The new South. (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, July 18, 1863, Image 2
THE NEW SOUTH.
, Jos. EL Sears, Editor and Proprietor.
PORT ROYAL, SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1S63.
THE ADVANCE ON CHARLESTON.
CAPTURE OF THE GREATER PART OF
N MORRIS ISLAND.
A Terrific Bombardment?Splendid Charge by
Strong s Brigade?Capture of Eleven Batienes
?Only two fort Remaining?Disastrous Charge
on Forts Wagner?Intrepidity of the Ith Conn.
?Our Losses Small?one Hundred Rebels Killed
?One Hundred Wounded, and One Hundred
and Twenty Taken Prisoners?Full and Authentic
Account.
We have obtained from reliable sources, a full
account of our victory at Morris Island. We are
" obliged, for want of space, greatly to condense the
details, but we give all the essential facts.
Since Gen. Gillmore's arrival in the Department
the greatest activity has prevailed, but all move'
-? 5.1- L 5-j:~: ~~?
menu were maue wnu sueu juuiuivua sttiwj auu
caution, that no suspicion v&s excited among the
rebels or at the North, that the Department of the
South was to be distinguished by an active campaign.
Brig.-Gcn. Yogdes was relieved as Post Commandant
at Folly Island by Brig.-Gen. Seymour,
Brig.-Gen. Strong was placed in command of a
fine Brigade, guns and ammunition were transported
to Folly Island by night, and the plan of
building batteries on this end of Folly Island,
where nothing but our own troops and vessels
eontd ever come, was changed for one of baftei ies
at the front, where we could defend against attack
or assume the offensive.
Large latigue parties, consisting sometimes of
six regiments, were set at work each night, build\
ing batteries under the d.rection of Geu. Vogdes, i
with Gen. Seymour, also supervising, and Lieuts. |
Suter, Wilson and Maguire, of the Engineers, to
attend to details, we had admirable topographicel
advantages. The point was surrounded by a range
tf sand bluffs, and covered by a dense growth of
wood and chaparral. While our men worked,
erecting impregnable defences, and mounting batteries
which they could not wiihstaud, with all
their preparation, the rebels supposed we had only
a small picket force there, and amused themselves
by wasting shell in the woods where they supposed
our pickets to be located. The arrangements bad
teen made for an attack on the morning of Thursday,
July 10th, but Providence had oidcrcd it
otherwise, aud decreed that Friday should be the
rebels' unlucky day. It had been arranged that
Gen. Stevenson's brigade, and Col. Montgomery's
colored Brigade, should go up on transports, on
Wednesday night, to join Terry's Division, which
liorl on imioAftont nort tA T\avfni>m An Tomno fcl-inH
Jltav* (III IUl|/V* l?*M? ? ?V I^AIVIIM Vi. VUIUVO AOiUIIVI.
During the night a gale arose, there was a high
wind and a heavy sea, and the transports were
obliged to lay off the bar tiil morning. So the attack
was postponed for a day, and the plan sufficiently
changed to ensure success in case the original
one had been discovered. v
The principal features of the plan of attack were
as follows:
A general bombardment tf the rebel works
from all the batteries at Camp Seymour, on the
irout of Folly Island. Co-operating with the
navy, in bombarding the forts at the other end of
Morris Island. An attack with boat howitzers on
the rebel rifle-pits, protecting the exposed flank of
their works. Capture of the rifle-pits by a charge
with four companies of the 7th Conn. Storming
of all the works by the remainder of Strong's
brigade, landing from Folly liiver. Occupation of
a portion of James Island by a strong force under
(ten. Terry, to operate farther at the proper time,
under veibal instructions.
All these features of the plan were most successfully
executed, without a single failure in any
particular. We have the orders containing these
plans, but they are too lengthy for our columns.
The brigades outside the bar came in on Thursday,
and tin; movements accordingly all came off ibat
night. The attack commenced at five o'clock on
Friday morning from i'amp Seymour, w here we
had forty-fonv guns, commanded aud manned as
follows : On right of first line, Co. I, 3d R. I.
Artillery, Capt. Brayton,' four three-inch Dyer
gunR; on left of first line, Co. M, 3d K. 1., Capt.
J. J. Comstock, jr., four ten-inch mortars ; in the
centre of first line of works, Capt. Hamilton's Battery
E, 3d U. S. Artillery, commanded by Lieut.
uoiv ton.inpli Pnt>pofr <rnns Anri detachment
JUJSIVA, oia ?vu-.uv.w..>v.. o- ,
1st U. S. Artillery, under 1st Sergt. Lee, to. C,
three thirty-pound Parrotts; and also in the first
line, Co. 1, 3d K. I. Artillery, Capt. C. G. Strahan,
tour twenty-pound Parrotts, Co. B, 3d K. I. Artillery,
Capt. Albert Green, six ten-inch mortars, and
Co. D, 3d P. I. Artillery, Capt. Kichard Shaw,
eight 30 lb. Parrotts..
