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r * 4 * THE IfEf SOUTH. Jos. EL Sears, Editor and Proprietor. 1*0111 ROYAL, SATURDAY*, AUGUST 1? 1863^ AFFAIR3 AT MORRIS ISLAND. Since (ho commencement of operations at Morris Island we lvxve had correspondents with onr array who have witnessed every movement aud acquired from personal observation or from official j sources, all information proper to publish and in-1 terosung to ine puons. w e nave spared no pains or expense to obtain fu'l, accurate and early accounts, and though often obliged to condense, we have still, we hope, given as good a general idea of the operations as the circumstance and our space would admit of.. Our columns have been aiT most wholly occupied by them, and we have been compelled to omit many other items of news, interesting, but still less importance. It has also, as the intelligent public will readily perceive, been impossible to mention evorv instance of personal merit or even to record all the praiseworthy deeds of many regiments. In giving an account of a battle, the general features, rather than especial instances claim first attention, and for that reason many important achievements of regiments and individuals, have not received the extended notice they really deserved, and simply from lack of room. Itis also possible that in the confusion and hurry incident to the preparation of war corresjondence on a battle-field, some individuals, regiments and events, which should have been most prominent, have been inadvertently left In the back ground. If, as we hope is not the case, any serious injustice has at any time been done, we shall take the earliest opportunity to correct mistakes and omissions. We shall continue to furnish full reports from anthen tic son.ee, while active operations last; and we are confident that in this Department, news from our army before Charleston will be more acceptable than any other we can furnish. It is due to our forces general! v that a word of editorial praise should be sabLbere. Led and directed by skilful Generals in whom they have bad full confidence, who have shared the dangers and hardships of the field with them, our noble troops have accomplished wonders, aud where they have failed, only done so after brave attempts to succeed. The rebels say they fought like devils in their assaults on Fort Wagner. We say they fought like heroes. Not a regiment engaged has failed to distinguish itself. The capture of the batte; ics on the Southern extremity of Morris Island, by a storming party lauding from boats under a hot and well-directed fire, was an achievement without precedent in this war. The brave, persistent efforts to take at d then to hold positions in Fort Wagner, under grape and canister, and shell and musketry fire, cannot be praised too much. I/here all did so well, to specify the deeds of individual regiments would be invidious; we can only praise the whole. The noble conduct of the troops will not nnMwowloH Uutnrv will rArnrd their flewla. 6" ???; ? and posterity will cherish them. We have laurels for such as survive and cypress for the fallen. Those who rest in unmarked graves shall be remembered as heroes, when the rest of us who did not fight, shall be long forgotten. We are glad to learn the troops have such unbounded confidence in Gen. G illmore. Faith in a commander is almost as much as valor in the followers, and with both, marvels can be accomplished. We do not of course know Gen. Gillmore's plans but we have faith in bis succeeding, whatever they are. ? We have received a number of communications about our reports of the Morris Island fights, and would gladly publish all if our space would V*.% ? MAM Atlll* iVvA WIAof t fWTVA??tOTV t I UUIUII) i/uv van vuij iuv iuvoi luij^vi wtiv v* them. We believe our reporters try to get at the exact facts without fear or favor (they certainly have every facility for so doing) and we regret to find gentlemen who consider their reports prejudiced. As far as possible we shall correct any errors of our correspondents, and in the end. think that ample justice will be done each regiment We try to make our little journal a truthful hit ory of affairs in this Let artmmt, and neither bribery or threat can swerve us from this course. ^ Latk from Charleston.?By a recent flag-oftrncc boat, we received, tlurough tlie courtesy of Mr. Charles li. Fenwick, Purser of the CmhiojjoHtnn, the Charleston Courier of July 24tb. It contains a long resume of the operations against Fort Wagner. After the enemy had been driven to the Y ort, on the 10th, they had four men killed and two wounded