Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-09-11
A Marrow Escape for Fort Wagner.

Correspondence of the Mobile Tribune
CnARLrsToN Saturday, Aug. s, 1868.
1t is one month to-day since the enemy pre-.
pared to make his second grand attack ON
Charleston, aud which, 80 far, has met with
signal failure md disastrous defeat. The plan
Of tue enemy since his desperate effort 10 storm
Battery Wagner, on the memorable night of the
18th July, has been entirely changed On the
morning Of the 25th ult., the enemy made his
last effort to reduce Wagner opening at daylight
and coAlinued until 10 u, m. For six hours the
Intensity Of the fire was equal, if not greater,
Than the bombardneut Of the 18th July, and
lhls tort sustained more injury than at any time
previous. Since that time 10 the present the bonn
bardmeni has not been renewed, although their
has been occasional brief firing opened by the
onclads upon the battery. In the meantime,
Wagner has been strengthened, thoroughly re-
paired, and put in condition far superior to its
original state
may now be permitted to state what occurred
on the morning Of the 25th, which at the time
would have been very imprudent TO have mem
TONED. Fort Wagner withstood the whole FIRE
0l the enomys whole sea and land forces, which
was perfectly irighttul. A new battery from
Their more advanced works, armed with Parrott
gus, also opened on the tort and did us much
damage. Tue remaining l0-inch columbiad was
asmounted from the sea face Of the battery, and
1ae magazines were so exposed il become nCces-
hary 10 remove the ammunition. The firing OF
'ne ehemy ceased at 10 n. m. 10 permit the OK
change of prisoners according to previous ar
tangement, and was not renewed. But such was
we alarm of the commanding officer who had
relieved Brig Gen. HagoOd, and anticipating Il
renewal OF the attack after the completion OF the
exchange of prisoners, which was not effected
until p M, that he requested as = matter Of
prudence and prCcaution, that all necessary ar
judgements should he made for the transport of
.ue troops from the garrison in case it became
necessary to abandon the battery, The condi
NVn OIL affairs was reported to Gen. Beaurrgardi
wnoi alter full dehcrHtiOn, instructed the com
manulng officer not TO abandon the works under
Suy circumstances, hut TO hold them at al
hazards. | only mention this as u part of tht
history OF the bOmbardmcnt, and to show tht
critical position that Battery Wagner was, Mt th,
Nme, supposed to be in
correspondent Of Savannah paper, writinl
VI .le shelling of Charleston, gays;
without II word of notice, nj the dead hou
y, o'clock this morning, when ihc thousand
lunOceht women were quietly wrapped in sleep
Heu' ulllmoIe opened his Parrot battery agains
'le cty' The CONSERVATION occasoned by ih
'sttiuc ",nc screams and explosion Of the 2O0-poun
eue'l, at that unreasonable hour, beggars dee
slpnon All rose frantcnly from their slum
upis and every family that had prospect Q
seNhg away set about the work OF preparation
Immense trains left after daylght, loaded dow
nhh families aud young children, many nt
auowihg whittier they were going, but willing I
~ anywhere to escape the luul vengeance nn
humanity Of the foe The exodus kept u
mIough the day and night thus far. and it
''''ua'ed that several thousands have left"