The new South. (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, October 25, 1862, Image 2
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PORT BOYAL SATURDAY OCT. *3, 1W2.
The Pocotaligo Expedition
An expedition was dispatched from this place
last Tuesday Cot. 21srt, to a place called McKay's
Point, at the junction of the Broad and Pocotaligo
rivers, twenty miles from the mouth of the Broal
river, tor the purpose of penetrating inland as far
as the line of the Charleston and Savannah R. R.,
and destroying the bridges at Coosawhatchie, Pocotaligo
and Salkahetchie?although the destruction
of the bridges was not accomplished, still the
expedition was not entirely without important re?
? ? t e.M c
suits ana cannot *>.; saia totws iauure. a us lmc
employed for the work consisted of nine gun-boats
under command of ('apt. Chas. Steedraanand seven
transports carrying trcrope. ' The land force
consisted of 4500 men commanded by Gen. S. M.
Bran nan. Following is a 1 istpf the vessels and the
number of troops each transported :?
Paul Jones. Flagship, (Sa&les Steedm.ix, Commanding.
Connemaugh 350 men
- Wlaaahkfcen 250 "
. Patroon, 50 "
Uoctt, 50 "
Marblehead 230 "
Vixen 70 "
Water-witch, 130
Ben Deford, (transport.) 300 ?'
- Boston, 830 M
Darlington, " 300 "
Belief and 8chooner 203 "
Flora, M ..: 30ft "
Oeo. Washington " 250 "
Planter, " .? 300 M
The land force was composed as follows:
47th Pennsylvania, 600 men, CoL Good,
lt []m | 400 " jjlllfr c >
? mWMWSn^ Ml iiinuinu,
comprising 1st Brigade and commanded by Gen. Braxs.vs,
74th Pennsylvania, 430 man. CoL Strawbridge.
7th Connecticut, 600 " " Hawley,
3d New Hampshire, 480 " " Jackson,
- Volunteer Engineers, 250 " " Serrell,
3d B. L Artillery, 300 " " Brown,
comprising the 2d Brigade and commanded by Gen. Terbt.
There Was in addition to this force a battery of four 10
. pounder Parrot Guns (1st U. 8. A.) under command of Lieut
Henry, and three Howitzers from the Wabash.
The expedition sailed soon after midnight and
the troops were all landed at McKay's Point the
next morning, with the exception of 800 men of
the 48th New York Yols. under Col. Barton, together
with 50 men of the 3d R. I. Artillery, who
proceeded on the Steapner Planter to the month
of the Coosawhatchie River.
Capt. Gray of the 7th New Hampshire Regiment
with a small force of men in boats, had been
sent in the night to surprise and capture the rebel
pickets stationed at McKay's Point. He failed to
* accomplish his purpose, however, and the picket
ted to give the alarm of our approach. This rendered
Gen. Brannan anxious to posh forward before
the rebels could muster sufficient force to frustrate
his. designs. The next morning our forces
commenced to land at McKay's. The landing
commenced at 7 o'clock and by 10 o'clock Gen.
Terry's brigade was on themfrch and following
Gen. Brannan who was in the advance. The day
was toe and the road good, but our progress was
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slow, frequent stoppages oeing m&ae wmre uie
scouts reconnoitered in front. The greater portion
of our road was through open fields?cotton
fields overgrown with rank weeds and tall grass?
while the country through which we passed and
the few houses we saw appeared utterly deserted.
Everything appeared dead and going to decay;
not a human being was to be seen, nor a living animal
to give animation to the dreary landscape.
