From Charleston.
A little before twelve o'clock on Sunday night fire was again opened on Charleston, and from thirteen to fourteen eight inch incendiary shells were thrown into the city. The firing continued somewhat more than three hours, the shells being thrown at intervals of fifteen minutes. The Mercury, of Tuesday, says: ‘ There seems to be some mystery in regard to the location of this battery, which is bombarding a town at a distance of five miles. It has been asserted, upon apparently good authority, that the shells proceed from a mud fort lately built in a marsh adjoining Morris Island. Others aver that they are thrown from a battery on Gadberry Hill, on Morris Island. And there are yet others who declare that the obnoxious battery is a floating one, which the Yankees run up nightly under cover of the darkness into one of the numerous creeks which intersect the neighboring islands. It is to be hoped that the mystery will soon be solved and the battery silenced. Our land batteries were very active throughout the night, but whether their fire was directed at this Yankee will of the wisp or at the batteries on Morris Island, we have not been able to learn. The contest on Monday was carried on entirely by the land batteries; the fleet, which has not changed in number since Sunday, remaining perfectly quiet. The Parrott guns of the enemy continued to play both on Sumter and Wagner, but with less vigor than has been displayed on any previous day of the siege. Up to 6 o'clock P. M., but 120 shots had been fired at Sumter. Our batteries on James Island took their usual share of the work. The last reports from Sumter state that there were but one hundred and fifty shots in all fired at that fort on Monday. The wind was so high that the enemy chose rather to husband their shot than fling them away. A very rough sea kept the fleet in inactivity.--There were no casualties at Sumter. ’ In reply to a remonstrance addressed to the Yankee General, Gillmore, by Senor Moncada, in relation to the security of Spanish subjects residing in the city, the following letter was received on Sunday last:Department of the South,
Headq'rs in the field,
--I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date, desiring of me a suspension of the bombardment of Charleston for twenty-four hours, to allow the subjects of the Spanish Government to depart from the city.
I had supposed that ample time had been given for this purpose.
The commencement of the attack on the defences of Charleston, some forty days ago, is regarded as having given plain and emphatic warning that the city might be fired on at any time.
Nothing, however, is farther from my wish than to endanger the lives or property of subjects of the Government which you represent, and I cordially accede to your request.
No further bombardment of Charleston need be apprehended until 11 o'clock P. M. tomorrow. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Q. A. Gillmore,
Brigadier-General Commanding.
Q. A. Gillmore,
Brigadier-General Commanding.
The Courier says: ‘ Among the many who are now removing we observe that H. P. Walker, Esq., H. B. M. Acting Consul, is so engaged; but we are authorized to say that, although he removes from the city, he will still remain within reach of those who may desire to confer with him, as he removes only to Belvidere farm, and will be at the Consulate, in Broad street, daily as usual. We learn that an order is to be issued for all persons possessing cotton to have it removed promptly from the limits of the city, as its presence during the bombardment from the enemy's shells is considered dangerous. ’ A correspondent of the Columbia (S. C.) Carolinian, writing from Charleston on Monday, says: ‘ The house of Mr. Barrett, on Society street, was first struck by a shell last night. It passed through the roof and two stories, and buried itself in the cellar, without injuring any of the sleeping women in the house. Another struck the carriage establishment of Benedict & Co., passed through and fell in the cistern; two fell on the lot of the Artesian well, exploding, scattering bricks, & c.; another struck Martin's Insurance Office, next the Courier office, without damage; one passed through a house in Queen street, and several at other points, but with no loss of life. About fifty shell were thrown when the firing cased. Crowds are leaving the city. We expect some difficulty in sending our dispatches, but will do the best we can. The Charleston papers will give you details. Of course there is much excitement, but it is lessening since the injury from the first night's shelling is so slight. The city will be hold in spite of the malevolent and infamous attack on women and children by the wretch Gillmore, who is evidently a second Butler. ’
