Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-27

which il is undergoing from my batteries to
der cOmpL te demolition, within lev hours mat
ter of certainty. All my heaviest guns have not yet
opened.
Should you refuse compliance with this demand, or
should receive reply thereto within four hours after
Il is delivered into the hands of your subordinate at
Fort Wagner for transmission shall open lire on the
cty of Charleston FIR batteries al eady established
within easy and effective range Of the heart OF the CITY,
I am, General very respectfully,
! Your obedent servant,
(Sigued) Q A. GILMORE.
| Brgadier General Commanding.
Official: Z. KEARNY, A. A. G.
To Gen 6. T. BEAURGARD, Commanding Confederate
Forces, Charleston, S. G.
Gen gard being absent on Reconnaissance the
! communication which was unsigned, received at
Headquarters about quarter to o'clock FRIDAY night
by n Jordan and by him returned for the signature
of the writer The communication signed by Ger.
Gill borc and again returned IL was REG ved az Gen
b auregards Headquarters at o'clock saturday morn
ing Between and two O'Clock, however, Saturday
| morning the enemy commenced firing on the city,
arousing our people from the SAUNDERS, Twelve s.
iLch shells fell into the city, thirteen in all having betn
fred. Fortunately 10 person was injured. Several
shells few in the direction of ST. MchaePs steeple,
and fell either in vacant lots in the burnt district, on
King street, generally struck in the centre
Of the streets as exhibited at the corner Of Queen
and Rntledge where an eight inch shell tore up he
plank road and dug large hole in the ground. Another
shot entered the warehouse Of G. w. Williams d Co,
the corner of Hayne aud Church Streets entered the
Ioof and exploded in the upper story, making large
opening in the brick wall Of the Medical POrveyors
storehouse next docr and scattering things in great
confusion Some loose straw or picking was set On lire
by the eX posion which caused the alarm bell to riog
aud brought out the remen. 1t extnguished with
little effort before il made any progress. -Four shells
fell in his lOca y. One large piece picked up and
exh bed the Guard House, where WAS the subject
Of much curiosity.
TT ere was a good deal Of excitement and some
pise expressed the enemy being able TO reach the
city from his present position. The battery we learn,
is located in the marsh between Norris and Back
Isandy distant fully FIVE mics from Charleston 1T is
said to be superior fortfclOn and believed TO mount
from three four PIrrot guos OF lerent cal bre and
long range report was in circulation on Saturday
and Sunday that Battery Haskell Jam S Iand, had
broue ht its heavy gus to bear upon this new fortified
ton and slenced the enemy's fire. The report, how
ever was no, credited authentic informal on being
received TO that effect although battery is said 10
have bomblrded the work on Saturday, aud yesterday
with good effect
The enemy have erected another battery within four
hundred and fifty yards of Battery Wagner from which
continued artillery duel a1d musketry firing is main
tanned between the pickles inthe rife pits On Friday
night party of the enemy, estimated at about o1e
hundred and fifty strong, advanced with the supposed
object of Thinking and stUrmng the position OF our pic
kets The litter only eighteen in number allowed the
enemy 10 advance until within short range when
volley was poured in among them, every shot telling,
and cluing the whole party TO Terat to their works
Several aIe known to have been kill, and Wounded
The fee upon Battery Wagner has not sldckened since
our last report but Et exhibits marks OF the hery
ordeal and il Is semi-oficially reported will bear
much pounding as ever Battery Gregg, which ba'
been subjected TO the heavy fire. is aso reported
in the same good order and condition. Oar casualties
al Battery Wagner Saturday were four killed and
twenty one founded.
Col p =. Gailari, Of the Charleston Battalion, we
regret to learn bad his left hand shot eff by shell on
Saturday
Captain Robert Prirg4, of Lucas Battalion, was
killed a. t,ery Wsgoer on Thursday night, by piece
of shell striking him IN the breast He fingered but 4
short time sfer resolving the injury. The deceased
4 brave aud g,lant officer, highly esteemed and be
loved by BIS brother officers and the men of his COM
| mand
On Saturday afternoon the steamer Sptding, Captain
Dsxer SeUt down 10 the fleet wi flag of truce fly
lug havi On Jard H. z. Walker, Esq, British Con-
| sui and Col Roman, of General Beauregard's staff
bearing communication from General b auregard TO
General Glmcr,. They net by Lieut.. Forrest, Of
the Ironsdss who received their communications and
returned his vessel for orders On his return Lieut.
Forrts. stated that he. instructed to say that the
dispatches addressed the Admiral would be replied
to and sent under flag OF truce to the North Channel
while the dispatches for General Gilmore would be
veyed TO him, al the reply necessary sent by flag OF
truce to tery Wagner. The object, as we learn, Of
| Mr. Walkers visit 10 solicit IN interview and re-
quest more time be allowed for the removal of nom
comba!ants 1t being late in the evening the Interview
could not be lad .bu; reply was expected Sunday
morning
The following is copy Of the reply of Ge1.' B azure
sud to the conn uncaion of Gen. Gilmore conveyed
by Col Roman under Gag Of truce to the enemy's dag
| ship Tor delivery:
HEAD'Qss DTP'r OF S. c., GA AND FLA =
lhareston, S g., Aug o. 1868.
SlR:--Lssi night at fifteen minutes before IL O'clock
during my absence q of my fortifcl
tons communication received az these Headquar-
ters dated Headquarters pertinent Of the South, Nor
ris isnd S. G., August 81, 1863, demaRdirg the "im
mediate evacuation OF Morris Island and Fort SUMTER
By the Confederate forces the alleged grounds that
"the present condition OF Fort Sumter aud the rapid
and progressive destruction which it is undergoing from
nv batteries seem to render is complete demolilion
within few hours a matter OF Ce.taniy"-and that if
this demand mot compiled with reply there
to was received within four hours after it is delivered
into the hands of your my) subordinate commander at
Fort Wsguer for transmission" fire worli be opened
"ou the city of Charleston from batteries already
tabshed within easy aud effective range of the heart Of
the city" This communication my address With
out Signature, and was of course returned.
About bali past one this morning one of your bate
res did actually open FIRE and throw a number OF hea
w rife shells into The city the iDhlbiaus of which, Of
course, were asleep and unwarned.
About o'clock this morning, the communication al
luded TO above was returned to these Headquarters
bearing your recognized official signature and it can
nov be noticed your deliberate oiIcia! act.
Amorg nations not barb rous the usages OF war pre-
scribe tina. when city is about to be atacked mely
notice shall be given by the attacking commander in
order that noncombstart may have opportunity for
withdrawing beyond its limits Generally the time al
lowed is rom to three days. that Is time for the
Withdrawal in good faith, Of least the women and
children. You sir, give only four hours knowing that
your notice, under existing circumstances could not
reach me in less than hours and that not less than
the same time would be required for an answer to be
conveyed fronfthis city to Battery Wagner with this
knowledge you threaten open FIRE on this ely not to
obge its surrender but force me to evacuate these
works which you assisted by great naval force have
| been attacking in vain for more than forty days
Batteries Wagner and Gregg and Fort Sumter are
nearly due North from your batteries on Mo rs Island
and in distance thereIom varying from half mile to TWO
| nd III nthn. hn,i Il,