hours and a quarter, captured all his strongholds upon that part of the island, and pushed forward my infantry to within six hundred yards of Fort Wagner. We now hold all the island except about one mile on the north end, which includes Fort Wagner and a battery on Cummings' Point, mounting at the present time fourteen or fifteen heavy guns in the aggregate. The assaulting column was gallantly led by Brig.Gen. Strong. It landed in small boats under cover of my batteries on Folly Island and four monitors led by Rear-Admiral Dahlgren, which entered the main channel abreast of Morris Island soon after our batteries opened. The monitors continued their fire during the day mostly on Fort Wagner.

On the morning of the 11th instant, at daybreak, an effort was made to carry Fort Wagner by assault. The parapet was gained, but the supports recoiled under the fire to which they were exposed and could not be got up. Our loss in both actions will not vary much from one hundred and fifty in killed, wounded, and prisoners. We have taken eleven pieces of heavy ordnance and a large quantity of camp equipage.

The enemy's loss in killed, wounded, and missing, will not fall short of two hundred.

Q. A. GILLMORE, Brig.-Gen. Commanding. The portion of Morris Island not yet taken by Gen. Gillmore was well fortified. Fort Wagner was a strong work, constructed of immense timbers and rafters covered over with earth and sand some twenty feet thick. Its distance from Fort Sumter in an air line was about a mile and a half, and four and a half miles from Charleston. On the part of the island called Cummings' Point was Battery Gregg, about three-fourths of a mile from Fort

Sumter. Morris Island is about five miles long and some three or four miles wide. Along the sea coast is an irregular ridge made of sand heaps, which is about half a mile wide, the rest of the island is low, level, marshy land, much of which is flooded at high tide. The Confederate forces on the island were under the command of Brig.-Gen. Harrison, of Georgia: Fort Sumter, which stands within the entrance, and nearly in the centre of the harbor, was under the command of Col. Rhett. The walls were protected by tiers of sand bags in the inside, some twenty feet thick, thus making an obstruction of brick and sand some twenty-sir feet. Fort Moultrie is nearly opposite Sumter, on the north side of the harbor, and distant about one and one-fourth miles. Up the harbor on the southern side is Fort Johnson, one and one-fourth miles distant. About a mile beyond, in the middle of the harbor, on the "middle ground," is Fort Ripley. Castle Pinkney is in the same line, and on the north side of the harbor at the mouth of the Cooper river. There were, in addition, numerous batteries at various points on all the islands and the front of the city, and also works facing the land attack on James Island. The whole number of guns in position and afloat for the defence of Charleston, was estimated at three hundred and seventy-six.

The naval force under Admiral Dupont, com

posing the South Atlantic blockading squadron, consisted of sixty-one vessels of all classes, mounting three hundred and ninety-six guns. But iron clads, carrying in all about thirtyfour guns, were expected to take the active part in the operations in the harbor.

After the failure of the assault upon Fort Wagner, Gen. Gillmore set to work to bring his heavy guns into position, not only for an attack upon Wagner, but upon all the works of the enemy, and also to throw shells into Charleston. The form of the contest now consisted in pushing forward the siege works and annoying the enemy as much as possible with sharpshooters and shells. The enemy acted in the same manner. Fort Johnson night and day threw shells, which burst above the workmen in the trenches. Wagner was kept quiet by the ship Ironsides and the monitors, while these in turn were attacked by the guns of Gregg and Sumter.

On the 18th of July, about twelve heavy guns were in position, besides eight or ten mortars, within eight hundred yards of Fort Wagner, and Gen. Gillmore determined on making another attack. It was commenced at noon by Gen. Gillmore's batteries and the fri

gate Ironsides; five monitors, two mortar schooners, and three wooden gunboats soon joined in. The enemy replied briskly from Fort Wagner, Battery Bee, beyond Cummings's Point, and the guns on the southwestern face of Fort Sumter. Their fire was chiefly directed against the vessels, occasionally a shell was thrown at the batteries. Soon after four o'clock the fire of Fort Wagner ceased. It was known that one gun had been dismounted and another was supposed to have exploded. Under the impression that the works were evacuated, another attempt to occupy them was determined apon. For this purpose two brigades consisting of the 7th Connecticut regiment, the 3d New Hampshire, the 9th Maine, the 76th Pennsylvania, and the 48th New York, under Brig.Gen. Strong, and the 7th New Hampshire, 6th Connecticut, 62d Ohio, 100th New York, and 54th Massachusetts (colored), under Col. Putnam, were ordered forward from behind the sand hills. The brigades were formed in line on the beach, with the regiments disposed in columns, the colored regiment being in advance. This movement was observed at Fort Sumter, and a fire was opened on the troops but with out effect. At dark the order was given for both brigades to advance, Gen. Strong's leading and Col. Putnam's within supporting distance. The troops went forward at quick time and in silence, until the 54th Massachusetts, led by Col. Shaw, was within two hundred yards of the work, when the men gave a fierce Fell and rushed up the glacis, closely followed by the other regiments of the brigade.

