The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-04
FROM HUNTERS COMMAND
THE BATTLE ON JAMES ISLAND.
FEDERALS REPULSED-.-LOSS 66S
BENHAM ARRESTED FOR DlsoBEDIENCE.


New York. June 27.-The steamer Phil.
adelphia from Beaufort, and the Ericsson
from Key West 18th, and Port Royal 23d,
have arrived here.
The Ericsson brings 18l passengers, in
Guiding General Benham and staff, and fifty.
seven soldiers wounded in the late engage.
ment on James Island, near Charleston.
1t is stated that Gen. Benham is under
arrest, with orders to report at Washing
ton.
1t is stated that Gen. Hunter left James
Island on the 18th, leaving Benham in COM
mand with orders to make no advance to-.
wards Charleston without reinforcements
or further orders.
1t was reported by deserters that the
whole rebel force at Secessionville had but
two batteries, with six guns mounted, aud
six more ready for use. A reconnaissance
was to be made on the 18th.
The United States troops under General
Benham made the attack at 4 O'Clock on
the morning of the 10th, and were repulsed
after four hours hard fighting with loss
OF 660 killed, wounded and missing. Gen.
Stevens with 1000 men, was to make the
attack at daybreak, while Gen. Wright and
Col. Williams, with 5000 men, we're to
support him. Somehow the movement was
delayed, and as our troops marched up to
Plainied, they were, in broad day, met by
murderous fire of grape and canister.
Two regiments reached the front march cut
up-the 8th Michigan and 10Th New
York.
The Michigan 9th had $50 men left ut
roll call. The New York 10th suffered
nearly as severely. The 18th Massachusetts
broke and scattered. The 46th New York
did little better. The first two drove the
gunners from their guns. Some even pen.
etrated the works, but other regiments fail.
ing to support them they had to retire, after
holding battery for twenty minutes.
In the meanwhile Col. W iIIiams, coming
to their support, separated from the fort by
a marsh, was exposed to a severe cross fire
from the rebel guns in the woods. His
troops fought nobly, and met with consid-
cradle loss. For three-quarters of an hour
not gun was fred from the fort, and by
the prompt presence of two hundred men it
would have been carried; but they were not
there, and the troops retired. Another
account confirms the above, but states that
the 18th Massachusetts did we'll. 1t gives
our loss in killed at "a, wounded 1886, and
missing l24.
Our camp is now within range of the
gunboats and in safe condition. Entrench.
ments have been thrown up, and reinforce
ments awaited. General Brannan's troops,
to the number of three thousand, had ar
rived from Key West at James Island, but
our forces must be largely reinforced before
operations can be resumed.
Rebel troops are constantly arriving, and
preparations for the defense OF Charleston
are extensively making.
A Beaufort letter states that the loss OF
the Sd New Hampshire regiment Is LOG
killed and wounded 9Th Michigan 800.
The account of the fight on James Is
land, copied from Chs rleston papers is cor
rect.
The following are among the wounded
from James Island:
G. D Allen, amputation of thumb Lieut..
). D. Donohue, grape shot in shoulder both
of the 9Th Michigan
Another letter writer asserts that Com
modore Dupont says he can take Charleston
with five gunboate. He can run by Fort
Sumter and the Notifications without the
loss of more thon two, while with the others
he would shell the city.
A letter from the 48th New York regi-
ment gives the total loss at go.