In the second line, commanded by Major Bailey,
3d R. 1., were five eight-inch mortars, worked by
detachment of Co. M, 3d K. I., Lieut. Holbrook ;
and four Weird guns, under command of Lieut.
Burgemeyer, 3d N. Y. Artillery. 'lhe first shot
disabled a prominent rebel gun, and as piece alter
piece opened on them, the air about them was lull
of deadly missiles, 'lhe Monitors, too, opened
on them, sending fifteen-inch shells, with other
shot and shells, among them. They were taken
completely at surprise, and while at roll-call. They
did not mistrust the existence of batteries, or the
intention of attack, but were rather occupying
themselves with plans for taking Folly Island.
I1 iwnliod U'lth a fpw mints, hut it touk a
i lie ? OVUU ff*?u M ?v?? ^ ? ? ?
luDg time to get the range, or to find out where to
takeus ; their shells at first went far over the
camp, bursting in the marsh, and when they began
to fall behind and on the works, hurt nobody.
We bad only one man killed from their fire, and
two Khode islanders badly wounded, (each losing
both arms and receiving other bad wounds) by a
premature discharge of one of our own guns.
These were all the casualties.
For nearly two hours this one-sided artillery
duel went on. In the meantime Lieut. Bunce,
hxecutive Officer of the Pawnee, came up towards
Light House Inlet with tour boats mounting how.
itzers, and peppered the rebel rifle-pits. The rifles
and batteries responded, giving Lieut. Bunce's
and Gen. Strong's forces, (who had come thereafter
in boats) a hot fire. Only one casualty occurred
before the landing. A shell struck a boat full
of troops and took a 6th Connecticut man's leg
off. With the other leg and his hands he succeeded
in swimming to another boat, but bled to
death in a few minutes.
At half past six Lieut.-Col. Rodman, of the 7th
Conn, (battalion consisting of Cos. I, A, B and K,)
landed from a creek below with Capt. Cbau berlain
and 20 men, and finding no batteries as had
been anticipated, skirmished up and reconnoitered
the rifle-pits. He then landed with his whole battalion,
charged gallantly on the rifle-pits and took
them, losing five or six men, and killingthc enemy
ill uca^j.
Gen. Strong then landed with the Gth Conn., at
Light House Inlet, took them up the beach and
went back for the rest of the brigade. The whole
force then charged furiously up the blurts to the
rebel works, Gen. Strong leading the main column
in person. They made a splendid charge,
sweepiug every-thing before them, and capturing
fifty prisoners in one batch. As they trailed up at
double-quick, they shouted, waved flags, and the
men in camp Seymour responded. It was a splendid
affair. Gen. btrong inspired his troops at the
landing by rushing to the front, waving a flag, and
crying, "come on my men?rn ieaa yon.
The whole brigade charged down the bluffs to
where they terminate, and are succeeded by a less
rugged, but still very uneven surface. They captured
m my prisoners, and at the termination of
the bluffs got possession of the last of the rebel
batteries except Toint cummins and Fort Wagner.
They then skirmished down under heavy fire from
the forts, to which the gunboats replied, to a marsh
it was impracticable to occupy, Gen. Strong leading
them all the way, and pleasing his men beyond
measnre. They are as proud of their General as
any Brigade in the army, and will follow him anywhere.
Gen. Strong disposed his men with especial regard
to their safety as well as efficiency, and all
who could be spared were sent back to the rebel
encampments to seek that rest they so much needed.
The rebels continued shel.ing our works, and
the Catskill (Com. Dahlgren's flag-ship,) Weehawken.
Mcntauk, Nahant went up and gave it to them
at short range, drawing the fire of Forts Sumter,
Wagner, Point Cunimings (or battery Bee). The
Catskill was struck over filty times, but net seriously
injured. The top of her pilot house was
smashed, and one of the flying bolts came very
near the Admirals head. The only casualty was
the injury of one man, who was leaning against a
turret in one of the Monitors, when a shot struck
the outside, and the concussion from a bolt paralized
him. At five o'clock, without capturing
Fort Wagner, the Monitors withdrew.
A plan was then decided on to surprise and take
the fort by storm. It was very important Jo take
it, for that once in our hands, Curoming's Point
battery must fall, and with possession of Cum
ming's Point we are sure of Sumter. So desperate
measures were justifiable. Gen. Strong was
confident that his gallant troops, any of theui,
would stand any ordinary fire with reasonable prospect
ol achieving a success.