The enemy, hitherto silent, opened upon them furiously with grape, canister, and a continuous fusilade of small arms.

The negroes,

however, plunged on, and many of them cross

ed the ditch, although it contained four feet of water, gaining the parapet. They were dislodged, however, in a few minutes with hand grenades, and retired, leaving more than onehalf of their number, including their colonel, dead upon the field. The 6th Connecticut regiment, under Lieut.-Com. Rodman, was next in support of the 54th, and they also suffered terribly, being compelled to retire after a stubborn contest. The 9th Maine, which was next in line, was broken up by the passage of the remnant of the repulsed colored regiment through its lines, and retired in confusion, excepting three companies which stood their ground.

It now devolved upon the 3d New Hamp shire regiment to push forward, and, led by Gen. Strong and Col. Jackson in person, they dashed up against the fort. Three companies gained the ditch, and wading through the water, found shelter against the embankment. Here was the critical point of the assault, and the second brigade, which should have been up and ready to support their comrades of the first, were unaccountably delayed. Gen. Strong then gave the order to fall back and lie down on the glacis, which was obeyed, without confusion.

While waiting here, exposed to the heavy fire, Gen. Strong was wounded. Finding that the supports did not come, Gen. Strong gave the order for his brigade to retire, and the men left the field in perfect order.

Soon afterward the other brigades came on, and made up for their tardiness by their valor. Rushing impetuously up the glacis, undeterred by the fury of the enemy, whose fire was not intermitted, several of the regiments succeeded in crossing the ditch, scaling the parapet, and descending into the fort. Here a hand-to-hand conflict ensued. The troops fought with desperation, and were able to drive the enemy from one side of the work to seek shelter between the traverses, while they held possession for something more than an hour. This piece of gallantry was unfortunately of no advantage. The enemy rallied, and, having received reën forcements, made a charge upon them and expelled them from their position by the force of numbers. One of the regiments engaged in this brilliant dash was the 48th New York, Col. Barton, and it came out almost decimated. The 48th was among the first to enter the fort, and was fired upon by a regiment that gained the parapet some minutes later, under the supposition that it was the enemy. About midnight the order was given to retire, and the troops fell back to the rifle pits outside of their own works. The loss in killed, wounded, and missing, was fifteen hundred and thirty.

Gen. Gillmore now made his preparations to bombard both Wagner and Sumter, and the city of Charleston.

Meantime a correspondence took place between the opposing commanding officers.

Under date of Headquarters Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, Charleston, S. C., July 4th, 1863, Gen. Beauregard says that it is bis duty, in

the interests of humanity, to address Gen. Gillmore, with a view of effecting some understanding as to the future conduct of the war in this quarter. And then, after alluding to the expedition set on foot by his predecessor, Maj.-Gen. Hunter, to the Combahee river, which seized and carried away negro slaves off plantations on its banks, ravaged the plantations, &c., he says he does not propose to enter upon a discussion touching that species of pillaging, but desires to acquaint Gen. Gillmore formally that more than one plantation was pillaged, buildings burned, and crops destroyed-acts which were not rendered necessary by any military exigency.

Then he takes up the question of the employment of negroes, and quotes Napoleon, to show the "atrocious consequences which ever resulted in the employment of a merciless, servile race as soldiers;" that Napoleon refused to employ the serfs in his campaign against Russia, because he dreaded the results of a civil or in

testine war. He characterizes all who call to their aid such material, in the language of the publicists, as barbarians, &c. In conclusion, he asks whether the acts which resulted in the burning of the villages of Darien, Ga., and Bluffton, and the ravages on the Combahee, are regarded by Gen. Gillmore as legitimate measures of war, which he will feel authorized to resort

to hereafter.

Gen. Gillmore addresses Gen. Beauregard from Morris Island, under date of July 18th. He states that, while he and his Government will scrupulously endeavor to conduct the war upon principles established by usage among civilized nations, he shall expect from the commanding general opposed to him full compliance with the same rules, in their unrestricted application to all the forces under his command.