by the bursting of shells, and among the killed was Cap* Langu. n cneves, j of the Engineer. Over the storming party in the morning, and its repulse, great exultation is manifested. The paper claims that 400 small-arms and equipments were gathered from the field, but complains that wounded men and prisoners, by instructions from their officers, took out and threw away the chambers,thus disabling the guns. During the bombardment which followed all day, but one man was kHl^cK It is claimed that on Sunday a Monitor, suppolod to be the Monlauk, was disabled, after being plowed to come up within 100 yards. On Tuesday, the 14th, Gen. Taliferro arrived and took command, and here ends their diary of the operations, the later events having been reported in earhernumbers. In an article on foreign Affairs they anticipate intervention on the grouud that France and England deprecate the reconstruction of the Union, and when they find it possible, will hasten to divert the calamity. v Under caption fl(^.*the news" is this paragraph: ' "T ? * ^.nYv.>wi?),ina it V'l.lllrl "1U rWOCCHCC IU V?r unil pi uuuiio i> .. vx.? no!bo jrudent to speak. buf wo may safely say, that if the Yankees count on having their own way to operate in, unmolested, they will find tneiuselves. ere long, bitterly disappointed. They will hardly try another assault on battery Wagner, but will probably attempt to feel their way up gradually/' Large sums of mooey are being raised iB aid of the wounded and destitute soldiers from Morris Island. . The paper has "authentic information," that Kosecrans is raising a large cavalry foree to attack Atlanta. i m m ? The 4Sth New Yoke..?A detachment from this regiment, now greatly reduced by the casualties in their brave and deter 1 ined charge on Fort Wagner, was one day, while we were constructing? ur works at th? front nn.Morrfs Island, detailed to draw gome mortars down to them, nnder Gen. Seymour's direction. The latter addressed them "now men, we have got the enemy pretty well cowed? w ?. oKrt.v Oium u-o am nnt afraid nf them : we IVt UO ouvn iiiviu ? v w V , will mount these mortars l ight before their eves.' The boys gate a shout and dragged the mortars, one after another, to their positions, where they were mounted in plain view of the enemy. They . were of course vigorously shelled, but had only one man wounded. After the work was done, Gen. Seymour had the men formed, in line and spoke to them as follows: "My brave men, you have done well; this is the first time I have ever seen heavy mortars mounted directly under a hot fire from our enemy's fort, in broad day light, and I give you the praise due for your coolness and bravery.'* Gen. Seymour has the reputation of being "hard" on Volunteers, but we are convinced that where they come up to the proper standard of discipline and bravery, he will never do them injustice. Capt. Wm* B. Coau, of Co. E, who had his coat torn by a grape shot, in the late fight, is now in command of the 48th. Arrest for Robbery.?Capt. Smith, of the Provost Guard, has arrested a Jacksonville man named C. M. DibbJe, for robbing his employer, Mr. C W. Dennis, No. 4, Sutler's Row, of considerable sums. He was suspected by Capt. Smith, and was detected taking money from the drawer bv means of a hole in the floor over the store. He claimed to be a refugee and very poor, when first employed by Mr. Dennis, two months since. He has drawn no wages, but when arrested had $270 in money. lie has admitted stealing a portion of this. Returnrd to his Regiment.?1st Lieut. G. E. | Mower, of tbe^9th Maine Vols., who has so long j and faithfhlly served in the Provost Marshal Genoral's Department as boarding officer, has, upon his own application, been returned to his regiment on Morris Island. We congratulate his command in h:vlng again the services of one who, though placed in so many trying position, has won the j good opinion and friendship of all with whom he has come in contact. Arrival o? the Mercedita.?The Merceditay of Wilkes' West India Squadron put into this port last Tuesday. Master's Mate G. W. Fogg, (of Boston, Mass.,) died on board Thursday, of dysentery and was buried yesterday by the Masonic Fraternity of this place on St. Helena Island, it being impossible to take his body North at tnis season of the year.. * jl Interesting fr> m Savannah?The City Defenceless.?He ha\'c late and interesting intelligence from Savannah, concerning its defences, troops and the excitement among Its inhabitants, but lor want of space we confine ourselves to flu.