Lieut.-Col. Kodman, of the intrepid 7th Conn,
battalion, volunteered, with his four Companies,
to act as the advance, promising that if properly
supported he would take any fort in South Carolina.
Gen. Strong selected as the support two line
regiments, which had been very gallant in the
morning, and in which he had great confidence,
the 9th Maine, Col. Emery, and the 70th Eennn.,
tol. Straw bridge. The regiments appeared mucii
pleased with the honor of being selected lor this
duty, and the prospects were very favorable. i
Soon alter midnight all the regiments in camp
were silently aroused and formed in line ol battle.
Ihe storming force advanced to within halt a mile
of the fort, and waited the time for the assault.
At the last moment it was learned that col. btraw.
iridge, of the 76th, in whom the Kegimentha\e
great confidence, and who was to take the right of
the support, was severely ill and could not come
out. This dispirited th; regiment somewhat, but
Major liicks. a popular and braA c officer, took cummaud,
and there w ere no signs ol failure, heury's
Battery moved down to the front to co-operate,
and in the dusk of the morning, just before three
o'clock, tue battalion and two regiments moved
on. Gen. tiillmore and several of his Staff were
where they could seethe assault, audGen. btrong,
with his Staff, and Col. 'turner, the efficient Chief
of Gen. Gillfflore's Staff, all mounted, accompanied
the troops toward the fort. At two hundred yards
fr. m thi! fort the Dicket were encouutered and
driven in. Gen. Strong rode up to the advance,
and said in an impressive manner, "tire
low, and put your trust in God! forward the
Connecticut Seventh!" They gave a loud cheer,
just as a round of canister and grape swept over
their heads; they did not flinch, nor did the second
round, which took ofl' some of tliei. brave
men, cause them to stagger; a third round cuuie/
and many morb fell, but still the noble men kept
on, regardless of danger, cheering, clambering
over meat and ditch, heroes in courage an t devils
in impetuosity. Hand grenades were showered
among them but they heeded them not. Hp over
the parapet they went, and replied to a volley of
minnie balls by a shout of t iumph, for they si pposed
the support was at hand and victory certaiu.
Hut the support had wavered. When the fearful
Are mowed down their ranks, the 76th halted, but
advanced again like brave meu, trying to face ccr
tain destruction, me nre was terriDie, ana wnen
round after round played through them, those in
the rear became demora'ized, the advance were
left alone, the 9th Maine became infected, and
when col. Hodman, wounded mortally, as he supposed,
in the side, but still waving his sword on the
parapet, as blood rushed from Itis mouth, turned
to look lor his support, ne saw only a fleeing crowd
of routed n?en, and exclaimed in very despair,
"That's a d?d pretty support?see how the cowards
run !" Major liicks and a few brave fellows
pressed directly up to the front and mounted the
bi eastworks, or were slaughtered in the ditch Ti e
Seventh were almost alone, and there was nothing
left but to retreat. Over two hundred muskets
and rifles were thinning their ranks, and the surT
vivors reluctantly left otf bjyoneting gunners, to
turq their backs on the foe. llut now came the
? - ?? ^ ^ A O (Vt?k t WW ItiQ Wi.fltrtotarl
worst ul i lie siauguici ao iuw uvw|m i?.iuiuvu
they could be more distinctly seen, and the volleys
came with fatal precision. Col. Kodman had his
leg shattered, and was the only wounded man
brought oft from the front. His men would
not have deserted him, had they all perishel in
trying to rescue him. Little mo. e was done during
the day,- except that working parties were busy
constructing batteries and entrenchments. Our
losses on the first day were fourteen killed, one
missing, and ninety odd wounded, some fatally.
In the storming party of Saturday morning, the
7th Conn, had 103 killed, wounded and mis.-ijg.
The missing are all prisoners or killed ; many are
known to be killed or wounded, 'lbe total loss of
the whole day, reported in Strong's brigade were
334, killed, wounded and missing, but of the miss,
ing many are stragglers from the 76th Penna and
yth Maine, who will yet turn up. On Sunday a
rebel force of r egroes and others, was discovered
building flanking works on Morris Island in the
direction ot Fort Johnson. Hamilton's Battery
went down to a convenient place and opened fire
on them, they were speedily captured, and a steamer
which was lying at the landing was disabled at
the first shot, one man being killed Shortly after
the steamer was blown up by a shot through her
boilers. On Monday she was burned by our troops.
During Monday the rebels shelled our pickets and
advance, and wore in turned shelled by the gunboats.
both the monitors and wooden ones, the
principal tire being directed at Fort Wagner. During
tne day one of the captured Keokuk's guns,
which our navy should have looked alter, wa
pointed from Fort Sumter towards the camp, three