New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-20
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE
SOUTH.
The Ironsides-Rcbcl Iron-ei"ds-TheC "''
e;wm LiRht-The Repairs OF sumter
From Our Special Correspondent IN ,o.,
'''-' Morris ISLAND, April 30, 1864.


five MORRIS ISLAND. April 30, 1864.
rpAo,cb Morris Island is not one Of the most
interesting places at present in the American n'u
Mar. vet il is important and military affairs n'io ai0
-. aaro5 NJ even some excitement, and II Is quite
Drobable that stirring times are near at hand Ho
pabe authorities no doubt understand our siIua'ion'
and ara watching for the opportune moment to arrive 70
bring us TO grief # not dslOdge US from inc iSi'"e
Tho frmlabe barrier to all their hopes and plans Is
An, iron navy and especially the nonSides' which lies
- 81 ,bo citv and lust out Of the range OF Moui'
rios guns This feet they are no doubt making n'
o;,, o. % chit or TO elude. Seven iron-ciads
tho largest ever built in SeocsSa are to DO seen rom
p,,torv Cbatgold. far up the harbor. They are ire
o,, ,,oved from one place to another, and on the
oe.t ~, ,,e commanders were engaged in testing tho
croi;.v 81 tbcj- guns and getting their range But
snc Tho war commenced feet in front OF Charies
ION has not been more on inc Iert than az az
present Every night rom lhe nonSi ncS. % 10
20" "a once a minute. calcium hght IL
tfrowr ul,,n the surrounding sea SO brilliant this
Illumination that very small objects con be seen az ieS
Two miles away. As the Monitors are IN the Nleiy O
he lronsilcs IL seems impossible that torpedo OK any
hing above water should approach them undisGoVer5u
brh Is the greatest difficulty IN the way OF Hockaue
,ruers Ius fght between own and the keDel meet
ur land batteries could, ii necessary bring my guns
o bear upon the enemy, but they probably WOULD ho'
bin the iOriy rs that might not be cohsl9Sreu Jau'
iyi or military. judge simply from what nave WIZ
,es,el on former occasions.
On ne evening of the 26th the enemy from Sumter
ired two guns upon Strong. Our batteries promptly
.erled and thus the affair ended. AS our guns opened
mr. mon In Chatfeld could distinctly hear the Rebel
yqteluCu Cfv out Cover Gregg Ana night AFTER
night for any weeks the sound Of the OK ana hammer
aave been heard in the ruins Of sumter as OF Worke
engaged in remodeling that rubbish and preparing IL
for future service. ,.o..
I1ry in the evening o. the 9th, Rebel transport
game down with the probable intention OF renewing inc
garrison I. received most hearty greeting rom our
batteries but whot damage was done, ifsny Is unknown
For long tine johnson, MouTie, and other batteries
or both Sugsas and James Island have been silent as
the grave Deserters inform Us that many Oh thesuhs
On the a3th deserter came into our lines bringing
the intelligence that the enemy mas III sumter ~
1nOrars facing Our batteries and heavy guns pear
ing unOn tie channel. He states too. that sumter IN
aernaly is undergoing many changes, and that as
msuns Of defense il is stronger than ever Our author
ites place much confidence II bis statemets thh al
l. , tno 2- ult. a terrible fire was opened upon the
apparently mass of ruins. Though l witnessed the
siege o. Wagner and Sumter last summer ana AUTUMN
more teri e firing than that Of yesterday never saw
fierce gale from the north came up snort time AFTER
and tAe tie somewhat slackened. but 1t continues 10
DAY. Tie enemy does not reply. The front has De-
come interesting again. $500.
Tie paymasier is dispensing the needn't to the 3in
L 5 CT 20 day. After dcducting clothing bills
though tls is the first pay the Sne mas received oI
six months many OF the men viii have but little money
lett Tie motto Of the 54th Massachusetts, I: T. al
Oiusteo was seven dollars per iaonih and JoA"a III
The field"
To gl,s has lasted now upward Of wentyfour
hours ai IS one Of tie we have experienced
on THIS coast. From a lookout and with powerful
glass ! have just ob.erTed IL effects upon our iron
feet TIE Ironsides sits quietly in the water and seems
not 10 De affected in the least But little OF the Moni
tors appear above the except their turrets.
have not heard that any Of our shipping has been dam
aged uis have been IN many instances thrown doWh
ana tie flying OF the sharp sand has been severe espe
cially 20 our eyes.
Or Il -5.h inst, Gen Hatch visited the island and
-. rrs-f I'll grfr d
wx, u tie front careful inspection of our force
and means OF defense satisfied hin tina, al was safe