* following b:ief summary : '1 be batteries defending the davamran aim ?v 11mingfon river approaches to the city are as follows i On Wihiiingtou river the rebels have but one battery?Thunderbolt battery mounting fourteen guns and distant from Savannah five miles ; opposite this battery obstructions have been sunk. At Buneveutnaamfleabove Thunderboli, and tl econ- ' niencenient of the shell road le,.diug to the city, there is a small fortification, but of little stiength. 'ihe rebels sonata time since evacuated a j oweiful battery on Skiddaway Island. The first fortification on Savannah river is Carnston's Bluff battery, which rather being situated on St. Augustine creek, commands also Wilmington river. This battery mounts twelve guns j two. thirty-two pounders, two ten-inch Columbiads, two ten-incli mortars, and the remainder are small pieces. Next in order comes Fort Jackson, mounting ten guns,opposite which, in the Savannah river are obstructions consisting of piles, old hulks and torpedoes. Next is tort Let;, ten guns, their FortBoggs, six guna, -md finally Fort Law ton, situated on Hutchinson Island and mounting eight guns. All these batteries with the exception of Fort Boggs, bear directly npon the obstructions. Around the southeastern part of the city is a largebreastwork the product of slave labor, which mounted with gun* of various calibre forms the immediate defense of the city. The ram Gtorfcia, square built and mounting fourteen guns, six each side and one each fore and aft, is a perfect failure, though used as a floating battery and lying under Fort Jackson near the obstructions. A new ram, the Savanvah, built after the plan of the Jt lamia and mounting eight guns, has been completed, and is at the wharves awaiting her crew and outfit. It is thought that she anticipates a passage via the old and fatal route of the Jltlanta. The rebels have two more rams buildincr. one has her hull completed and is receiving her armor, the other is in its commencement. Savannah itse.f is deserted of troops ; several regiments had been sent to the relict ot Vicksburg before o?tr Charleston demonstration) and sine* the totter event three regiments of infantry and Col. Anderson's Artillery numbering twenty-four brass twelve pounders have been sent via Augusta, to Charleston, leaving for the delense of the city but nine hundred cavalry, three hundred iniantry. and a battery of light artillery. All the extensiv e batteries and fortifications before mentioned artfar this reason only picketed and not garrison rf. ihe people of the city, thus lei t with battel it s and guns, but no troops to make them available, have become greatly alarmed lest we should avail our selves of their condition and capture savannah. * They have been for the last two weeks sending valuablos, &c., into the interior of the State, daily expecting to see a " Yankee cheese-box" in sigln. flanked by "a land force. General Mercer, who 1* in command, has repeatedly telegraphed to Gov. Brown for troops, but has invariably received the answer that ''there are no troops to send, the inhabitants must protect themselves." The Evtrglade, a steam* r, is loaded w ith cotton ready 10 run the blockade, and the only other vessel beside the I rams in port is the Iteudaktr, a navy boat mounting three two hundred pound rifled guns. Thereare two canal boats which the rebs. have mounted with a few light pieces and call them-'floating batteries." The inhabitants are afraid to arm the negroes, and as the remaining population consists of aged men, boys and women, we must conclude that the people of Savannah are not only wisely scared, but that a slight effort on our part would place us in possession of the city, and considerably enlarge the Department of the South. Thr New York Volcntexr Engineers a detachment from which has been among the most useful of our forces, at Morris Island, have been but little mentioned but deserve much praise, which should not be detracted from by the fact that they have bad few casualties. Their labors have been arduous, and their duties well performed. Col. Serrell has been very active aud useful siuce . the commencement of active operations. ? Mtwh credit is due Dr. H alter il. Walsh, of Boston, Mass., for his untiring efforts in behalf of the wounded who were taken to Beanfbrt. Dr. ' Walsh was on board the transports night and day, extracting balls, dressing wounds and in every way administering to the poor boys, many of w hom were, no doubt, saved by his exertions. The Revere labors of all the Army Surgeons for the few d sys previous, had so exhausted them that this voluntary labor of Dr. Walsh was very valuable and deserves especial mention. t ?