Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-08-25
CHARLESTON.

,ur own people are not very sangulne OF
being able to prevent that result, tho
they have every confidence that our gal
ant troops there will do all that is ID
their power to repulse the enemy. The
enemy are actuated by a spirit OF re-
venge towards that city, as it was there
that the first blow was struck, and the
e. S. Stripes and Stars had to succumb
to the Confederate Stars ard Bars. They
esteem Charleston as the cradle OF Sc
eession, and ale now rocking the cradle
that they may put the child to sleep
the sleep which knows no waking. They
will be disappointed, however, for the
child, is child no more, and has, some
time since, outgrown the cradle, and
no longer crawls, but, armed cap-a-
pie, now walks the earth with firm,
martial step, like the god of war.
The Yankees seem to be concentrating
all their energies in a last desperate Ell
fort to take Battery Wagner and reduce
Fort Sumter. All day Monday week
the bombardment was more furious than
on any previous day. The lronsides,
six monitors, and six gunboats, with all
the enemv's lard batteries, opened on
Battery Wagner at day break, throwing
twenty shells per minute at our works
This continued until II O'Clock, when
the fleet and land batteries turned their
attention to Fort Sumter. The lronsides
and six monitors approached within
three quarters of mile Of Sumter and
battered vigorously against the South
face of the fort. Sumter replied brisk
ly from her barbette guns. The con-
test lasted about three hours, when the
fleet, having been struck very often,
stood out of range, with flags at half
mast. It was supposed some high Yam
kee naval officer had been killed. The
enemy's land batteries of 200-pounder
Parrot guns kept up a constant ire
Monday evening and all that night a
gainst Sumter, and the roar CT cannon
was tremendous. The casualties at Sum
ter on Monday were one killed and thir-
teen wounded at Battery Wagner, sew
en- killed and twenty-four wounded
Among the killed, we regret to say, is
Capt. Wampler, chief engineer at Wag-
ner, brave and meritorious officer.
On Tuesday, the bombardment was
continued throughout the day chiefly
with their heavy PARROT guns. ! here
was comparatively little firing against
Fort Wagner, on which the enemy can
make no impression whatever. A mon
itor engaged Wagner in the afternoon
but was soop driven off.
/ On Wednesday, the operations Of the
enemy were confined to a steady and
continuous fire upon Fort Sumter from
their PARROT guns on Morris Island
The heavy fire began to make an i'm
preston upon the Fort, which replied
only at long intervals Many of the
Guns on the Fort had been dismounted
On Thursday the fire Of the enemy's
guns was very heavy.
The battery of Parrott guns is distant
from Sumter two mics and five-eighths.
The missiles used are one and two hun
dred pound balls, eight inches in dia-
meter and two feet long, with a flat head
of chilled iron. Shells of the same di-
mensions were also used.
About four O'Clock, the iron clads
formed in line of battle to renew the at
tack on Sumter, but the fort opened at
long range from the east face, and they
retired without attacking.
The Ironsides and two Monitors kept
lup a fire on Wagner, at intervals, and
| the Yankee sappers have begun to make
approaches on that battery from the
| breast work.
On Friday, the fire Of the enemy was
even heavier than before. A new bat
terry of Parrot guns was opened upon
Sumter. The east face was rendered a
pile of ruins and the north face consi-
derable damaged. On this day the flag
staff was shot away twice, making six
times during the attack.
The sappers are making regular APP
proaches on Battery Wagner.
The officer killed on Monday was a
Captain of one of the Monitors.
A telegram, dated Charleston, the
22nd, Saturday LAST says that, Sat j O.
clock last night communication from the
enemy. in signals, was sent to Beaure-
gard demanding the surrender of Sum-
ter and Morris Island batteries, with a
notification that the city would be she'll
ed in four hours if not complied with.
Beauregard was on a reconnaissance.
Jordan returned it for signature of
tha uyrifor q hout . O'clock
This morning the enemy began throw
ing shells into the city from batteries in
marsh between Morris and James Is
land, at distance of about five miles
from the city, II eight inch parrot shells
fell into the city, no casualti 5.
The transaction is regarded as an out
rage upon civil Misunderstanding had
good effect in hasteniag the exodus OF
non combatants at daylight this morn
ing.
The enemy opened fire furiously on
Sumter, the Ironsides are in sight and
opened, Sumter replying. Wagner is
firing briskly on the enemy's advanced.
works, four hundred and fifty yards from,
orr batteries"
EXEMPTION OF PosTNASTERS.
Governor Milton, Of Florida, lately
addressed letter to the Secretary Of
War on the subject of the exemption Of
| Postnasters from CONSUMPTION, and re-