Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-19
1sA DAs hAsaa saea Ens gsagE,

whatever from the army Of the Potomac, and little of
interest from any Other quarter. The following from
Charleston, il true, might prove of some interest but
il is manifestly false ia many particulars
THIS SIEGE OF CHARLESTON ARRIVAL OF ThE LRLGo-
TIE GRAND ASSAULT EXPECTED no MADE YEsrER-
DAY.
The transport steamer Arago, froO Port ROYAL on
the morning OF the 10Th inst and Charleston Bal at
p IN. of the same day, arrived here yesterday morn
ng.
The Arsgo brings the usual mails aud large number
OF passengers The l7eth Regiment Pennsylvania Vol
uIteeTs, 600 strong. Colonel secher, "hose tern OF
office has expired, o. board
The following brief letter gives the very latest news
regarding the progress Of the siege OF Charleston:
CaAELEsFos Bar
Monday, Aug, lob =. N.
GEN Gilmore has notified Admiral Dahlgren thar he
will be in readiness TO open the grand assault Oh Thurs
day, the 18th instant
The navy is all ready, waiting for tho army, 50 tina.
the fight il is believed, will commence on that day.
The greatest confidence is felt to tue result
The fall of Forts Sumter, Wagner aud Cummings
Point is regarded certain to take place in from two 10
six hours after the ball opens
deserter from Fort Wagner says that twot hirds OF
the guns have been removed from Fort Sumter aud
mounted James Island, and that the fall Sumter
is regarded by the rebels certainty the damage
done by the monitors in April last rendering the posi-
Dlty vi the reDeS nOlulLB IL not 10 De lnOubul
The deserter Gays tia; Sumter was Oh the point oi
surrendering at that time when, fortunately foe the
rebels, the monitors withdrew.
We lave sheling night aud day. Fort Johnson keeps
up brsk Gre, and our wooden gunboats go in every
day, and amuse themselves by Smelling them.
At night the rebels shell our land batteries, and W.
shell them in return.
On Sunday next we will certainly hold Sumter. aid
within few days after Charleston its ruins will be in
our possession.
Ia Gya in all
the wooden gunboats are stripping for the fight.
The weather continues delightful, though there IL
great suffering for ice lemons and sugar Cannot Bos
ton, New York Philadelphia send clrgocs here
for the use Of the gallant sailors aud soldiers.
As the Arago leaves the Ottawa aarbeheid Seneca
and Ironsidcs, engaged Smelling the Cummings Point
battery.
ANOTHER RIPoRr
Purscr Grateln, of the Arago, informs us that the
siege of Morris leland progressing fayoIaby MP t.
the 0h inst, at which time the Arago left Charleston
bar Our losses very trhing exceeding three
four casualties per day. The ca attack was not far
distant. All our officers we're conhd:nt OF success
Daily firing took place from both sides. At the time Of
- ling at p ~, the l0.h the guaboit Ottawa
sh, ling Cummings Point.
The bask Faith from Philadelphia, coalloaded, Ne,t
ashore Port Royal Bar, Sd inst, and bged Size will
prove total loss.
IHE LATE EXPEDITION JANEs RIVER.
The New Bedford Standard publishes letter from
one of the crew Of the steamer Commodore Barney,
giving ia. following particulars Of the late reconnos
sauce up James yer!
Last Monday we started up the river vii ore Mos
ilor aud small tug besides ourselves We got wit
in eleven miles of Fort Dlrling when crowd Of sharp
shoe fired three boats and the way poured
the car ter and shell into those woods q caution
Well, shut them up Tor while, and went up within
nine miles Of For; Darling. and the Monitor anchored;
bu; General Hunter and his aids the hoLijor,
and they board boat and wanted Us to pro
coed further up the river; yentured, and when
we go. within six miles of Fort Darling, picked up
white man in u boat who making for the bushes.
We told him we'd shoot him il he didn't come aboard;
so be come board and ia five minutes after that
a torp, DO burst under our sarbOard bow. and sew
| era were right ii when it burst, and such
| port YOU hardly imagine. | cent atou: III.
| teen nto the air, and cIme down iii the water,
which wa Whrng in all directions tug that TO-
| lowed behud picked me up. Two OF our crew went
down TO rise no more; many others we're nearly e1-
hlus;ed; two three got wounded, not seriously
! though. one OF them by my side tllking at the
time; his head cut with piecs OF iron plating.
The water thrown up in torrents high as our
mOke.pLe, aud tLea came down on our decks over
flowing everything for lime. Some jumped overheard
| be ore they were hut. | the only one thrown
overheard ltrpped up our decks forward and carried
away considerable of our plating.
| We came down TO the Monitor and anchored all
night of the 9TH inst On the 9th, al A. H., got IN
der way and came down the river, which is very
| row, and with high bluffs all the way. At A. NJ,
| abodt two hundred slarpshooters fired OH US, which
drove from guns, and then they poured in six
pOuud hoTitzer balls with vengance. As got past
the bluff that could get range we poured in the
canister but one Of their shots passed through cur
| boiler and we soon lost steam and dred ashore. We
we're leaking badly having been struck two feet below
| the water. We had 60. out of their range then We
were aground three-iOurlhs Of hour, aud expected
every minute they would be upon u.s. We were under
a very high blud aud coudnt get our guns to bear at
ALL We in tight fix, and all that stopped them
from coming on tia; hill long marsh that they
couldn't Finally the tug came back and towtd
| US Off. When got down to tie Monitor there ives
another tug there that had just come up the river The
tugs towsd the Monitor and she towed US behind. We
| came out Of il hrstrate not man was hurt When
we 90: down TO Malvern Hill they opened an awful fire
on u.s. the same way es the others dd-sharpshooters
to drive away from guns; then the shell and slot
were terrible rakng fore and aft. Remember, We
hld TO steam all They waited until the Monitor got
b. than they socked iron in rough and ready, aod
We into them when The sharpshooters stopped firing
We CONF lstely Iddled. One of our pilothouses
il Knocked e;es the CaDans room is stove in aud
the Purses Office looks like u carpenttrs shop. The
Doctor lying in his berth, aud six pound shot
through the whole 'e h Of il and touched the
old fellow. TIE bullets thick hail, and the
protection had the iron plating that
touched by the torpedo on the port side. The whole
crew al TO lie Hat when the pebbles came.
The Captain is a brave little fellow encouraging his
men all the time and hard words spoken. The rest OF
officers dont want to try it over again. and don.
blame them
Tx DRAFT-wHES WILL 1T COMMENCE IN NEW YoRK.
Approaching the deep seated and widespread nter
which every class in community feels concerning
the pIr0aobing draft and all matters connected with it,
have been considerable pains ascertain the
state OF affairs the prospects and the Governme Ita
determination.
Before the original lists were sent to Washington
they carefully examined and checked by the En-
rolling Board; after they filed in the Office Of Col.
Fry, at Washington Council Of Enrolling officers met
| and re.eYamined them.
In consequence Of the representations made by Go.
vernon Seymour they undergoing third eI.
animation, with, 30 obtained the result of APP
! proximate perfection OF detail.
is deemed best by the authorities TO leave certain