The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-07-11

The Battle en- James Island.

Tho Charleston papers give the particulars
of the lato battle OF James Island, near the ,
village OF SUcessinnvilIe, a summer resort
for lew of the wealthy planters Of that
Tho following is IRON the
.Mrrcury of tho 18th
For tho last fortnight. fight at long taw
has boc1 going on at intervals, between the
Secessonville battery aud the guns of the
enemy, and our artillerymen have been
much tagged by their ws,chinP and eIeriions.
On Sunday night two companies, consisting
of the Charleston Light Infantry. from tho
Charleston Battalion, under Cap:. +. Y.
Symons, and Company A. Capt. Smart, from
Smiths Battalion, were thrown out half q
mile in front ot the work. Tho rest Of the
mon of these two battalons Of infantry,
stationed at Soccssionville to support the
battery, were laboriously occupied during
tho night. The two companies o! Lamars
South Carolina Vounloer Artlltery-Reid's
and Keitts-were also engaged in labor !
until u half hour of dawn, when they were
ordered by Col. Lamar to take a nap. At
break Of day tho pickets came running in
Just before the advancing foe. When Col.
Lamat was notified and looked out from
the work he was to defend. tho enemy had
approached within four hundred yards of
tho work. But twenty five OF the garrison
were awake. 1t was q complete surprise,
and nothing but the nerve, promptitude and
energy Of the oticors. especially the com.
mauding officer. saved the battery from
easy capture. The FIRST round was fred
when the column was within thirty PAGES of
the guns. Ii was directed by Col. Lamar
himself. The shot burst through the closed
ranks with great havoc and the foo Soon
rotired. The wcaried men. startled By the |
sound, or aroused by shakes or bayouet
punches from their officers, sprang to their
guns. The two infantry bat,alions rushed
to their quarters for their weapons, formed
under thoir otficors, and came to the as
sistauco Of tho gunners Three land batter
| los, two sections Of field artillery, and three
gunboats began to open upon the work.
The SECOND charge of tho enemy was
made and repulsed with slaughter. And
again the ,hird. The animated hre from
our riflemon, cooperating with tho deadly
discharges of grape and canister, swept tho
field in front, and cut down the skrmshors,
who, deploying on the left flank under cover
of some bushes, had come up to the very
work at that anglo. In those successful
efforts, which occurred at O'Clock in the
morning, Col. Lamar fell from tho effect Of
a minnie ball striking him through the
car and round the neck under tho skin. To
his cool courage and energy, in tho early
part of the action, is due tho preservation
Of the position, under circumstances of
great peril. from surprise. After Col La
! mar was wounded no was unable to stand
| from his great loss of blood, and was carried
| off as soon as practicable. His place in the
battery was filled by Lieut.. Col. p. NJ Wag
ner--heing the next officer in rank preseut
as Colonel Gulliard had boen stationed at
tho post with his battalion for some time,
aud had done good service Colonel Wag.
ner. who was only temporarily thore. re.
auested him 10 assume command. adding
that ho would aid him and take charge OF
the battery. This he did until the conclu.
sion of the fight. botwoeD 8 and o'clock,
sustaining terrible flank fire,and directing
the gunnery with great coolncss aud pre-.
cisiou.
Upon failing TO storm tho work, or to
flank il on the left or eastward side, the
enemy drew off and came up on the right
flank, on the other side of the small creek
and north to the marsh. Here, at the short
distance of about one hundred aud fifty
yards, three regiments, deploying in line OF
, battle, and partially covered by a small
growth of undorbrush. poured upon the
. gunners of the work. and upon the two bat.
I ,aIions of infantry drawn mp facing them
1 across tho marsh, a continuous and dead
fire. The gun carriages wero torn and per
Q forated by many balls. Many of our meI
o fell at the guns aud along the limo forward
;. tn the rearward of tho battery and its righ
s flank. The contest was very unequal auC
trying. 1t ruged for some time but at this
critical juncture the Louisiana batterici
q came up gaIlantly st the double.quick, un'
e der its sklful officer. Lieut.. Col. McHenrv.
/ By the guidance of Maj Hudson, of Smiths
s battalion, il formed on tho right of that
Q CORPS, facing tho marsh. This reinforce
D ment and its Calling firo disheartened the
!. Foe. Capt. Boyce. with ono gun of light ar
tillery. began to play on his rear. He begar
!. to fall back. fairly beaten off.
!. While the struggle was progressing. i'm
mediatoly on the rear right flank OF the
, battery against these three regiments, d
. formidable force of the foe attempted. b,
;, passing further out 10 the west, 10 gain the
. rear of our position. But in skirtinG
J. wood they came upon the advancing line'
. of tl.e Eutaw regiment. Col. Simonton, whc
o had come two miles. Declaring they were
d triends-not to shoot-they came close NJ
# aud fred into our men, killing many. Bu
!. tho response they got was cutting. Th'
y wood edge was strewn with dying and th'
II dead. Thirty or forty bodies were her'
i. found. Tho movement fsilod. Nothing
y WAS left but retreat from every portion o
s. the field. IL was bloody fight, Tough
IF against odGs, by exhausted men. wihou
10 preparation. Il was q signal victory o
Southern patriots over the murderous inva
.. ders OF their soil. The five regiments at
tacking are said to be the Seventy -nintl
New York, Highlanders, tho Eighth Mlchl
gan, ono from Massachusetts, u New Hamp
% shire and Connecticut regiment From
y the account of prisoners, who assert tina
,oI there were nine United States regiment
ar out that morning, il is probable that fou
a. regiments were held in reserve to supper
a, the FIVE engaged, and to protect their re
H. treat.
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