The New York Times has a letter dated Morris Island, October 25, saying “three heavy guns have been turned on Charleston. Each has thrown one Greek-fire shell into the heart of the city. Other guns will open this afternoon. The batteries are also at work on Forts Johnson, Sumter, and Moultrie. The Confederates reply reservedly. Four monitors are in position off Sullivan Island, and will commence firing this afternoon. The Ironsides is not participating. No casualty has occurred on the Federal side. Our firing was to get a perfect range of the Confederate works, and prevent the construction of interior batteries, and mounting guns at Sumter, and not the commencement of any vigorous assault.
“A number of the heavy guns in Wagner and Gregg were opened on Sumter, Moultrie, and Johnson yesterday morning. The firing was continued at regular intervals throughout the day until dark, and resumed again this morning. The range of the guns on Sumter and Johnson is one third less than it was before the capture of Wagner and Gregg. The firing on the Federal side is excellent. The Confederates did not commence an animated reply till about noon yesterday. Their practice is inferior to that exhibited weeks ago.—At the present moment of writing not a casualty has occurred on the Federal side, and no perceptible damage to the Federal works has been sustained. The artillery is in charge of the Third Rhode Island regiment, they having been ordered to the pieces on Sunday.—The land batteries alone are engaged. General Gillmore proceeded to Hilton Head last Wednesday, and returned to his headquarters on Folly Island on the evening of the following day.
Alexandria Gazette, Alexandria, VA, November 2, 1863
