The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-20

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EE ONr Ct?umae1eqs a4eCsS -
& AslittleS before noon yesterday ebr CITY wss
thrown into . state of fevefish excitement by
the vague tidings that there had been bloody
work at Secessionyille, ON James Island.
From the flnt, the news was Of an encouraging
character, inssmuch as we were assured that 4
mere handful Of our brave troops had repulsed
heavy column Of the enemy, thrown forward
to assault the battery at Secessionville, manned
by portion Colonel Lamar's Regiment of Ar
tillery, s. c.. v. From the various accounts
which we have received, we have coated the
following facts in relation to the battle:
THE ADVANCE OF THE ENEMY.
About dawn yesterday morning our pickets
in front Of Lamar's battery were driven in, and
almost simultaneously, the enemy's column
was seen four hundred yards of, advancing
with the bayonet, at double quick, to the as
sault. Our troops. within the battery, had
been hard at work the evening before in throw
ing up another battery, and were almost worn
out with fatigue. The first round that was
fired at the Yankees was by COL I. G. Lamar
himself. His men hastened with alacrity to
their pieces, and were soon pouring grape and
canister against the rapidly approaching enemy.
AT each discharge grea: gaps were visible in
the Yankee ranks. but still they came on,
without firing single volley. 1t was after
wards ascertained that their muskets were emp
ty, and that they haG actually hoped to carry
the battery with the bayonet alone. But tho
rapid and fearful cannonade and fasade
against them was too severe for their nerves,
and when close to our entrepchments thev
wavered, reeled and finally fed in disorder.
SECOND AND THIRD CHARGES.
But very short time elapsed before the
encmy,s column, reinforced by infantry and
artillery, reformed and again came forward.
This time they die not disdain the use of cart
RIGGS, but poured heavy vollcys against our
battery as they advanced. But again the ter
rible discharges of grape and canister moved
down the approaching line, and notwithstand-
ing the remonstrances of their officers, again
the Yankees broke and retreated, pell-mell.
from the feld.-A third time the enemy formed
his line and advanced in last desperate effort
to gain the battery, but again in vain. The
assailants had reached the ditch, and some of
them succeeded in mounting the embankmept,
but they paid for their rashness with their
lives, and their comrades behind, taking warn
ing from their fate, fled once more, this time
not to be rallied to direct charge Our men
all bear witness to the obstinate bravery of the
enemy on this occasion.
Between the charges which proved so disas.
trous to the Yankees, calling fire was kept
up against our battery from three gunboats in
the creek, about 100 yards east of our position.
A cross fire was also steadily maintained against
us from two land batteries which the enemy
had erscted-one on the edgc of the wood in
which the fight with the 47th Georgia Regi-
ment occurred last week, and another between
that point and the position occupied by the
gunboats. Sherman's famous field battery also
took part in the engagement, being divided in
to two sections, which played upon different
parts of our works.
THE FLANK MOVEMENTS.
1t had now become evident to the enemv
that the mon who held our battery had no idea
of yielding it, and the plan of attack from the
front was given up.