The New York herald., 1863-08-28
THE SITUATION.


We have one days later news from Charleston
to Monday evening at five O'Clock. Sumter being
reduced to mass Of ruins, the fire of the .Swamy
battery on Morris Island has been constant,
directed upon The city, dropping shells filed will
-'t'reck fire." o liquid and unquenchable demon O
destruction, into the streets at intervals. The
consequence Of these fearful visitors was that th,
city was discovered TO be in flames several time.
since Friday night. General Beauregard has pro
tested against the ''inhumanity' of using sucl
weapons Of offence against the inhabi.
tants OF the city, and several hags Of
truce have passed between him and Gen
eral Gilmore on the subject but with no ef
feet. General Gilmore demands an unconditional
surrender, and win accept nothing else. Beaure.
gard asked for truce Of forty hours, but it was
refused. upon which the foreign Consuls in
Charleston protested on behalf of the inhabitants
belonging to their several nationalities
The navy, under Admiral Dahlgren. kept up
constant fire on the remnant of Sumter and the
other FORTS but they had not, at last accounts, ap
proached the city. Forts Moultre, Gregg, Johnston
and the batteries on James and Sullivan islands pour
steady fire upon Morris Island and on the Monitors
doing but little damage. All these forts have to
be senced before our vessels can reach the city,
and it may be some days yet before that work s
accomplished. An attempt to destroy the Iron.
sides by torpedo was made, and fortunately
frustrated, the other night. We give sketch Of
these torpedoes to-day. The accounts of all the
recent proceedings both OF our land and naval
forces will be found most graphically given in the
dispatches Of our special correspondents in
another column, and we would direct the special
attcation Of our readers TO them for fne history
Of the siege for the pas. week.
The Army OF the Potomac remains quiescens.
General Pleasanton's cavalry makes daily recon.
noissances. occasionally picking up some prison.
ers. The pickets Of both armies on the Kappa
hammock keep up o constant friendly interchange
OF conversation.
An expedition from the Third Pennsylvania or.
tillery, under Major Stevenson went nine miles up
the Chickahominy river in an armed steamboat
on Sunday night. and dispersed the rebels caval-
ry. thirty strong, under Robinson, burning his
headquarters and capturing two Of his men.
1t is stated in letter from Richmond of the cath
inst, that Colonel Straight and his party will now
be regarded prisoners Of war. and it is though,
that John Morgan and his men who are now con.
fned in the Ohio penitentiary, will be put by oul
government on the same status in return.
A despatch from Stevenson. Ala, yesterda.
states that part Of General wilder's force cam
dnto collision with party of rebels and capture
two Of them, who said that the Chattanooga RED,
Of the day previous. the 26th aludes TO the fall
Charleston. It further states that Lee had beel
defeated by General Meade; that the advance o
General Burnsides command reached Kingston OF
Tuesday, and had defeated Forrest after q shor
fight. and that Braggs army is moving towards
Atlanta.
The gueras OF the nhuman chief Quantrell ar,
being hunted through the woods and mountains o
the border counties of Missouri. Most Of tn
horses and plumber they took from Lawrence hav
been recovered, and many Of the rufians have bee
killed. The houses in which the stolen propert
was concealed are being destroyed by order Q
General Ewing, who is determined to root out al
the disloyal inhabitants on the borders Of Kansas
Th.l 81 To-
of this city yesterday was peacefully procecdc
with. The examination Of the conscripts belong
ing to the Sixth district was commenced by III
Enrolling Board on Tuesday and continued yestei
day. Sxty.six conscripts were examined, out
whom only six were held to military service. Th
majority of those set aside claimed to be alien,
Only few were exempt from physical disabilit,
The claims Of the alleged aliens remain yet
be adjudicated upon by the Board. II is thougl
that Il will take about two months to finish Il
examination In the district. The draft in Il
Thirteenth ward will commence to-day.
srookiyn Monday and Tuesday are fixed for tur
inq the wheel Of destiny for the inhabitants
that city who reside In the First, second ana I'M
Congressional districts. The First district col
prises Queens. Suffolk and Richmond countis
In the Second district the quota required 10 a,o7
The district includes the Ave country towns
Kings county, and nine wards in the city Of Broo
Iyn. The Third district is composed Of ten war
in Brooklyn and Williamsburg, with quota
l.o.s.
The Germans Of this city held mass meeting
Harmonic Hall, Essex street, last night, 10 ,al
measures TO protect tho parties drafted, and
test the legality ef the Comcripton act. col
mitsee was appointed to visit Governor seymo
at Albany for advice. Much excitement prevail