Affairs at Charleston.
The Charleston Mercury, of Friday, says that the enemy has refrained from firing since his unsuccessful assault on Fort Sumter. Our batteries on James and Sullivan's Islands, together with Fort Moultrie, keep up a steady fire on the Morris Island works. It adds:‘ The enemy is reported busy at work on batteries Gregg and Wagner, having erected a large platform for his guns on the latter, and thrown up an extensive sand embankment on the former. The Yankees are also said to be working on their batteries on Craig's Hill and building embrasures for guns pointing to Sullivan's Island, which it is believed will be the next point of attack.
The Ironsides was lying in her old position yesterday, opposite battery Wagner, receiving ammunition from a schooner alongside of her. The monitors remain at their old anchorage. One of the enemy's steamers appeared busy yesterday transporting guns and ordnance.
According to the prisoners' accounts the expedition against Fort Sumter consisted of twenty-five to thirty boats, with an average of twenty to each boat. The details of men were made from the blockading vessels outside, with officers from the fleet inside to command them. The men knew nothing of the proposed expedition until they had finished their dinner on Tuesday, when they were called up for orders. The boats with their crews afterwards pulled up alongside of the flagship to receive instructions. Lieut. Williams, in command, took the lead.
They expected, they say, to meet not more than a simple guard of about one hundred men. They also expected to be able to go through the breach without difficulty or having to climb over. The night was misty and favorable for a close approach without notice. Their calculations, they say, all proved incorrect. About fifty marines from the United States steamer Powhatan form the greater majority of the prisoners taken.--They state also that the monitor ashore during the fight Tuesday was the Wechawken, the same vessel that took the lead in the attack on the 7th of April.
They admit that the fire from Sullivan's Island in the last fight was very accurate, one of the monitors having been struck on the turret twenty-nine times, without, they say, doing any damage. One monitor had her smoke stack blown off entirely. The Ironsides was struck fifty times without, they say, inflicting any serious damage. The prisoners manifest a great deal of confidence in the ability of General Gill more to take the city.
So confident were they of success in the late expedition that two boxes were received under flag of truce, one addressed to "Lieut. E. P. Williams, commanding Fort Sumter," and another to "Ensign Benjamin H. Porter, Fort Sumter." They were packed with lemons, jellies, liquors, &c., evidently prepared for a general glorification.
’
