The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-10-15

ION-f Sft II Of HNh ot1'
\ correspondent of the Macon Con-
feleracy, writing from Charleston on the
3Oth, gives an account of the crael shell
ing OF that place, in the corporate limits
of which there are not probably dozen
Confederate soldiers
"Wednesday night will long be rcmem-
bered by the residents Of this city as a
night of horror The 5helllng OF the
place had been almost continuous and
rapid on Monday and Tuesday, but the
bombardment Of the last forty eight
hours has exceeded it all. On Tuesday
evening | counted four shots within
eight minutes, and thought it remarka-
bly rapid firing; but the cannonading
Wednesday night beat even that. 1t
commenced little after SIX O'Clock anu
lasted until ten-the shells averaging
forty and forty five to the hour. The
firing is said to have been from four guns,
but think more must have been used,
as any one at all acquainted with heavy
artillery practice knows that 1t takes
considerable time in the loading and lring
of heavy ordnance
That the enemy have mounted addi-
tional and heavier pieces IS evidenced
from the fact that the shells were thrown
in part of the city hitherto considered
safe and beyond the reach OF these devil
ish missiles. Where that neighborhood
| is, | shall not be SO mdiscreet as to men
| ton for the information of the enemy.
Much damage was done to buildings
and considerable injury to persons-the
| family of one of our Oldest and most re
| spectablc merchants, consisting OF lady
| and four children, were all wounded by
the explosion OF percussion shell In the
| room in which they were seated at tea
| The lady had her collar bone broken, the
children were less seriously hurt. Du
ring the day, one man had an arm taker
| off and another lost leg from the shells
Up to this writing, have heard Of nc
loss of life from the bombardment OF the
last forty eight hours.
| Had it not been matter OF life and
death. some of the scenes witnessed, by
the fiji ght of the darkeys from the shelled
district, would have been ludlcrous ano
mirth provoking.
MANY old wenches passed the window
at which was seated, loaded down with
every conceivable useful and useless ar
tic,e of household plunder, with theil
voung ones screaming and tugging a
their skirts. Others, with more materna
fee,;pcs abandoned all their hitcher
goods and bore off their sooty piccanir
MES alone. noticed one OF the latter
loaded down with no less than three
two in her arms and one riding on he
hack. One old African, in hobbling past
| cordially, but irreverently, wished tha
the Yankee who Invented those big gum
"was in hell-fre, and the id rascal
dat was firing dem, too"
| 1t is singular idea, but no less true
that the negroes hereabouts seem to thlnl
themselves doomed race, so far at leas
as shells are concerned; but they bi
defiance to fate on this occasion 10y lea'
ing at the first FIRE. have heard oi bu
, few whites leaving the neighborhood.
Had fellow been iron clad or bonn.
, proof, top and bottom, the sight woni
, have been grand and imposing one; bu
, when NV attention was even at Its heigt
the thought that the flight of these her
. monsters might be turned in my dire'
+ tion caused cold chill to run throug
: my veins.
} The firing ceased at 10 o'clock, and wa
, | not renewed until 8 the next morning, al
was kept up steadily but slowly all da.
, the shots not exceeding eight to the hou