Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-09-25
FROM CHARLESTON


that the citizens are leaving that place en- D'osse
taking with them everything Of value. One
Of the English Blakeley guns. said TO carry a
shot Of over five hundred pounds in weight,
and placed in position at Charleston, hod
burst while in the act of firing.
A prisoner who left Richmond. two days
since, furnishes the Herald with facts relative
to the South. He states that but one divis-
ION Of troops has been taken from Lees army
which la ter is located near Hanover, about
10000 fit for duty. II is understood that il
Gen. Meade advances Lee will fall back on
Richmond, the evacuation Of which is not
thought Of by the rebels. The defences Of
Richmond are complete. The rebel force in
Western Virginia is very small. it includes
lmboden and Jackson forces. The rebels
have plenty to eat, the starvation stories be-
/ ing absurd.
This informant was in Charleston when
/ Gen. Gilmore bombarded it. One shell struck
/ the spire Of the St. Nicholas Church and all
struck within half mile Of each. They pro-
duced the utmost CONSERVATION. The city
! is nearly destitute now and the place will be
/ destroyed before surrending Bcauregard's
| force is about 90O0 which was sweled to a.
bout $4,000 by jenkins division. Beaute-
forces captured Morris Island
A Morris Island letter reports thet the
rebels are extremely busy repairing For
Sumter, and steamers are constantly plying
between the city and there With materials
therefor. A desetteu .2ysfthai after strength
ening Sumter and planting more batteries on
James Island, Beauregard intends to assume
the offensive, in order, il possible, to gain
possession Of Morris Island Charleston is
said to be full of rebel troops
Other accounts state that it may be a week
/ yet before Gen. Gilmore can open fire upon
! Charleston. The mounting OF guns on the
north end Of Morris Island proves very slow
work, but our losses thereirum are tnAing.
The Express has the following
by the arrival Of the u. s. steamer Empire
City at this port we have the following inrth-
er particulars respecting the siege Of Charles
ton
" At Hilton Head, from which the steamer
sailed without crossing Charleston Bar, re-
port was in circulation, which was traced to
rebel sources, that Gen. Gilmore, finding it
almost impossible to plant his guns on Wag-
ner and c innings Point, in the face of a
continuous fire, the General had temporarily
suspended the work, and he was led to DO it
by the inactivity Of the-navy, which failed to
support him. A vigorous discharge OF shot
aud she'll was poured in continuous vuileys
from all the rebel works on Morris Island,
causing many casualties among our troops.
The enemy appear to be very active in Fort
Sumter. Steamers were seen ladeued appar-
emily with material to repair the works, and
the rebel flag was still flying on the walls.
With the glass it was ascertdined that reiu-
forcements were on these steamers, evidently
to add to the garrison
report Also prevailed at Hilton Head
that the d tiicult, between Gen. Gilmore and
Admir- i Dahlgren nod assumed shape which
would soon decide the fate of the siege.
Nearly all the labors OF the bombardmen
have hitherto devolved on Gen. Gilmore's
forces, but TO be successful in ne great Oh
ect would require the active cooperation of
the navy, which, it is stated, has not been
given.
Tue Empire City passed outside Charleston,
but heard no firing.
NV YORK. Sept. 2.
The steamship Ms-is,ippi reports passing
Charleston Bar at three clock Sunday morn
ing and heard hsafy fdsg.
The Fulton Reports INIT the work Il mount
ing guns on Battery Gregg is very slow in
Consequence of thr annoyance received from
rebel battery Bee ana Fort Sumter, by shot
and she'll fred at intervals of about twenty
minutes.
The. Evening Post learns by the arriva Of
the steamer Fulton that the preparations Of
Gen. Gilm ore for the Smelling OF Charleston
we're in forward state. aud can be undertake
at any time. OF intentions Of the gov
eminent t5is fact is significant, that the Ara
20 took to Gen. Gilmore so Gases Of shells
containing Greek fire.
The guns were not firing when the Fulton
left and there are reasons to believe that the
navy will not recommeuce the attack upon
the rebel position. until Gen. Gimore's new
batteries are ready to cooperate. The reb.
els in battery Bee, keep up regular fire on
our troops, but do little or no damage. The
Fulton brings 100 rebel prisoners.
The Herald's Morris Island letter of the
( l9th says that nothing has transpired. A
great deal Of work is being done of an i'm
portrait character, the nature of which can
not at present be revealed, but the result Of
which will soon deselope itself, and can
then be lad before the public. On We'd
nesday last severe gale arose from the
northeast and continued to blow with great
fury TILL Thursday night, when 1t moderated
and finally died away. The witd did no
small amount of damage to the camps
Tents were blown down and their occupants
compelled to remain out Of doors, exposed
to one of the seveiest transforms have
witnessed for sometime. The tides we're
unusually high and the water rolled far up
the beach on the leyee of sandy constructed
about the camps and completely sy ept down
the front rows Of the tents. The vessels in
the roads pitched and rolled violently and
many OF them dragged their anchors. For
tunately no one of them went ashore.
the rebel batteries Of James Island have
been engaged IN Smelling our camps on Block
Island during the past three or four days, but
had not occasioned single casualty up to
last night The rebels seem 60 be under the
impression that something is going on that
/ does not promis sSllnssG to their cause, as our
men are silent and no guns have been fred on
our side recently.
1t is not improbable that they are correct
in their surmises. Their efforts to shell us
out will signally fail to remove the cause of
their fears.
\ As write Gregg ia being rapidly sheIled
by batteries Bee aud Smpkins on Sullivans
and James Island. No considerable nun Der
! Of casualties have occurred lately on this IL.