The range of the 8-inch navy gun at Redoubt No. 1 was tried today by firing 5 shells, 3 only of which burst, and it was demonstrated that Black Island could not be reached with that gun. The large Blakely gun just mounted at Rattery Ramsay was fired to-day at 1 p. m., with a charge of 40 pounds weight of powder, sabot and shell of 425 pounds weight, and 2° elevation. At the first discharge the gun burst, splitting open in eight places in rear of the first reenforce band.

NOTE. In a letter of the 21st instant from Colonel [Josiah] Gorgas to General Beauregard, it is suggested that an experienced artillery officer ought to have been led to reflect over the thinness of the bronze metal at the base of the breech, and that such reflection would have led to the conviction that a heavy charge could not be fired with safety if placed within the bronze portion, i. e., the socalled air-chamber of the gun.

September 12, 1863.—Everything has been unusually quiet since yesterday morning. The enemy continue to work at Battery Gregg, and have apparently succeeded in mounting two guns at that point. The batteries on James and Sullivan's Islands kept up a slow fire on Morris Island. The Ironsides and six monitors are inside of the bar this morning, besides the usual number of gun and mortar boats, transports, &c.

Mortar fire was kept up day and night from Moultrie, Battery K, and Cheves.

About 5 p. m. the enemy opened fire on Moultrie from one of their Morris Island batteries. Only 1 shell, however, exploded in the fort, which did not do any harm. Twenty-two shots were fired at the enemy from Battery Cheves. The carriage of the 10-inch columbiad at Simkins being out of repair, there was no firing from that battery.

Major Manigault reports that an attempt was made to mount the double-banded 24-pounder rifle in gun-chamber No. 1, but from the deranged condition of the gun furnished him the attempt was unsuccessful. An artificer was immediately charged with the repair of the gun.

The enemy's fleet at Hilton Head to-day is two steam frigates, two sloops of war, eight gunboats, and fifty-four transports.

One of the enemy's wooden gunboats went up Kiawah River at 12 m., and landed some men at Wilson's, on Kiawah Island.

September 13, 1863.-The enemy still continue silent, but are working industriously at Battery Wagner, altering its shape and mounting guns.

There are inside the bar this morning the Ironsides, three mortars, and twenty-four other vessels. The other three monitors are thought to be lying behind the hulks of some of the other vessels, as they are reported not to be in the Stono River.

Mortar firing was kept up last night and to-day from Battery K and Moultrie on the enemy's works on Morris Island. Seven shots only were fired from Battery Simkins. One of the shells fired from Moultrie fell into the enemy's works, and caused a great explosion, supposed to be ammunition chests.

Major [John] Jenkins telegraphs from John's Island that the enemy have established a line of communication across the marsh from Dixon's Island to Folly River, by bridging the intervening creek. A number of men can be seen crossing.

Five schooners, four brigs, seven steamers, three gunboats, one tender, and one bark in the harbor.

The fleet at Hilton Head to-day is two steam frigates, two sloops of war, seven gunboats, and fifty-three transports.

General Walker telegraphs that out of 6 of the Yankee telegraph party, Colonel [William] Stokes has captured 1 chaplain, 1 lieutenant, and 1 negro soldier; also the Yankee operator. The remaining negroes are being pursued with dogs.

A portion of [George T.] Anderson's Georgia brigade arrived this evening from Virginia. Two more brigades are expected.

[Col. Robert H. Anderson assumes command of outposts on Sullivan's Island.*]

September 14, 1863.-The enemy are reported to be working industriously on Morris Island, chiefly at Battery Wagner, but also at Gregg.

At about 4 p. m. a large party could be plainly seen from Battery Haskell working on a new battery or a covered way about the center of Black Island.

Fire was immediately opened on them from Haskell with 8-inch seacoast howitzer and from Tatom with an 8-[inch] siege howitzer. Eight shots were fired from the former and 6 from the latter. Most of the shots fell short, and many did not explode. The effect, however, was to prevent the enemy from prosecuting their work any further for the time being. Mortar fire is still kept up day and night from Moultrie and Battery K, Sullivan's Island, and direct fire from Simkins and Cheves. Seventy-nine shells were fired from Simkins and 48 from Cheves.

The enemy's fleet off the harbor to-day is Ironsides, five monitors, and twenty-six other vessels.

The other monitor is reported by Colonel Johnson to be at Hilton Head.

September 15, 1863.-The enemy continue very quiet, but are working steadily on their Morris Island batteries. About dusk they threw a few shell at Battery Simkins.