After three hours' marching, we had penetrated
some five miles into the oonntry, when upon emergH|
Ml A*** tafe * Of* qpa* ferwn
i
fr
itl upon tlic advj^ by a bat cry, in gr.od posi-'
ti >n, and hiddowby th-' tall, rank grasi? which
fringed the road. >
The^Tth Penn*)vunla Regt., Col. Good, which
was in the advancv immediately f? rmcd in line
ami after do^cdB fig well directed volley, cha g- j
ed uj?on the |lteryf cheering in gallant style;
1 4**" 4fa/rimnnf ('nl Rt?ll_ (
Wl.liv IIJU till ?1.C^ fiMlip.iliV ivguuvu.f V w.. ? ,
which followed rt.il, deployed cn either side as
skirmishers. Thcrebels made b.t a short stand
here, retiring aften slight resistance to the woods
just in their rear, fcere they took up a still stronger
position. Hoe, protected by the trees and
the thick brush, am having in their favor all the
advantages of the gnnnd and position, they made
a bold and deterouffd stand; but they were soon
obliged to give way >efore the impetuous bravery
of oqr troops, wboa^ain charged upon them and
drove them slowly Ifcore them. While re:reating
they kept up a bi isflfeL conUuuoua firing, .taking
advantage of every jood position for their artillery
whi.'e their sharp-iheters, protected by the treesi
and their kuowledg&hfttie ground, kept up an irregular,
but harrtpwft fire of musketry. Our
troops successively ihargmg upon them and dislodging
them, in Mil way drove them a distance of
nearly four miles, fcotbe bridge which crosses the
Pocotaligo river, b<w a short distance from the
village, the rebels d<ggedly contesting every inch
of ground. Here tk^. managed to make good
their retreat across tie river and destroy the bridge
nftoa tViom tKno .onkdiiff the nassasre of the river,
",tVI M ? .. 0
which, though narqjfcte some iilWu feet deep,
impracticable to otafaopa. The opposite shore
being steep and higfibflered peculiar advantages,
and they were able te hold their position until reinforcements
came tij their aid. The scbrill whistle
of the locomotivcnras heard ?mid tbe booming
of the cannon, the bursting of the shel.s and the
ring of the musketry,?and sixteen cars loaded
with troops were seen coming into tbe village ol
Pocotaligo, only a short distance beyond the scene
of the conflict. The rebels were reinforced, b.d
our brave troops, held their ground with admirable
bravery, until night&fl, when their ammunition
ffn mnna<*--? fVtir *? 1 *- <?4
This they did by degrees, and in excellent order,
taking with them the dead and wounded, which on
account of the want of ambulances and indeed all
means of transportation^ were carried on stretchers
to the point of debarkation a distance of fully ?
miles. The 47th Pennsylvania and the oth Connecticut
regiments protected the retreat, and displayed
undaunted heroism and bravery throughout
" ' * 1 TV-v 47.C Donn .oorimunt hfino
me wnoie anair, iuc >? iu * vuu. tve<u.v?. ?...e
in the advance, suffered severely, but their excellent
behavior on the held drew forth general admiration.
The 76th Pennsylvania and the 7th Connnectieut
also acted with exceeding bravery and
coolness. The 6d New Hampshire though not actively
participating in the fight, were under a hoi
fire, and deported themselves with coolness and
bravery. The retreat was made by our troops ir
excellent order, and reflects credit, not only on the
troops, but also on Geo. Brannan. The rear guard
did not leave the field until midnight, and gained
McKay's point towardsmorning. In the morning
the troops were embarked, under cover of the gunboats?the
wounded being first to receive attention
During the embarkation the rebel pickets ,mad(
their appearance at the edge of the woods, in tb<
rear, but were soon driven back by a few shelli
1 ?- tuuxns irorp pmhartp/
irom out gun-ooju?, ouu wo uw^>
in good order.
We are unable to itate with certainty what wa<
the strength of the enemy; but from all we car
learn, we are inclined to think the force first en
gaged consisted of about one thousand men, witl
a strong battery of not less than five pieces of ar
tillery, and a small force of cavalry. This force
however, was subsequently reinforced by at leas
three thousand fresh men. Our loss in killed anc
wounded, is severe, but not nearly so heavy aswai
at first estimated ?-probably not more than flftj
killed, and two hundred and fifty wounded.
