Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-08-05
The SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.
OPERATIONS OF THURSDAY yI.sT

Confidence in the Final Re.u,t-Naxa,
Battery on shore-Coudition of the irep-
/ Clads.
! [Spacial correspondence Baltimore American. +,
foRT ROYAL, July 3i.-I learn from Charles. :
ION Ear that the operations of the siege pro-
guessed yesterday very fsyorably, both by land
| aEn sea. The same rantne OF bomoarsmens
| cf Fort Wnyner from both the Monitors and
| The siege battery OF General Gilmore was kept
| ~ though he day. and late into the night.
ahd lib rr'er'e- was reported 10 have been
| mac on shore curing the day.
I 4 III ffaf, although there is considerable
COZ nc'rc. entertain d as to the ultimate re-
suit OF the Undertaking, that no very rapid
progress Is looked Tor. Like all sieges il is a
Work OF time, and has been undertaken nv
Ger. Gilmore and Admiral Dahleren with no
aHtclT alton OF progressing with any great
rapidly. The Diet, noes of Charleston by hoth
land and sea, wers greatly strength. ned since
tie INST attack under Admiral Dupont which
did no,hing but d. monstrate their weak points,
and rnab!s them TO Strengthen them. All tht,
works cn the Inwer end OF Morris Island
which have been taken by Gen Gilreore, were
not ih-n erected, and the psrapet guns OF
Sumter were hot regarded by the enemy 40 Of
any great value. The guns OF the keokulx
Were also then in our possession.
lhe naval battery, which mentioned yes
teroay as IN progress OF erection, under the
command OF Capt. Foxhali A Parker of the
Waba b, to be Inenued by about 3ve bl ae Jackets
will not he ready 10 open on the eupmy proha
bly, for week 10 CONF, and until il Is finis he'd
nothing decisive may be locked for We will
have daily bambardment-the Monitors
Will go up before dinner, after dinner. and
af!er tea, in squads OF two or three, regularly
relieved by the Ironsi6es, keeping the enemy
closely packed away in his srat holes nieht
and day during This suItry weather giving him
no opport unity 10 cook, or eat, or sleep with
any degree OF confort The sailor boys are
confident OF succs SIS when they are ready and
will dash in with their usual vim.
WaSner responds, and will contiuu, to ra
spend with an occasional gun. Sumter, about
once IN tel minutes, throws heavy rifle sno.
at the impenetraole q NOR of our iron -ciads, or
hurls she'll in the direction of the land battery
and occasionally there is report coming from
the direction of james Island, showing that
Gen. Gilmore is keeping close watch and ward
over any thanking movements that msy be at.
tempted by the enemy. He is also assisted in
this work by some of thesmaller boats. and
all was progressing well in that direction az
last accounts.
Wagner no one seems 10 have the least dou ht
Fort Wagner, which was passed by in silence
by Admiral Dupont, is undoubtedly the kew Of
Charleston, rs evinced by the indomitabIe de-
tense made by the enemy, with such terrible
loes. There probably never was q fortihcatioA
besieged with such frighnul sacrifice of life
TO the besiegers as has been the case at Fors
Wagner, and from the preparations making,
there is no doubt that bloodier times are yet in
store for them.
The resuls of the siege, so far az our iron.
ciads are concerned, is emphaticaily salts
factory. The Ironsides' walls of solid iron
have proved impenetrable, though she does
not go into such close range as the Monitors
but still she has only so far received numerous
scars OF war, which have beaHtited rather
than dishgured her appearance, or lessened
her efficiency The pivots of her port-stoppers
work smoothly, and her gunners have been
drilled to state Of efficiency that is truly ad-
mirabie.
The Monitors go in and come out and the
fight daily progresses with the report nobody
" as hurt" SO far as the iron.clads are con-
cerned.
OF course there are few casualties in tha
shore batteries, but very few in view of the
magnitude of the undertaking, or the panish-
ment of the enemy.