The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-10-01
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
OCTOBE
The Foreign News.

Inc foreign papers received ny the ship Malay
and bark Yankee, furnish dates from the seat Of
war to Sept. }, and foreshadow, more clearly
than any advices yet received, the ultimate tri-
umph of the National arms, and the suppression
of the most powerful and vet causeless rebellion
that ever disgraced the history of any nation.
Even the Governments of Europe, which have
steadily hoped for the success of the Rebels,
and have in various ways afforded them aid
and comfort, even they begin to admit the hope
leesness Of the rebellion and when they take that
stand, surely the friends Of the Union need en-
tertain no fears.
The siege and COMMANDMENT of Charleston
engrosses public attention just now. although
the news from other quarters Is equally cheering.
Up to the latest date from Charleston (Aug. 3l)
the siege still progressed with the most favor
able results. \ telegram was received at San
francisco an the Doth. announcing that both
Forts Sumter and Wagner were occupied By
the Union forces but the report was premature,
"a no advices to that effect had been received
by the Secretary of War at Washington. The
third assault ON Fort Wagner was made on the
Goth, which resulted in a repulse Of the Union
army. Fort Sumter has been completely demol-
ished and not a gun left in it mounted. Firing
va SN'H H''AN SN 1O' ~ EHN'NhN
the rebels making any use of it. Whether the
Union flag yet floats over it or not is imma-
terial, it virtually waves there, and Il great
moral victory has been achieved in the reduc-
ton of this the first stronghold seized by the
rebels. 1t was in the capture of Sumter that
the rebellion first received life and it is in the
recapture Of Sumter and occupation of Charles
ton that the rebellion will date its decline and
death.
With an ordinary map the general reader will
be enabled to fully understand the situation of
the belligerent parties in the vicinity of Charles
ton. Morris Island is separated from the main
land Of South Carolina by an estuary of the sea
called Light House Inlet on the south. and Light
House Creek on the northwest. Light House
Inlet is from IN eighth to a fourth of a mile
wide. and Light House Greek is even narrower.
The island IL about three and a half miles in
length, and At the northern part juts out in the
form OF IA peninsula, the uppermOst limit of
which il called Cummings Point. On this poin
is the celebrated railroad iron battery, called
Fort Wagner. 1t consists of a heavy framework
Of palmetto logs, over which is dovetailed L
railroad iron, bolted down in a secure manner.
Its front presents an angle of about thirty de-
SAtO ~ A4ouhc NShbINh HNo'J Suho- JUN
mings' Point is the object which Gen. Gilmore
and Admiral Dahlgren are endeavoring to reach.
At our last advi,cs the rebels had repulsed
several attacks made upon the battery, and if the
accounts Of the strength of this position are to
be credited. its reduction will be secured only
ut q considerable cost. Cummings Point, or
Fort Wagner, may be regarded as the key To the
whole situation IN Charleston harbor. Ii is only
three-fourrhs Of Il mile from Fort Sumter, and
with the same tact, Judgment and skill displayed
by Gen. Gilmore Ut Fort Pulaski. near Savan-
nah, that strong work can be battered down at
the distance named in n short time. Fort John
son is one mile and a half from Cummings
Point. Fort Moultrie is one mile from Sumter.
Fort Sumter and Wagner are the only
really formidable defenses of Charleston, and their
capture and occupancy carries with it the fall Of
the city.
1t should BE remembered that the rebels have
had two and d half years to fortify Charleston
harbor, and have built there numerous forts,
over four hundred heavy guns of the
best English manufacture. It should therefore
excite no surprise if these defenses are not cap
tured on the first attack. Probably no European
stronghold or port WAS ever fortified 30 well as
Charleston, and probably no naval force ex ,ept
could ever take il. Fort Sumter had,
the late attack on il, upwards of one
guns. Fort Moultrie has fifty. Castle
pinckney has twenty-five. Fort Ripley has
light. Fort johnson has six. The other guns
ire in battery at Cummings Point. Breach Inlet,
Island, James Island, Mandrell'-