Gen. Beauregard, under the date of July 22d, 1863, says he is at a loss to perceive the necessity for the remark that Gen. Gillmore will expect from him "full compliance with the same rules established by usages of civilized nations, &c., in their unrestricted application to all his forces," inasmuch as he is wholly unaware that any departure from the same has ever been alleged on his part, or by any of his troops, from the established laws and usages between civilized peoples; and then he calls for more specific charges. In reply to Gen. Beauregard's despatch of the 22d ultimo, Gen. Gillmore, on the 5th of August, after noticing the remark of Gen. Beauregard that he was at a loss to perceive the necessity for his statement that he (Gen. G.) should expect a full compliance on his (Gen. B.'s) part with the same rules, &c., in their unrestricted application to all the forces under his command, states that he considered his remarks as pertinent and proper at the time. Events, he adds, since transpired, show them to have been eminently so. In proof he quotes the circumstances of agreement for mutual paroling and returning to their respective commands the wounded prisoners in our hands. "You declined," Gen. Gillmore goes on to say, "to return the wounded officers and men belonging to my colored regiments, and your subordinate in charge of the exchange as serted that the question had been left for after consider ation." He could but regard this transaction as a pal pable breach of faith on Gen. Beauregard's part, and à flagrant violation of Gen. B.'s pledges as an officer.

The first works erected by Gen. Gillmore after taking possession of Morris Island, were the construction of parallels. These extended from the beach on the right to the marsh on the left. The first was distant from Fort Wagner one thousand two hundred yards. The second, and principal one, was so constructed that its left was six hundred and seven yards from Wagner, and its right seven hundred and fifty yards. The third was four hundred and twentyfive yards from Warner. The parallels were built in an oblong direction with the length of

the island, having the highest points resting on the marsh. The rifle pits forming the foundation of the first parallel were thrown up shortly after the troops gained possession of the lower part of the island. These pits were thrown up in a single night, and used first in the attack on Fort Wagner, on July 18th. The interstices were subsequently filled, and the first parallel constructed. It was two hundred and twentyfive yards. The length of the second parallel The siege guns used for the offensive were was three hundred and twenty-five yards. mounted in the rear of this parallel. Its distance from Fort Sumter was three thousand three hundred and fifty yards. The third parallel was one hundred yards in length. On the left of the parallels earthworks were constructed, containing guns of heavy caliber. Their mean distance from Fort Sumter was four thousand one hundred yards. Still farther to the left, on the marsh, another earthwork was constructed facing Fort Sumter. On this was mounted a gun called "Swamp Angel." The "Marsh" is a vast growth of cane, bordering on Light House Inlet and Morris Island, directly facing James Island, which runs parallel with Morris Island. It is about a mile wide, and borders the island nearly its whole length. about four feet of water over its whole extent. At low tide it is dry, but at high water there is Scows were procured and loaded with bags of sand, and at every tide floated into the marsh, and piled on the selected spot. They satk down in their watery bed and rapidly disap peared, but the process was still continued with each renewing tide, until an immense bank, towering six feet above the tops of the canes, was visible. Strong traverses were erected, and after due time given for it to settle, the gun was placed on one of the scows, and floated through the canes at high tide to the site of the battery, where it was moored and soon mourted, the work having all been done at night, it being in full view of Fort Johnson and James Island batteries.

works were advanced within four hundred and On the night of August 13th, the Federal twenty yards of Wagner, without any suspicion of the enemy. Soon after daylight, a tire which continued for two hours, and answered was opened from Wagner, Gregg, and Sumter, with great vigor from the Federal batteries On the 15th all the forts of the enemy from Johnson Island, on the left, to Fort Wagner, on the right, opened fire, and continued it at intervals of fifteen minutes. For the first time fire was opened upon Fort Sumter by the Federal batteries. A 200-pounder Parrott was brought to bear on the fort, for the purpose of testing the powder to be used in these guns Seven shots were fired, a distance of two and five-eighth miles, the first three fell short, but of the remaining four, two went directly through the gorge wall, a short distance above the sally port, and two struck the parapet, and sent an immense amount of brick and mortar

into the ditch and into the fort. The solid shot, which went through, made holes from four to five feet in diameter.

On the morning of August 17th, Gen. Gillmore, having completed his batteries, which numbered about sixty pieces, and obtained the range, his guns opened fire upon Fort Sumter. The fleet consisting of the frigate Ironsides and the Monitors, aided by some wooden gunboats, made an attack, at the same time, upon Forts Gregg and Wagner. The latter was completely silenced, and the former nearly so. The Monitors Passaic and Patapsco then moved nearer to Fort Sumter, and opened fire on it. In the afternoon the fleet retired, except so much as was required to prevent remounting the guns in Fort Wagner. The fire from the batteries upon Fort Sumter continued through the day and night.

The bombardment of Fort Sumter had now been regularly commenced by Gen. Gillmore. The following is the daily report by the enemy of its effect:

CHARLESTON, Thursday, August 20th.

but soon

The firing of the Parrott guns upon Fort Sumter today was exceedingly heavy, but not so accurate as heretofore. About noon the flag was shot away, replaced. No casualties are reported. Col. Alfred Rhett is commanding, and the garrison is stoutbearted.

The battery of Parrott guns is distant from Sumter two five-eighth miles. The missiles used are 200-pound bolts, eight inches in diameter, two feet long, with flat heads of chilled iron. Shells of the same dimensions are also used.

