Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-09-03
THE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.

ner as still going on, although the former was en-
tirely disabled and almost demolished, and the re
duction Of the latter question only of time The
telegram to Richmond of the 9Th states that Gen.
Gillmores attack on the rebel riAe-pits was me de
en- Wednesday by Can overwhelming force" and
that bis troops are working hard in the trenches
in front of Fort Wagner. He is therefore advanc-
ing upon that fertilization by regular approaches.
We have already stated that Gen. Gilmore had
sent in message to Gen. Beauregard demanding
the evacuation of the works on Morris Island on
pain of having Charleston sheled in case Of refu-
sal, and the consequent fulflment Of this threat
for short time by Gen. Gilmore. We subjoin
the correspondence which took place on the sub
iect between the two commanders, as we find it in
the Richmond papers.
Gen. Gilmore's communication was sent under
a flag of truce to the commanding officer at Fort
Wagner to be transmitted by him to Gen. Beau
regard. 1t is as follows:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Morris Island, Is. CO. august 81, 1863
GENERAL have the honor to demand OF You the i'm
mediate alton of Morris leland and Fort Sumter by
the Confederate forces The present condition of Fort
it undergoing from my batteries, TO render its
complete demolition within few hours a matter Of GER
tainty. ALI my heaVis-t guns have not yet opened.
Should you lefusa compliance with this demand, or
should receive reply thereto within four hours after
it is delivered into the haads of your subordinate at Fort
Wagner Tor Transmission shall open fire the city OF
Char aston ON batteries already established within easy
and effective range of the heart of the city.
am, General, very respectfully your obedent servant
Q A. GILMORE,
Brigader General Commanding
To Gen. G. I. BEAUREeARp,
Com Confederate Forces Charleston, s. C.
The Charleston Courier tates that General
Bsauregard being absent on reconnaissance, the
which was unsigned was received
at headquarters about quarter to eleven o'clock
on Friday night by Gen. Jordan, and by him re-
turned for the signature of the writer The COM
munication was signed by Gen. Gilmore, and again
returned 1t was received at Gen. Beauregard's
headquarters at nine o'clock on Sa urday n.orning
Between one and two o'clock, however, Saturday
morning, the enemy commenced firing on the city,
arousing the people from their sumbers."
The following is copy of the reply of Gen.
Beauregard to the communication Of Gen. Gilmore,
conveyed by Col Roman under flag of truce to our
flagship for delivery:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT
OF Soah Carolina Georgia, and Florida,
Charleston, (S CO. Asgu { % 1868
SIR: Last night at fifteen before eleven clock
during my absence a nf my frfcatons
communication recesed at hee headquarters dated
Headquarters Department Of the South Morris Island
Is C) August 81, 1863" demanding " the immediate
of Morris Island aud Fort Sumter by the Con-
rderate orcer the alleged grounds that the present
condition Of Fort sumter and the rapid and progressive
destruction which it s undergoing from my batteries seem
to render its compete demolition within few hours
matter Of certainty " and that this demand not
complied with or no reply thereto received within four
hours after delivered Into the hands of your (y) sub
ordinate commander at Fort Wagner for Transmission
fire would be opened on the city OF Charleston from bat
teres already established within easy and effective range
of the heart Of the city" This communication to my ad
dress without Signature and was Of cou returned
About hal past one o'clock one of yppr batteries did
actually opep fire and throw a number Of heavy shells
into the city the inhabitants Of which, OF course were
asleep and unwarned
About nine o'clock this morning the communication
alluded to. above eurned to these headquarters,
bearing your recognised official signature and it can now
be noticed % your deliberate Official act.
Among nations not barbarous the usages Of war pre-.
scribe that when city il about To be attacked timely
notice shall be given by the attacking commander in
order that Boncombaants may have opportunity for
withdrawing beyond its limits Generally the time allowed
is from TO three days that IT, time Tor the withdrawal
IN good iah of at least the women and children You
sir give only four hours knong that your NOTICE. under
existing circumstances could reach in le,s than
two hours and that not less than the same time would b.
required for to be conveyed from this city to
Battery Wagner. With this knowledge, y0u threaten to
open fire this city not TO oblge its surrender but To
to evacuate these works. which yo isted by
great naval force have been attacking vain for more
thhn forty days,
Batteries Wagner and 0rsRg and Fort Sumter are nearly
due north from your batteries Morris Island and in
distance theeffom varying from half mile to two and
quarter miles The city, the other hand is to the
noh west and quite five miles distant from the battery
opened against it this morning
IL would appear sir that desparng OF reducing these
works you resort to The novel If turning
your guns against the old men, the women and children
and the hosps cf sleeping city act Of inexcusabe
babarty from your confessed point Of eight
much you sege that the compete demolition Of Fort
Sumter within few hours by your guns seems to you
matter Of certainty
Your omission TO attach your signature to such grave
paper must chow the reckeness Of the course upon which
you have sdyeptpred while ae FACTS that You knowingly
fixed limit frr RECEIVING an anewer to your demand
which made it almost beyond the possibility Of receiving
reply within that tune and that you actually did open
FIRE aud throw number Of the most destructive missiles
used in war into the midst Of city taken unawares
and filed with sleeping and children will give
you bad emnence in history even in the history Of
this
only surprised, air. at the limits you here sci to
your demands III in order 10 attain the abandonment o
Morris Island and Fort Sumter you feel authorized fire
this city, why did you not also include the works on
sullvan's and Janess Island-nsy, even the city Of
Charleston in the same demand
Since you have felt warranted in inauguratinp tbis
method Of reducing batteries in your Immediate front
which found otherwise impregnable and mode Of
warfare which confidently declare to be atrncous and
unworthy Of any soldier, soleny warn you that f
you fire sgan on the city from your Morris Island bate
ries without giving somewhat reasonable time 10
remove noncombstans, shall feel impelled to employ
atr al at;o 4