News from the coast — movements of the enemy.
From the Charleston
Courier, of the 27th, we copy the following:
Our community were somewhat startled Thursday afternoon by the successive discharge and unusually loud reports of several very heavy guns.
The firing seemed to be in the direction of Stone Inlet, which led to an impression of an engagement between our batteries and the enemy at that place, or at some point on Wadmalaw or
John's Island.
A gentleman who left
James's Island at half-past 4 and arrived in the city at 7 o'clock last evening, reports that the heavy firing was caused by the enemy, who made a demonstration and exchanged a few shots with our battery on
Cole's Island, with a view, it is supposed, of tasting the range of our guns.
The attack was commenced by the enemy with one gun-boat and two barges, about a quarter to 3 o'clock, and had ceased when our informant left.
No damage was done to our side, the shots all failing short.
Whether the enemy sustained any injury is not known.
Dispatches were also received in the city yesterday afternoon, stating that a fleet of twelve gun-boats had passed up North Edisto Inlet as far as
White Point, and had made a demonstration on our forces under the command of
Gen. Evans.
The latter had telegraphed for reinforcements, which were immediately ordered to him both from
Gen.Lee and
Gen. Ripley.
A fight at that point is imminent, as it is thought the enemy's intention was to get possession of the railroad about eight miles distant.
Passengers by the
Savannah road Thursday afternoon, report the enemy as having attempted a leading Wednesday night at Hudson's Landing,
Red Bluff and
Mar's Bluff, under cover of their gun-boats.
Our pickets at Hudson's Landing were reported to have been driven in and the enemy landed a force of about 250 men.
A detachment of the North Carolina Artillery and
Colonel DeSaussure's regiment, had been ordered to reinforce our troops in that direction.
We also learn from passengers by the
Savannah road, of the crippling of another of the enemy's gun-boats Wednesday afternoon. A detachment of
Captain Moore's North Carolina Artillery, under the command of
Lieut. Baker, fired on one of these roving crafts at
Buckingham Point, with good effect, and inflicting serious damage to the vessel.
The wheel-house was knocked away, and the splinters were seen to fly in every direction.
This vessel afterwards drifted with the tide towards Hilton Hand Shore, and is now lying up high and dry, completely disable.
After running on shore, those on board sent up rockets as a signal of distress.
The fancy craft returned our fire for a time, but without doing any damage.
Later. Since writing the above, we learn that the first steamer that drew off returned at a late hour in the evening, in company with four others, and anchored immediately opposite
Cole's Island.
It is supposed that an attack is intended this morning.
