We have no news of any importance from any of the armies.
Gen. Bragg, however, telegraphs, August 31st, that he is concentrating his
forces to receive the enemy, reported to be on the eve of assailing his
position. He says he has sent our paroled men to Atlanta (those taken at Vicksburg),
and asks that arms be sent them by the eastern road. Col. Gorgas, Chief
of Ordnance, says this is the first intimation he has had as to the disposition
of the paroled prisoners. Does he understand that they are to fight before
being exchanged?
Brig -Gen. G. J. Rains writes from Charleston that the
grenades reported by the enemy to have been so destructive in their repulse at
Battery Wagner, were his subterra shells, there being no hand-grenades used.
The other night Beauregard sent a steamer out with a torpedo
to destroy the Ironsides, the most formidable of the enemy's ironclads.
It ran within forty yards of the Ironsides, which, however, was saved by
swinging round. The torpedo steamer's engine was so imperfect that it could not
be worked when stopped, for several minutes, to readjust the arrangements for
striking the enemy in his altered position. When hailed, “What steamer is that?”
the reply was, “The Live
Yankee,” and our adventurers got off and back to the city without injury — and
without inflicting any.
There has been much shelling the last few days, but Sumter
and Battery Wagner are still under the Confederate flag. How long this will
continue no one knows. But it is hoped the great Blakely guns are there by this
time, and that Gen. Rains's torpedoes may avail something for the salvation of
the city.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
31