Thirty-three shots were fired to-day by Simkins and 100 by Cheves. At about 11.05 a. m. the magazine at this latter battery blew up, killing Lieutenant L- and 4 men and wounding 2 others. It is thought the accident occurred from the premature explosion of a shell from which the sergeant of the magazine was endeavoring to extract a short-time fuse, in order to replace it by a longer one. As all 4 men in the magazine were killed, the cause of the explosion can only be a matter of conjecture. None of the guns at the battery were injured or dismounted.

The enemy still have a working party on Black Island. They were fired on from Battery Cheves with 10-inch seacoast mortar and 8-inch seacoast howitzers. The majority of the shots fell short. A few shot were also fired at the party from the 4-inch Blakely, but the result was very unsatisfactory. The elevation used was 13°, 14°, 15°, and 16° 30'. It is believed, however, that the enemy were seriously annoyed.

A scouting party returned to-day from Long Island. They discovered no signs of the enemy.

* Anderson's report.

Maj. Edward Manigault's report.

See September 15, 1863, Explosion at Battery Cheves, p. 730,

Captain Walpole reports that enemy have been passing to and from Dixon's Island to Green Creek all day.

The fleet at Port Royal is two steam frigates, two sloops of war, nine gunboats, one iron-clad, and sixty-eight transports of various classes.

Brigadier-General Clingman this day assumed command of the second subdivision, First Military District.

September 16, 1863.-There are inside the bar this morning the Ironsides, five monitors, two mortar-boats, and twenty-five other vessels, and the blockading vessels off the bar.

Major Elliott, commanding at Sumter, reports that the enemy are still working at Battery Gregg, and exposing themselves with impunity. One banded 42-pounder at Sumter was thrown on the berme.

A few shots were fired to-day at the enemy from some of our Sullivan's and James Islands batteries.

Fourteen shells were fired from Simkins up to 4 p. m. Want of friction tubes caused that battery to cease firing from 4 p. m. to 11 p. m.

Battery K, Sullivan's Island, kept up a slow mortar fire on the enemy during the day.

Capt. R. Press Smith, jr., reports that he to-day assumed command of the triple-banded Brooke gun and three mortars west of Moultrie. One purcussion shell was fired from the Brooke gun at a battery the enemy were erecting on Morris Island, and struck near the working party. Twenty-one shells were fired from the mortars during the day; but in the evening, owing to a violent rain storm and continued high wind, the firing ceased.

Twenty-five men were seen going to-day from Cole's Island, with spades, to the island south of James Island, and a company of 50 men, with guns, returned to Cole's Island.

Major Manigault reports:

No force visible on Black Island, though one or.two individuals seen there in the course of the day. No firing from Battery Haskell.

An 8-inch columbiad was to-day mounted on the extreme right of the West Columbiad Battery, Sullivan's Island.

The last of Anderson's brigade arrived to-night. This brigade is composed of the following regiments: Seventh Georgia, Colonel [W.W.] White; Eighth Georgia, Colonel [John R.] Towers; Ninth Georgia, Colonel [B.] Beck; Eleventh Georgia, Colonel [F. H.] Little; Fifty-ninth Georgia, Colonel [Jack] Brown.

A report of this date was received from Colonel Stokes, giving the details of the capture of a portion of a party of the enemy who were endeavoring, by means of attaching a wire to our telegraph line between here and Savannah, to intercept any important dispatches. Their early discovery and the subsequent capture of the operator, all of the white persons, and 1 negro on the 13th instant, frustrated their designs. It is believed the remainder of the party, composed of negroes, have escaped, though every exertion was used to prevent it on the part of Colonel Stokes.*

General Taliaferro telegraphs that he discovered yesterday that the enemy had erected a battery on Dixon,t looking toward Secessionville, and a stockade across the island in the rear. A subsequent

*See Capture of Union telegraph party near Lowndes Mill, Combahee River, South Carolina, September 13-14, 1863, p. 728.

+"Dixon's Arm.

9 R R-VOL XXVIII, PT I

examination proved that the enemy had increased their ickets. General Taliaferro concludes from these facts that the enemy anticipate an attack from us.

September 17, 1863.-Not a shot was fired to-day by the enemy, and the fire from our batteries was very slow and irregular, owing to the equinoctial storm, which commenced last night, with wind from the east and southeast, accompanied by heavy showers of rain, which continued all day. The Ironsides and four monitors lay at anchor in the channel off Morris Island, nearly abreast of Graham's house, and appeared to weather the gale with but little difficulty. The wooden vessels were rolling and pitching heavily, while the ironclads had but little motion.

Long trains of wagons were seen by Major Elliott coming down the beach on Morris Island, and discharging their contents at Battery Gregg. It is reported that these wagons were fired on.

Captain Walpole reports that enemy's pickets are still at Green Creek Bridge.

September 18, 1863.-The equinoctial storm appears to be over. Some rain and wind during the night, but this morning is clear and pleasant.

