Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-08-27
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER
THE ATTACK ON CHARLESTON.
DETAILS OF MONDAYS FIGHT.


;.
letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer dated board of
Admiral Dshlgren's hsg-ship tho Augusta Dnsmore'
gives many interesting particulars OF the oomoarden oi
Fort Sumter and other Notifications IN Charleston aoor
on Monday last The writer's position during the engage
ment was on the ugbos Rescue, which was anchored IN
the swash channel" and which point being within range
of Wagner Gregg Sumter and Moultrie afforded
ceent view of the entire action. We copy below the
material portions Of his letter The official report of Ad
ural Dahlgren viii be found in a subsequent column.
rRELIMlNARlEs TO THE ATTACK
Last evening known to board the Dinsmore
that the combined army and navy attack against Wagner
Sumter and Gregg would commence this morning Q7th)
at daylight Gen Gmores batteries had been completed
and every thing Morris Island was in readiness for
which alone the fleet had been waiting Sunday passed
very quietly with u.s. and at eleven o'clock the Episcopal
service was read TO and those Of The officers who
were able to be present by Capt George w. Rodgers
feet captain During the rest of the day we waited i'm
patiently for the mornings dawn, which to usher IN
one of the grandest struggles of the war.
THE PLAN OF MONDAYS OPERATIONS.
Cen Guores batteries to open at daybreak upon
Sumter concentrating their FIRE upon the western face OF
Sumterwhch s the weakest being only ak feet through,
the other walls being eight ee-while the lronci and
wooden gunboats TO play upon Wagner and Gregg
Then after these forts had been senced the Passsc Pa
tapsco Ironsdes up and try the breaching
process on Sumter Such in brief the plan made for
the vessels to be engaged in It's execution
The following list of the vessels composing the feet
with the officers commanding:
IRoN-CLADs.
Ironsides-Captain, s. c. Rowan; Pilot, Mr.. Dorey
Passse-Lieut Commander, 4. Simpson, (hagship y
Pilot Mr.. Hafords.
latskIl-Commander, George w. Rodgers; Pilot Mr..
Pent0n
Pnckney, (colorrd
Nahait-Commander John DowRes Pilot Mr. sofed
Weehawken-Commander, T. Colhoah flo'' Mr.
Patapsco-Lieut Commander, Q. s. Badger Plot, Mr.
Bell (coored.)
WOODEN VESSELS.
Cupandsigus-Captain j. F. Green.
Mahaska-C Commander J. b. Creighton
Cimmarone-Commsnder A. K. Hughes.
Ottawa-Lieut. Commander w. ID. Whiting.
Tissahickou-Lieut Commander j. L. Davis.
Da Chang-Lieut, Commander J. c. Chaplin
IIodona-Leut Commander II. Brodhead.
These vessels were to form in three ues of attack the
Monitors composing the inner line the Ironsdes next and
the wooden 4unboats the outer inea Of course subject
10 the orders OF the flagship.
THE SCENE OF MONDAY MORNING.
At three o'clock Monday morning we witnessed a
grand display of fireworks caused by the rebel batteries
on James Island sheing our works, while occasionally
Wagner and Gregg would add to the number of FIRE cir
ces 10 the air This continued until daybreak when our
batteries Morris Island opened upon Sumter and sent
tue ssnd bags flying from her western face The rebels
it seemed discovering beforehand plans had erected
against this face huge breaswok of sand bags,
tending from the scarp almost to the parspet that it
might be better protected against FIRE Sumter did not
reply to our batteries but preserved omnous silence
and rather confirmed previous information by de-
serter that but few were left in the fort, and the
rebels intended an evacuation. While this preliminary
bonbardment in progress thunderstorm in the
south but as if dgusted with faint imitation of its
artillery passed by us, aud the morning became bazy
aud with scarcely breeze
DEPARTURE TIE ADMIRAL.
Admiral Dshlgren, accompanied by Fleet Captain Geo
W. Rodgers, who 10 command the CatSkill, Flag
Lieutenant Moreau Forrest and Ensign Adams signal off,
GER left the Dlnsmors at twenty minutes Of six and pro-
ceeded 10 the Weehawken upon which streamed bis
pennan Fleet Captain Rodgers went board the Cask
and assumed command but Flag Lieutenant Forrest and
Ensign Adams remained with the Admiral Captain Ham
iton also left the Dnsmore and went board the Pa
tapsco to which he formerly attached and had
charge Of of her guns during the fight Of last April
THE IRoNsIDEs AND MONITORS MOVE Up.
At ten minutes Of the Ironsidcs followed by the
Weehawken, Montauk, and Nahsnt, moved up the chan
nel and slowly abreast Of Wagner Wagner flies a
Confederate flag but Sumter il to deceive instead
Ol three mage, hs the W D A.
10 the breeze As the Catskl moved up Capt Rodgers
poes aboard her from the Dandeon and is cheered by
the crew and the blue jackets who stand perfectly careless
upon the decks o the mortar schooner by Now the
Ironudes opens the ball and fires gun after another
at Wagner, making the sand hy usual In this practice
abe was immediately followed by the Weehawken Nahant
and Catsk Sumter fires her first gun at the Iron
sides which is within range, but failing to bit, good
ample set her by Wagner which sends shot right into
the sand bags the Ironsidss decks The firing Wag
Der by the iron clsds excellent scarcely shot failing
10 do summary execution and at half past FIRE
was so severe that Wagner became silent and could not
work her guus.
THE PATAPsCo AND PAssAIc.
These Monitors, which to fire at Sumter, now be-
yau to up the channel and pass the iron cads of
Wagner. The Irousdes lying within range OF Sum-
ter but paid attention to her The rebel battery at
Beach Inlet Suliyans Island fred shot at the Iron
sides but falling short tie fort reapsed studied
silence The view at this time grand. Wagner was
enyeoped in smoke, which for the want Of breeze set
tied down upon her like death Our Monitors lay
within five hundred yards Of her. firing intervals hots
certain aud effective In the distance peerng out through
the smoke which enveoped the horizon the spires
aud steepes OF Charleston, and the rebel ookouts
James Island. The Passsic having now come within
usket range Of Wagner gave her Introductory salute
but Wagner remained silent and all breathed easier