The Portland daily press., 1863-08-20
By TELEGRAPH
TO The
EVENING PAPERS.

From Charleston-Rebels Evacuating Fort
Sumter.
NEW YORK, Aug. 10.
The steamship Fulton from Port Royal 10th
| has arrived.
Flagship Dinsmore, Aug. 1e.-Since Mon
| day events have been rather monotonous
| We have been exchanging shells and shot with
the rebels night and day, with probably but
| little damage ON either side. The enemy's OBJ
| emy's object was to retard Gen. Gilmores
siege works on shore, but they have all been
perfected for some days. The intention to
open the 18th was abandoned on account of
some difficulty as to the quality of army am
munition and owing to the serious indisposi-
ton OF Gen. Gilmore. He Is, however, much
better, and the opening of the heavy siege
works will commence at daylight tomorrow
The shore batteries, in getting the range of
their guns yesterday and the day before,
knocked three holes in the walls of Sumter.
The general impression prevails that the
rebels are evacuating Sumter, and will blow it
up as soon as the assault commences. Out of
nearly thirty guns on the parapet ten days ago
but six now remain. Most of those that were
in the casemates had previously disappeared.
The rebels have erected earth works a mile
long on James Islaud, from Fort Johnston to
Secessionville, although they have but few
guns mounted as yet This is supposed to be
the destination OF the guns taken from Fort
Sumter. Our picket boats around Sumter re-
port that there is great activity among the
rebels every night with steamers, &c.
The weather continues fine, with calm sea,
and Is most favorable for our operations. The
sun is hot, but a good sea breeze aud occa-
sional thunder showers cool the air.
Special latest dates from Morris Island of
Sunday, 5 p. NJ, state that only two or three
shots were fired during the day-both parties
observing the Sabbath.
The grand attack is expected Monday morn
ing. Everything is now in readiness, on sea
and shore. and all are looking forward to the
work OF Tomorrow, certain of complete sue
cess. Reinforcements continue to arrive dali
ly. and quite large army is now on hand.
On Wednesday night the rebels opened on
our works with grape and canister, on infor-
nation received from two suffers who deserted
to the enemy. We lost two killed and two
wounded The Monitors went up in the night
and opened on Fort Wagner and silenced the
rebel guns.
A private note dated off Morris Island, 5 p,
M, 10th, says: We shall have Sumter to-mor-
row certain.
Admiral Dahlgren went on board the Pa
tapsco, and run her under the guns of Fort
Wagner, and came near being taken off by
l0-inch shot from the fort.
The indications are that the rebels will de-
pend principally upon their distractions and
interior line of defences. In the attack to
come off tomorrow the Ironsides will engage
Fort Wagner and keep her silent, whilst the
Monitors and shore batteries engage SUMTER
At the same time the iron fleet and mortar
schooncrs will engage Fort Moultrie. 1t will
be a grand affair."
The rebel works on James Island indicate
that an attempt viii be made on the part OF
the rebels to drive Gen. Gilmore off James
Island, or to so annoy him as to interfere with
the siege of Sumter.
VERY LATEsr.-5 o'clock, p. NJ, 16th-I
learn from the shore that the rebels have piled
sand-bags on the wharf in the rear of Sumter,
against its rear walls, forty feet high, CON-
pletely protecting the magazines from the
shore batteries of Gen. Gilmore
The removal OF the guns from Snmter Is
probably from the conviction that onr batter
les will silence them. There has been but two
or three shots fired to-day. The weather
promises TO be most favorable for the assault
tomorrow. Gen. Gilmore's health is much
better.