The enemy are busy at work near Battery Wagner and did not fire a gun to-day.

Batteries K and Beauregard kept up mortar practice from Sullivan's Island on the enemy at Battery Gregg. The commander of Beauregard Battery thinks his fire was without effect. Fifteen shots were fired with good effect from the Brooke gun at Battery Simkins. Colonel [C. H.] Olmstead reports that a rope has been sent for to stretch across the mouth of Light-House Creek, and he expects to establish our pickets on the opposite side to-night.

A working party on Black Island and at Battery Wagner was fired on at different times to-day from Battery Haskell.

The practice from the 4.62-inch gun was very good, but the columbiad fired wild, and many shell did not burst. Complaint is made of the irregularity of the burning of the fuses.

At the twelfth fire (5.10 p. m.) the 8-inch columbiad burst, mortally wounding 1 private of the Second South Carolina artillery, and breaking the leg of another man of the same company. A solid shot was fired from the gun at the working party at Wagner with a charge of 10 pounds of powder and elevation of 19° 30'. The report of the accident was returned with the indorsement by the chief of the staff that it was not seen why a solid shot was fired at a working party instead of a shell, and the attention of battery commanders was directed to be specially called to the matter.

The Abolition fleet at Port Royal to-day is two steam frigates, two sloops of war, one iron-clad, eight gunboats, and sixty-four transports.

September 19, 1863-6 a. m. Since 6 a. m. yesterday, Batteries Simkins, Haskell, and West Columbiad Battery, on Sullivan's Island, have been slowly firing at the enemy's working parties on Morris Island, throwing in that period 133 shots in all.

The enemy fired a few shots in the morning, and again a few more in the evening at Fort Johnson, but doing no damage.

At 9.30 a. m. one loaded transport arrived from the northward. 11 a. m. Thirty-nine vessels inside of the bar, including Ironsides, five mortars, four gunboats, four mortar-boats, &c. French vessel, one mortar-boat, and five blockaders.

Off the bar

The enemy continues to work industriously by strengthening our old batteries and erecting new ones on Morris Island, placing guns in position at Wagner, &c., though seriously annoyed at the latter place by the fire of our James Island batteries.

A large quantity of shot, some shells, a lot of iron shipped from disabled carriages, and also two guns, were shipped from Sumter låst night.

The Charleston Battalion, which has been on duty in Sumter for some time, was this evening relieved by a detachment of 250 men from the Eleventh South Carolina Volunteers, under command of Captain [J.J.] Gooding.

About 11 a. m. a large working party of the enemy at Battery Wagner were fired at from Battery Haskell with the 4.62-inch rifled gun. After discharging 7 shots with precision, the rear band showed symptons of starting from the one in front of it, and a black, semiliquid, unctious residuum of burned powder oozed out from between the bands. This latter was seen only by the gunner, and was not observed by the commanding officer. The gun being now regarded dangerous, no more shots were fired from it.* Up to this, the gun had only been discharged 261 times, with an average elevation of 13° 30"; charge of 4 pounds of powder and weight of projectile 27 to 28 pounds. The vent of the piece is reported ragged and much enlarged.

Reports from the Stono state that 100 men crossed the creek and marsh, going toward the bridge over Green Creek.

In the afternoon a gunboat went up Folly River to the obstructions, and, after remaining a short time, returned, firing blank cartridges.

The enemy's fleet at Hilton Head to-day is two steam frigates, two sloops of war, one iron-clad, eight gunboats, and thirty-nine transports.

The last of General Henry A. Wise's brigade arrived to-day. It is composed of the Twenty-sixth Virginia, Colonel [P. R.] Page; Fourth Virginia Heavy Artillery, Colonel [J. T.] Goode; Fortysixth Virginia, Colonel [R. T. W.] Duke, and Fifty-ninth Virginia, Colonel [W. B.] Tabb.

The following is a copy of a Yankee dispatch intercepted:

What shall be done with the guns and carriages directed by you to be put on the schooner Nelly Brown? The schooner now draws too much water to leave the inlet. GILLMORE.

September 20, 1863, 6 a. m.-Since this hour yesterday morning mortars on Sullivan's Island and Batteries Cheves, Haskell, and Simkins have been firing slowly at the enemy's working parties on Morris Island. Only a few shots were fired by the enemy during the day, and these were directed against Fort Johnson. The effect of the practice from both Batteries Simkins and Cheves is reported unsatisfactory. In the past twenty-four hours, 238 shots have been fired by our batteries.

There are inside the bar this morning thirty-five vessels, including the Ironsides, five monitors, four gunboats, four mortar-boats, &c. Outside the bar, a French vessel and five others.

Notwithstanding the fire of our batteries, the enemy still progresses * Manigault's report.