The New York herald., 1863-07-20

a. they were serving protection 10 administers,
VINO were RAPIDLY advancing under their cover. The
adding 70 the interest which becoming intense
Inc Tour ironclads were now In excellent position on
through and through the parapet and opening great
caves into the immense solid walls aud which
formed the earthwork Seldom was hoad seen above
tue parape and when the sprang To load their guns
as soon as the black portfolios In turned
toward the fort, the men Immediately disappeared as
EXCITING SCENES
shell after shell with anal shrapnel and grape,
were sent slowly and deliberately within the rebel work.
doing fearful execution among the men guns and well
arranged and nicely sodded bastions and angles IL was
q magnificent sight, and he a lucky who had
possession OF standing place within the little piot
house and watched through the eyehoes the scene which
was booming so intensely exciting ON the right rs Moui-
re silent and STILL across the narrow way Is sumter.
with its red walls looming above the sea around u, with
It's parape occasionally lighted by the gun flash, while
from under the rings OF blue smoke which so gracefully
float away abave the strong walls their shot
and bolts but falling into the water and doing the fleet
harm. To the of Sumter the steamers
sonally running evidently carrying men and munitions
To the left OF sumter Cummings Point and Battery Bee:
and rent by Shells On the extreme left the rcgs
menis, which but few hours before marching in
solid column up the beach, resting, their
kets stacked and the men in groups upon the and hills
watching tho fght In which they have particpa
tion, excepting, indeed the wary skrmshers and sharp
shooters which, advancing from hut 10 bush. quietly
kneel and give the rebel gunners knowledge OF their
presece and receive in return every and them the
compliment Of a shell
THE IRos.cIAps WITHDRAWN
Az forty minutes past twelve O'clock at signal from tho
Caiski tho ropolads slowly withdrew down tho chan
mel ana came TO anchor TO give the resting and
ing spell The fire from Wagner which an hour had
been decreasing now rapidly revived, both and
upon the troos which held and occunied the island
Neither however pad any attention TO the firing and II
soon became slow and irregular.
ihe little tug nandeinn, Captain Barryman, which
forms part of the bockading eet up into range OF
Sumter and received IN anick succession three or four
SHOTS which threw high into the ar great columns oi
water. They arc continually ing ut tho tug when an
opportunity occurs.
Just rs the Montauk 10 anchor rGed bolt from
Wagner struck our deck on the starboard quarter made
long, deep ndenaton into the iron. broke in two, and
the PARTS went whizzng over our heads
We anchor abreast OF the bluffs and upon tho
iron decks once more with the most perfect noochaance
messed up all The morning. is of from tho beach
towards the low, level land OF the island.
The troops fall back from the advanced position which
they had attained. aud resting and taking dinner
fresh breeze.
TIE IRoa. crAns RETURN TO r.,xrR OLD POSITIONS
The commanders OF the four iron clads lunch with Tho
Admiral on beard Of .he Catsk and after returning
their respective vessels the order given get under
way again and at teen minutes anchor IL
up and We are steaming towards Wagner In half
IN hour tho old postion ~ asaaed the little iron
feet are once more paving the interior OF Wagner with
iron globes.
A large two horse ambulance which came to Wagner
this morning. slowly away up the beach, dis
playing an immense yellow flag
ACTING MASTER r. GrRArns GrNNwRy
large steamboat comes 10 the OF Warner with
ammunition, and Captain Fairfax tells master, Mr.
Gracd who hns charge OF the guns fire steamer
aud feeninch flies above 1t throwing up of
water beyond. Mr. Giraud Is the finest shots In
the SERVICE and the accuracy OF his re to-day has
remarkable. As the afternoon away the fire from
Wagner slackened again and grew irregular and inaccu
rate AZ twenty minutes to eignt O'Clock p NJ We with
drew after bard days lighting and came anchor
agnin IN tho channel below. The officers and men
worn and fatguei but srve stood 70 their weary
lahor admirably.
We have been strnck bnt tho Catskll however,
bearing tho Admras bre pcnpant, has honorable
scars and well she deserved them for her shells must
have done much damage u the rebel fort
In the evening Capt Fairfax wert board the Conc
maRh, and returning nt twelve tmidnignt) inormedus
that he learned Gen. Gilmore had lost ten killed and
nty.six wounded and t,ken two hundred prisoners Al
o'clock in the evening Gen. Gilmore with his men,
was in the rife pits he'ore Wagner. Information
also obtancd from papers IN the OF the prison.
OF the capture Of Vcksburg retreat Lee
Ard So, after OF the fatgung days work
10 sleep the dock turret and In fact anywhere fully
nscipus that no but ourselves imagine. much
less the duties md abos which are necessary
TO q days fighting In an iron-clad.