Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-08-29
CuARLEsTON.
THE GRAND ATTACK ON FORT SUM
TER.

The following despatch is from Mr.. G. c.
Fulton, the agent of the Associated Press
FLAe-snIP DINsMoRE,
Tuesday morning Aug. 1S.
The attack on Fort Sumter was commcnc-
ed at daybreak yesterday morning by the
siege guns of Gen. Gilmore and the naval
battery on shore.
AT six o'clock Admiral Dahlgren proceed
ed on board the Weehawken, and, with the
Ironsides and the entire Monitor fleet, at
tackled Forts Wagner and Gregg with great
fury, completely silcncing Fort Wagner and
almost silencing Fort Gregg.
The wooden gun-hoats, seven in number,
also Joined in the assault, and enabled the
shore batteries to pur their shot and shell
into Sumter
AT 10 o'clock the Admiral changed his
flag to the Pussaic. and with the Patapsco
proceeded to within about 1'400 yards OF
Fort Sumter and shelled the sea-wal with
the rifle guns of those vessels for about an
hour with marked effect. Sumter fired al
most fifty return shot, doing no damage to
the vessels. whilst the wall of Sumter was
badly Scared.
Fleet Captain Henry W. Rodgers took
command of his old vessel, the Monitor
Catskill, and went up into the fight, going
within one hundred and fifty yards of the
beach-front of Fort Wagner. After firing II
number of shot, II shot from Wagner broke
loose piece OF the interior lining of the
plot-house, which struck on the head of
Commander Rodger, instantly killing him,
AS well as Palmaster Woodbury., who was
standing at his side. Both of their heads
were split open. These were the only per
sons injured on land or water during the
six hours engagement
The damage done to Fort Sumter by the
siege batteries of Gen. Gilmore is visible
without glasses. The rebels had erected a
false wall against the wall exposed to the
army batteries. 1t extended tn within ten
! feet of the top of the wall, was over forty
feet high and ten feet thick. This wall is
now II mass of ruins, whilst the old wall is
bored full Of deep holes, the parapct crushed
and ragged. and the northwest corner CASH
ed and cracked down almost to the waters
edge.
The harbor and Stono river are filed with
torpedOcs. about dozen of which have
been picked up in Stono, and one was eX
ploGed under the Patapsco, raising her 4
foot out Of water, but doing no harm to the
vessel.
None of the vessels were injured the least
and the Admiral and his officers are conf
dent in the ability Of the monitors to batter
down Sumter. The Admiral is anxious
however, to save the vessels for the heavy
work required of them after Samteris is takci
and To let the army reduce Fort Sumter, i
possible.
The fleet, except the WcchaWEeu anC
Nahnnt. all retired before two o'clock, hu
A. Il
the afternoon, and to prevent the rcmOunt
ing OF the guns.
The shore batteries continued firing al
the afternoon and night on the walls o
Sumter with good effect.
This morning the weather is cool anC
clear, and the batteries steadily ut work.
The Wcchawkcn and Passaic are keepin!
Forts Wagner and Gregg silent, and up t,
noon, when the Arkansas s'liied, the remain
der Of the feet were lying at their moor
ings.
The bodies of Captain Rodgers and Pay
master Woodbury. have been cmbunicd, an(
will 20 North on the Arkansas.
General Gilmore announces that the worl
thus far has been entirely satisfactory tina
the fort is badly damaged, aud the wUrl
progrcssin" finely.
Admiral Dahlgren is much depressed h.
the loss of his fleet captain, but is highl.
gratitied with the operations of the flee
and army, and very hopeful of ultimate sue
cess.
Up to the moment of the sailing of Ia
Arkansas, at noon, the siege guns have bcUi
hurting about five shell per minute, durinG
tic morning, at Fort Sumter, with marke,
effect.
Two of the monitors, the Ironsdes, an'
some OF the gunhoats, are shcllIng Fort
Wagner and Gregg.
c. c. +.