, 1862-07-22
The Farewell to James Island.


JAMES ls1Asn, s. c. June a8th. 1852.
A steamer is just In frca Hilton Head, with
orders for the 1uamediste e7acuA:loa Of the
ielund.
While the empty teams are goiog up to bring
back the ammunition from our Hnrks, let US
20 toward the 1iu,it OF our lines and take 4
part;rg view OF tile scenes before us-s:aues
which have become historic About o nile
to the east Of the eucsmpment of Gen.
Stevens brigade is an old house, at which
portion Of The picket gu lrd usually remain in
1eser1e, in readiness if the advance picket
should be attacked. On the roof q few ooaftis
aie thrown together IS platform, and rs ~e
stand here, F0r1 Sumter rises before US. lying |
little to the east Of northeast, and appearing |
about Elk miles distant. la form, size, color,
aid general appearance, 1t is almost identical |
with Fuft Pularki; the rebel flag, whose |
colors are distinguishing through good |
glass, waves over it as def:ndy, But it is
the two Tiers Of embrasurss.
To the right Of the fort, but considerably
more distant, is the fig EaViug over Fort
Moult,ie, but the fort i,selfis not in sight. A
ll1tle further to the right is the light hou5e'
ing, forming quite as Imposing feature IN
tbr landscape as Sumter Itself This is the
Afouls1ie House. Far of to the right, over
the trees, are the topmasrs OF one OF tue block
adng fleet; and now and then one appiaTs in
| ,ull SIGHT.
On 1he left, near By US, is the village Of Sc
cessionyille, . place obscure enough . few
| weeks ago. but now mouSnfnliy memorable
for the wa1lton sacrifice Of brave hearts aud
| souBg lives. Over the building nearest this
way waves the yellow hospital flag. To the
Left is the ear!hwork before which such yalor
1sas displayed SO yainly, and the cotton Held
'hut Ea1 stained with blood, aud beneath
whose furrows 60 many sons Of New England
apd Michigan and Scotland are slumoering.
70 the right and left Of the main work, f.r al
| most as tie eAe can reach, are traces OF freshly
turned earth, & howing where new works are
| te:Dg thrown up
|. A little to the left is the observatory, from
| h'cA the rebels overlook almost the entire
| Island. It is bui1t of open tress1e work Fl ID
it have been solid, it wond hardly haV: es~
capped beicg destroyed from shot or shells.
But they hare passed through it without leay-
Beyond arc the rebel camps, or rather such
If them as are iu sight And yet further are
the woocs in which au ludzhnite number Of
:le enemy's forces lay hid On the day Of the
battle
By going about tbree-quarteEs Of q mile
. turlher (ha.iug on our Left mortar bAsserj
| and battery Of four guns. partially coM-
Ileted), We come to BAttery Stevens, lying
| .bout l,6N yards from the eucnys wprk.
From this po,gt Charleston is p14laly in view,
apparently about live miles distant. The
spires, lowers, aud dome appear with siuIui II
} dlstiuctness as the rays Of the setting sun f.
xslant them. 1t is too fair, q city TO De tfts
VI lA0aaVA13 tAAu t4AH ~ ~ NNAA
} | cation Of slaveTy.
i LETTER OF GEN. STEVENS TO GEN HUN
: TER
E HEADQUARTERS OF srEyEss' DIVISION
e uILToN Head, S. G., July $. lsn2
| Msior-Geu. DaTid Hunter, commanding Depart
+ uenl of the South, Hilton Head, s. c.:
e S1R:-I desire to state briefly few facts il
q relation to the operations of my division a
+ the battle Of 6ecessionyille, fought on the l6t
/ uf June, in relation to which there is sou.
T. S1Ff
la nv own views IN relation to tha. affair aud SO n
lt particulars of the conference hell by Gen
J. tsenham with bis general officers Lae eSt
D. ming previous to the battle
1r That conference WIS b I'D with Ganert /.
'e Wright and Williams and myself. ALI wer
II Enthusiastically opposed 10 the attempt. in th
,. then coDdltion OF the cnemy's works, to tax
Y them ny u coxp-ds naain, and SO unequirocAll
nc md Enthusiastically expressed themselve
as when Gen, Wright was called upon for b
n opinion, he answered that he would make h
"a n ply in 'ne shape Of certain interrogatoEies
le me, to which he desired auswers.
lis First lnterrogatory-~" Have you impa1re
IL. the strength OF the entmy's works at S:cc
en- Stevens answer: t'Not iu the least. na'
~ driver. rhe enemy from his guns by tire, aud
led can do 1t again. But as soon rs the fire ceas
OF be rcfurrs. I have not dismonuted q gu
lis aud we shall find him in the morning as stro
rs. as ever"
It's Second Interogatory-"Do Do you know
C aI,y Instance whert volunteer troops have 81
fch cessfuliy srormef works as strong as tho
1ot | which defeni the approach to Sccessionvl1ie
lis | Gen Stevens answer: IL kuow OF no su
1I,s'ancr-n
IA, Third Iuterrogatorg.-"Ha Have you any II
fur con to believe that the result in the prese
case will he different in its character frt
RS. what it has invariably been heretofore
,hr Gen. Stevens answer: have no re lsOn
The expect different result. It ls simply b.
49, possibi)ity to take the work "
r;sp Iuthis Generals Wright, Williams and n
MA sen cebeurred. I then proceeded to 81
sru ai1h all possible emphasis n3 objections
.;a1 his morning attack. I urged that it sh o
,ss7 &c deferred to much 1at.r period in the d
hv That We should first shake the morale os
49,: garrison, and tndeayor tOTeaken its defen
rha | By con- iuuoue fire OF the batters and of
nn, uunboats; that in the meantime we sho
= No carefully survey 1he ground, and prepare
1,ss troops and MAKE the atsack::~neu the b41l
~, ana tue noats had the desired effect. clo
ri; ;,y saripv that, undrr eucl circumstances
1ua. 49, ctulo do more with 9, 600 men tnln co
~. with 800 men in 1he va! he proposed.
nent Gen Wright, moreover, warned Gen. B
~ | b I'M that bis orders we're IN t act orders mo-
.,m, fight battle. In this Gen. Williams and !
IN self in express terms concurred.
: H. GeD. Beuhan, ho seyer, oEetruled all
;tsr. objections and pe1empto1ily ordered the
tack to be made. assured nim, IS did
rbo other gentlemen, that he should rely upon
r IN orders: but considered myself as ooe5
i for crde n to which had expressed the stTou,
c,r.e possib,e elections, aud therefore determi
there should not be the least want OF ent
rr prumptitude on my putt: