripts. Our picket lines now extend
to the Rappahaunock. The Central train,
last evening, brought down sixteen Yam
kee prisoners, including one officer, cap
tured in Culpeper county.
From Fredericksburg we learn by tele-
graph that small force of the enemy is
still around the place, and that their pick
cts will remain at Falmouth permanently.
Falmouth is in Stafford county on the
north side of the river. We doubt If there
is any of the enemy on this side. With
the exception of some picket firing, the