Poring the progress of these operations at thi
^ \
point CoL Barton, <>f the Forty-eighth New York
Ke .iment, with 34)9 t>f hie men md 50 men of the
0(1 Rhode Islnrwl Artillery, under Capt. G ould, made
liia way, on the rtexnwer Ptanier, up fTnevCowawhatchie
river, and landed at 2 o'clock, ?n the left
bank of the river, within two miles of the town of
the same name, with fihe intention of creating a 1
diversion at that point, awd destroying the bridge
there if possible. They wctc accompanied, ior
several miles up the river,by the gun-boats PatrooiiT
and Uncas; and in addition fo thfs protection the
P*atiltr carried an armament of four bean y guns.
Having landed his small force, together with on
small howitzer, Col. B irton made his way through
the woods to the ma n road ami pushed forward to'^^P
i Coosawhatcie. Upon approaching tire rallrofd the
whistle of a locomotive was beard, and they hurried
forward and reached the line of the railroad, just
as a train loaded with troops was passing 'I hey
delivered a Jpltey with musketry and with their
howitser at tie am, hJUnfthc engtoasdyfcidu em* j
tiag great confusion and eofewteifeaCkm among the
passengers. They were Unable to stop the progress
of the train, however, and immediately set, to
work to tear up thj track and cut the telegraph
wires. After doing a slight damage to the road,
*h#>v ??r?flavored to make their way to the bridge,
in order to dettroy it, but they tound it so strongly
protected with three pieces of artillery, that tbey
were obliged to return. Col. Barton, now fearing
that a longer delay would render bim liable to have
his re reat eat off by a force from GrahaiuviUe,
made tbe beat ofhhway back to b|a boat pursued
by cavalry,whb bbfSywilowcd them down to the
bank of tbe river and fired upm them, severely
wounding Lieut. J. B. Blanding, ,dH. I. Artillery.
They we e soon driven l ack however, with a
broadside of canister and shell, wi.ich create ! great
i slaughter among them. Co]. Barton succeeded ir
re-embarking bis men and rejoining the fleet at
f McKay's point, without the loss of a single man?
i bringing with him one prisoner, 30 muskets and the
; colors ot the Whippy Swamp Guard, (S. C. V )
i taken from the color-: earer, who was siiot, and fell
i from the cars They also destroyed fifteen musa
?ln ' p i**?9 la ? wji. *" ''iM
, closely pursued by the enemy.
i n ? i_.i .u;? ?*v ?
jjtriurt* cuiupieuu^ IUM ramui FKKWJ <K/WUU?
' we would state that Lieutenant Henry's bat1
tery did most efficient serivce and Lieutenant
' Henry himself displayed signal heroism and
' intrepidity. During the engagement his horse
' was shot under hiss, but be fortunately escaped
1 without injury. One of hrs pieces was struck by &
? well directed shell of the enemy, which exploded
' killing one man instantly and wounding four others.
' This gun however was not damaged and was subse'
quently worked by Ibree men only, who did their
^ duty nobly. All unite hi testifying to the coolness
' and presence of mind displayed by both Generals
" Brannan and Terry, who were continually on the
1 field, and often in tne tmckest or tne ngnt. Liieui*
1 Loyd Phoenix, of the Wubjth, who was in Cora'
mand of the howitzers, together with Ensigns
t Wallace and La Hue Adams, did good duty and
t distinguished themselves.
> Col. L. S. Chatfield and Lieut. Col. John Spi'
dell of the 6th Connecticut Regt., were both
> wounded while bravely leading on their commands
5 We are happy to state, however, that their wounds
; are not of a dangerous nature. On the field we
' were constantly near Dr. Baily, and noticed that .
I his attentions to the wounded were unceasing.
The zealous manner in which he performed his
j duties is deserving of mention. We also noticed
l Dr. Merritt on the field, who performed his duties
- so faithfully as to call forth Complimentary com
7\.. I
1 111CIU9 11 Will 1/1* uaki.j .
It may not be out of place, perhaps, to close this
, account with a short exposition of the original
t plan of the expedition. The force which landed
1 at McKay's point, was to march to Pocataligo, and
s there to separate, General Brannan, pushing for.
f ward to Salkahetchie, to destroy the railroad bridge
which crossesIhe river at that point, while Gen. Terry
9 did the same at focotaligo. In. the meantime Col.