Up to Wednesday night, the third day of the attack, 1,97% of these missiles struck Sumter, and including to-day 2,500 have struck. The damage is of course considerable, and for the last two days all the guns on the south face of the fort have been disabled.

Yesterday, about four o'clock, the iron-clads formed in line of battle to renew the attack on Sumter, but the fort opened at long range from the east face, and they retired without attacking. To-day the Ironsides and two Monitors kept up a fire on Wagner at intervals, and the Yankee sappers have begun to make approaches on that battery from the nearest work. A shot from Wagner disabled one of the Parrott guns, and the James Island batteries, under Lieut. Col. Yates, exploded two of the enemy's ammunition chests. CHARLESTON, Friday, August 21st. The fire of the enemy's land batteries has been heavier than ever to-day. A new battery of Parrott guns opened on Sumter this morning, and the fires have been concentrated upon the east battery and its guns. The south wall of the fort is now a pile of rubbish. On the north the wall is also crumbling into a heap of ruins. The flag has been shot away twice. to-day, and six times during the attack. The flagstaff is shot off, and the flag flies from the ruins of the south wall.

Just before sunset Sumter fired several shots at the Ironsides, which was engaging Battery Wagner.

A Monitor this morning fired at Sumter while making a reconnoissance, but was not replied to. There is no report of casualties.

The sappers are making a regular approach on Battery Wagner.

CHARLESTON, Saturday, August 22d. From 5 o'clock A. M. until 7 o'clock г. M. yesterday, the enemy's fire on Fort Sumter was very heavy. Nine bandred and twenty-three shots were fired, and seven Lundred and four struck the fort, either outside or in side. The eastern face of the fort was badly battered.

Some guns on the east end and the northeast face were disabled. The flag was shot down four times. Five privates and two negroes were wounded. The enemy's fire on Wagner caused five casualties, including Capt. Robert Pringle, killed.

At 11 o'clock last night a communication from the enemy, unsigned, was sent to Gen. Beauregard, de manding the surrender of Sumter and the Morris Island batteries, with a notification that the city would be shelled in four hours if the demand was not complied with. Gen. Beauregard was on a reconnoissance, and Gen. Jordan returned it for the signature of the

writer.

About two o'clock this morning the enemy began throwing shells into the city from a battery on the marsh between Morris and James Islands, and distant five miles from the city. Twelve 8-inch Parrott shells fell in the city, but caused no casualties. The transaction is regarded as an outrage on civilized warfare. of non-combatants. The shelling bad a good effect in hastening the exodus

At daylight this morning the enemy opened fire vigorously on Sumter. The Ironsides has since opened. Sumter is replying. Wagner is firing briskly on the enemy's advanced works, 450 yards from our battery. CHARLESTON, August 22d.

The fire of the enemy's land batteries has been kept up on Fort Sumter, and more guns disabled. There was only one casualty.

There was also a heavy fire on Battery Wagner from the fleet and land, also on Battery Gregg. The casualties at Wagner were one officer and four privates.

Gen. Gillmore's demand for the surrender of Fort Sumter and Morris Island, with a threat to shell Charleston in four hours from the delivery of the paper at Wagner, was signed and returned at seven o'clock this morning.

Gen. Beauregard, in his reply, charges inhumanity and violation of the laws of war, and affirms that if the offence be repeated he will employ stringent measures of retaliation.

Up to this time the threat to shell the city has not been executed.

CHARLESTON, Sunday, August 23d. To-day the land batteries opened from south to north, and the Monitors from east to west, coming close up. The fire was very damaging. The east wall was cracked and breached, and the shot swept through the fort. A shell burst, wounding Lieut. Boylston, Col. Rhett, and three other officers.

The fort is now in ruins. Col. Rhett is ordered to hold this outpost even as a forlorn hope, until relieved or taken. Col. Gaillard was killed.

Gen. Gillmore sent a communication at 11 o'clock, giving notice that at 11 o'clock to-morrow he would open fire on Charleston.

CHARLESTON, Monday, August 24th. The enemy's fire on Sumter slackened to-day. The fleet has not participated. At 12 o'clock last night the enemy's guns opened fire on the city, firing fifteen 8-inch Parrott shells. No casualties resulted. Non-combatants are leaving the city in continuous streams.

On the 24th of August, Gen. Gillmore sent the following despatches to Washington:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, MORRIS ISLAND, S. C., August 24th, 1863. To Maj.-Gen. H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief: SIR: I have the honor to report the practical demolition of Fort Sumter as the result of our seven days' bombardment of the work, including two days of which a powerful northeasterly storm most seriously diminished the accuracy of our fire.

Fort Sumter is to-day a shapeless and harmless mass of ruins. My chief of artillery, Col. J. W. Turner, reports its destruction so far complete, that it is no longer of any avail in the defence of Charleston."