Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-31

their place at the guns while great frag-
ments of iron we're dropping on every side
around them. hF
Battery Gregg, at Cummings Point, ard
Fort Sumpter, taking part in the thunder
ing chorus, were now firing with greater
rapidity than at any previous time during
the day. The entire horizon appeared to
be lighted up with the fitful Hastings of the
lurid flames that shot out from monster
guns on land and sea. During this critical
period the majority of our troops were
driven to shelteribeneath our bomb proofs
and other works erected for their Protec-
ton. But 1t was known 10 the officers com
handing that such q Demonstration on the
part of the enemy was 1ot without its OBJ
,ject. An assault had been apprehended all
day. The enemy had hoped by this terri
BILE fire not ouly to destroy our battery bnt
TO demoralize our troops. In both they
failed. AS the shades of night began to
fall the bombsrdment measurably relaxed.
General Tallaferro, one of "Stonewall
Jaekson's Veterans" now promptly ordered
every man to the parRpet, and they hardly
in their places before word was received
that the columns of the enemy were ad
vancing to the atttck. COoped up as our
troops had been all day, and breathing the
impure air of a crowded bomproof, the sum-
mons met with a cheerful response, and
they quickly repaired to their respective po-
sitions. The liues of the federals, several
hundred yards distant, could now be de.
serted adanoing through the gloom, bearing
towards the beach, as. If to make an attack
on that side of Battery Wagner. It Was
about quarter toFo6'elockE Five sainutes
more aud the column was plainly in sight,
appearing. according TO the statement Civ
en- the writer, to be seven lines deep. Our
batteries remained silent until the enemy
reached the vicinity Of our rife. pits, when
grape and canister was thrown into their
ranks with fearful precision aud execution.
Checked for an instant only, they closed mp
the ragged gaps in their lines and moved
steadily on until within less than eighty
yards. ZOE
Barely waiting the Federals to get with
in a destructive range, our infantry open
ed their fusilAde, and from fringe of FIRE
that lined the parapet leaped forth thou
sand messengers OF death. Staggering
under the shock. the Grst line seemed for a
momeu: checked, but pushed on by those
in the rear, the whole now commenced a
charge at the "double quick" Our men
could not charge bauk, but they gave
Southern yell in response to the Yankee
cheer, and waited the attack. On they
came over the sand hills, tripping and
stumbling in the huge pits their own shells
had dug, until they reached the ditch of
tho battery; then it was but n moments
work fur those who survived our terrible
| FIRE of musketry to Chamber up the sIopiuR
sides of the fortification, and attempt to
effect lodgmeHt. But the men who met
then on the parapet were as desperate as
themselves, and the contest that ensued
was brief and bloody. The antagonists
were breast to breast, aud Southern rifles
| and Southern bayonets made short work
of human life. We could not stop to take
prisoners then. The parspet was lined
with dead bodies, white and black, aud
every second was adding to the number
Il was QUE of those rencounters in which
one side or the other must quickly yield
or fly. The enemy took their choice. In
less than FIVE minutes probably, the first
line tad been shot, bayoneted, or were in
full retreat rolling into the ditch or drag
ging their bloody bodies through the sand
hills on their hands aud knees. But an
niIaa- line cAIas- and AM her aud another
each reinforcing its predecessor, until the
battle Whxed hot, fierce and bloody. Final
ly, however, the whole were driven back,
either into the broad trench at the base of
the battery, out of the reach of our guns,
or scampering out of view in the darkness
of the night.
Our total loss is estimated at twenty.
four killed and seventy wounded. The re.
turns are not all in, aud we can according
~ furnish the lists published below. Out
of seven line officers in the detachment
from the First South Carolina Regulars
(artillery) two only escaped unhurt-Lieu-
tenant GourdiR, of Company H, aud Lieu
tenant YoungbIood, of Company l.
The IouS of 10 anpFnv 10 variO
some placing rhe figures as high as fifteen
hundred killed aud wounded. They have
paobably five hundred killed. Two hun
dred aud thirty-one of their wounded were
in the city last night, including several
negroes. OF white prisoners we have taken
six commissioned officers and ninety -four
private5. OF blacks, il is said, We have
over twenty, of whom several are wounded.
A wounded NEGRO is TO be put into every
ward Of The white Yankees. The latter
kicked atthe base alliance, but the surgeons
have plainly told them that if they put
themselves on a par with the negroes IA
soIdiers tue same relation must be main.
tanned under all circumstances while they
remain in our hands. The negroes are
mongrel set of trash, and very fair repre-
sentatiVes of the common type of the tree
~ The whole force was commanded by
Brigadier General Strong, who led the
charge in person. The report that he was
wounded in the assault on the IIth inst,
is incorrect. 1t was believed by the Yam
kee officers that the troops in Battery
Wagner we're perfectly exhausted from the
bombardment, aud then bold, sudden
assault, or coup de main, would effect its
capture. The slaughter was particularly
severe ip the Connecticut and Ohio regi-
Iiments. The Third New Hampshire and
negro regiments broke at the Gre, their
officers finding it impossible to rally or
bring them up a to second assault The en-
emy's feet consisted of the Irousides, four
monitors, one frigate aud four gunboats.
Yesterday the enemy sent flag of truce
for the body ofCol. Hslderman 8. Putnam,
Third New Hampshire, acting Brigadier