Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-29
Official War Bulletin.

oodh Valley.
Official War Bulletin.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2s 1864.
TO Aqjor General Diz, NeD York.
despatch from General Grant, just re-
celved, states that the Richmond papers Of
yesterday (27th) announce that Fort Morgan
is In our possession. It is not stated whether
the Tort was surrendered, or whether it was
blown up.
Another despatch gives the following extract
from the Richmond Examiner Of yesterday:
"fort Morgan is in the enemy's possession
whether blown up or evacuated is not known"
General Sheridan, in a despatch, dated yes.
terday at half past two p. m, reports:
"The enemy left my front last night, falling
b. ck to Smithfield or Middleway. We cap
tured lOl prisoners yesterday, and inflicted a
been few feints to cross the river by cavalry
at Williamsport, but there was no strength
shown: The indications to day are that they
will fall back cut Of the Valley"
Other reports state that the enemy is leaving
the Shenandoah Valley.
Nothing has been received from General
Sherman for two days
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
Early's Movements.
NRW YORK, Aug 2S.-A despatch from cav
airy headquarters, dated Saturday night, states
no rebels have yet crossed the Potomac river,
and all is quiet at Shepherdstown, Williams.
port and Hagerstown. A Harper's Ferry des.
patch to the Herald, dated the 9th, states that
care1ul reconnoissances that morning devel.
oped the fact that the rebels were Withdrawn
from our front during the night
Our cavalry pushed on and occupied
Charlestown without meeting the enemy.
Opinions prevail that Grants recent move.
ment necessitated the recalling of Early to
Richmond; while some conjecture that he in
tends crossing into Maryland at ShepherdstoWp
or Williamsport.
From the Blockading Squadron.
CAIRO, Aug. 26.-The steamers Continental
and Leviathan, from New Orleans on the Goth,
have arrived.
A Communication, dated Blockading SQUAD
ron, Mobile Bay, Aug. 10th, says:
Naval reconnoissances towards Mobile
found formidable but not insurmountable OBJ
structions. Besides batteries, rams and sunken
vessels, there are very strong classmates mount
ing ten guns. In all the spaces between bate.
ries and vessels. and on both shores. piles are
driven, the tops of which are sawed Off lust
below the surface of the water, and have heavy
iron bolts in them sharpened at the upper end
so as to tear of the bottom Of a boat passing
Men are seen working on two rams. The
wharves are covered with steamboats,; among
them four English built craft, probably block
ade runners. The streets OF the city are de-
serted.
The rebels are completely cut off from their
rear works.
The general health Of the army and navy is
good. The fleet is still pounding at Fort Nor
gan with considerable effect.
The PreliminarieS to the Attack on Fort
Morgan.
NEW YORK, August 2S.-The steamer Charles
Scott, from New Orleans on the 10th, has
arrived. She reports that when of Charleston,
on the Goth, she heard havy firing
There is NO army or naval news in the New
Captain BuIkley reports that when the
steamer Thomas Scott was passing Mobile Bay
our our land forces had planted mortars within
Admiral Farragut's Report.
patches from Admiral Farragut, dated Mobile
Bay, August 12, giving detailed report Of his
entrance inte Mobile Bay on the 5th inst He
larly on the Hartford, and the terrible disaster
10 the Tecumseh, the result of the fight was a
glorious victory, and he has reason to feel
the squadron under his command, for it has
hever fallen to the lot of an officer to be thus
situated and thus sustained.
Regular discipline will bring men to any
amount Of endurance; but there Is natural
fear Of hidden dangers, particularly so when
so awfully destructive Of human life as the
torpedo, which requires more discipline to
overcome. He saws that it was ouly at the ur.
gent request Of the chaplains and the COM
manding officers that he yielded, the Brooklyn
being the leading ship Of the line, as she had
four chase guns and an ingenious arrangement
tor picking up torpedoes, and because in their
judgement the flagship ought not to be too
much exposed.
This he believes to be an error, for. apart
from the fact that exposure is one OF the pen
alties Of rank In the navy, it will always be
the aim OF the enemy to destroy the flagship,
and, as appeared in the sequel, such attempt
was very persistentIy made; but Providence
did not permit 1t to be successful. In the
course Of his narrative the Admiral says:
Gas had an elevated position in the main
rigging, near the top, was able to overlook
not only the Hartford, but the other vessels of
the fleet. / witnessed the terrible effect of the
enemy's shots, and the good conduct of the men
at their guns, and although no doubt their
hearts sickened, as mine did, when their ship
mates were struck down beside them, yet there
was not moments hesitation to lay their com.
rades aside, and spring again to their deadly
WOrk