The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-25

THE COMMANDMENT OF WAGNER
AND GREGG.
A REBEL ACCOUNT.

From the Charleston Mercury, Sept I.
The dawn of Friday last revealed
large United States banner hated
flag of stars and stripes-faunting from a
work of the enemy within one hundred
and fifty yards of Wagner
On the same morning, which from i'm
perfect information, we, in our last issue,
enormously reported as comparatively
quiet, the enemy opened, just before five
O'Clock, with their Parrot guns upon that
Fort firing first upon the centre. At 81
o'clock the Ironsides drew up within 1900
yards, and commenced to shell with great
rapidity. 1t was not until 81 o'clock that
she retired, having kept up continuous
fire for more than two hours and half
The loss sustained at Wagner by the fire
fell principally upon the 25th South Caro-
lima Volunteers.
During this day the enemy advanced
their parallels only a very short distance
from their main approach.
AT O'Clock on Saturday the enemy
again opened upon Wagner from all their
land batteries, assisted by the Ironsides,
several gunbOats, and an occasional shot
from the Monitors This bombardment-
beyond al doubt the most fierce and long
continued which has taken place against
Wagner since the beginning of the siege
lasted throughout Saturday and Saturday
night, and did not abate until Sunday
morning at Sclock. Nor was the abate-
ment of much duration. The fire was soon
renewed, and was continued with little
less vigor all Sunday, the Ironsides-
which maintained a position between
Gregg and Wagner, and kept Smelling
Wagner and the beach-being especially
active.
1t was on Saturday night, however, and
on Sunday morning up to A. NJ, that
the bOmbardment ragged with it's greatest
fury. The shots-many of them coming
together, as from the brOadside of ship
Were often more than sixty to the
minute
Our batteries on James Island of course
joined in the melee, and did their utmost
to annoy the enemy's land batteries.
But the bombardment of Wagner was
not the only event of Saturday night.
About ten O'Clock the enemy displayed
from the deck of a Monitor off Morris
Island an immense calcium light, and
several Monitors soon after moved up and
opened on Battery Gregg. Moultrie and
Gregg replied with spirit. At a quarter
to two a rocket was thrown up, and ere
many minutes elapsed, the enemy were
discerned approaching Morris Island at
point between Gregg nd Wagner. They
had come down in barges through creek
west of Morris Island, obviously with the
design of assaulting Gregg in the rear.
Advancing in line of battle they were per-
nitted to come very near, when a nine
inch Dahlgren opened upon them at short
range, with double canister. Our how
itzers then commenced fire of shrapnel
and canister, while our infantry admirably
posted poured into them fire of musketry
Moultrie, Battery Bee and Battery Mitchell
also opened upon them in rapid and
most demoralizing fire. This they could
not withstand, and though for short
while they maintained fire of musketry
and grapeshot from their barges, they
were soon forced to withdraw, seemingly
much surprised and confused by their re-
ception and our admirable disposition. 1t
is said that few gained the shore, but
these soon scampered to their boats, so
that no prisoners were taken. The loss
inflicted upon the enemy in this bafled
attempt at an assault was probably not
inconsiderable, but as all who were struck
fell in the boats, the extent Of that loss is
of course unknown. Some bodies were
found which f1oated ashore.
1t is almost impossible to describe the
terrible beauty of the scene in Charleston
harbor, as witnessed on Saturday night
from the city. From Moultrie almost to
Secessionville, whole semi-circle of the
horizon was lit up by incessant flashes of
cannon aud she'll As peal on peal of ar
tillery rolled across the waters, one could
scarcely resist the belief that not less than
a thousand great guns were in action. 1t
was grand chorus Of shell, in which Mo-
loch might have assisted, and over which
Satan might have presided.
All this went on beneath waning Sep
TENDER moon, which, with its warm south
ern light, mellowed by somewhat misty
atmosphere, brought out softly, yet dis
tinctly, the most distant outlines of the
harbor.
The loss at Wagner during this awful
bombardment was considerable. Up to
eight o'clock on Sunday it amounted to
one hundred and fifty in killed. and wound