Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 6 [Dec. 13, 1862-Nov. 3, 1863].

Office of U.S. Military Telegraph,
War Department. Hd Qrs Army Potomac
Hon Secy of Navy--- Apl 9 1863.

Richmond Whig of the 8th has no telegraphic despatches from Charleston but has the following as editorial.

``All thoughts are now centred upon Charleston. Official intelligence was made public early yesterday morning that the enemies iron clad fleet had attempted to cross the bar & failed but later in the day it was announced that the gun boats & transports had succeeded in crossing and were at anchor---our iron clads lay between the forts quietly awaiting the attacks. Further intelligence is looked for with eager anxiety. The Yankees have made no secret of their vast preparation for an attack on Charleston & we may well anticipate a desperate conflict. At last the hour of trial has come for Charleston. The hour of deliverance or destruction for no one believes the other alternative, surrender, possible. The heart of the whole country yearns towards the beleagured city with intense solications [solicitude?] yet with hopes amounting to confidence. Charleston knows what is expected of her and what is due to her fame and to the relation she sustains to the cause.

The devoted, the heroic, the great hearted Beauregard is there & he too knows what is expected of him & will not disappoint that expectation. We perdict a Sarragossa defense and that if Charleston is taken it will be only a heap of ruin.''

The rebel pickets are reported as calling over to our pickets today that we had taken some rebel fort. This is not very intelligible and I think is entirely unreliable. A LINCOLN