Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-26
From the Charleston Mercury.
The Battle near Charleston.

FROM Inc Cnarleston Mercury.
The Battle near Charleston.
The city was thrown into a state of teverish
excitement, Monday, by the report that a
handful of our brave troops had repulsed a
heavy column of the enemy ut SecesSionville
on James Island, thrown forward to assault
the battery at that point. The village is the
summer resort of few of the island planters,
and is situated on the eastern side on high
plot of land. Here Col. Lamar's battery is
located, tlanked on each side by the marshes
and creeks. The enemy have batteries in
the edges of the woods at short distance,
and their gunboatS on the river. For the last
fortnight constant firing has been going on,
and our artillery men were much tagged by
watching and eXertions.
THE ADVANCE OF THE ENEMY.
Two companies of the Charleston Light In
fantry were thrown out, Sunday night, half Il
mile in front of our works. The rest were
stationed at Secessionyille to support the bat
terry. The next morning at break of day the
pickets came running in just before the ad-
vancing foe. When Col. Lamar was notified
and looked out from the work he was to de-
fend, the enemy had approached to within
four hundred yards. But twenty of the
garrison were awake. 1t was d complete sur
prise, and nothing but the nerve, promptltude,
and energy of the officers, especially the COM
handing officer, saved the battery from easy
capture. The first round was fired when the
column was within thirty PAGES of the guns.
1t was directed by Col. Lamar himself. The
shot burst through the closed ranks with great
havoc, and the foe soon retired. The wearied
men, startled by the sound, or aroused by
shakes or bayonet punches from their officers,
sprang to their guns. The two infantry bat
talionS rushed to their quarters for their
weapons, formed under their officers, and
came to the assistance of the gun
nerS. Three land batteries, two sections of
field artillery, and three gunboatS began to
open upon the work. The second charge of
the enemy was made and repulsed with great
slaughter SO was the third. The animated
lire from our ritlemen. cooperating with the
deadly discharges of grape and canister,
swept the field IN front, and cut down the Skin
miSherS, who, deploying on the left flank I'M
der cover of some bushes, had come up to the
very work at that angle. In these successful
efforts, which occurred at o'clock in the
morning, Col. Lamar fell from the effect of
Mimic ball striking him through the lower part
of the ear and running round the neck under
the skin. He was unable to stand from his
great loss of blood, and was carried from the
by Lieut.. Col. Wagner till the close of the
fight, between and 8 o'clock.
CHANGE OF TACTICS.
Failing to storm the work, the enemy drew
off and came up on the right flank. Here,
$50 yards distant, three regiments, partially
covered by small growth of underbrush,
poured upon the gunners of the works, and
the two batteries of infantry drawn up facing
them across the marsh, continuous and
deadly fire. The gun-carriagcs were torn
and perforated by many balls. Many of our
men fell at the guns and along the line for
ward to the rearward of the battery and its
right Hank. The contest was very unequal
and trying. 1t ragged for some time, but at
this critical juncture, the Louisiana battery
came up at the double quick, and opened its
calling fire upon the foe lie began to fall
back fairly beaten Oft. While the struggle
was progressing, Immediately on the rear right
flank Of the battery against these three regi-
ments, Il formidable force of the Toe attempt
ed by passing further out TO the west, to gain
the rear of our position. But in skirting
wood they came upon the advancing lines of
the Eutaw regiment, Col. Slmonton, who had
come two miles. Declaring they were friends
they came close up to our lines, and fired
into our men, killing many. But the response
they got was cutting. The wood edge was
strewn with dying and the dead. Thirty or
forty bodies were pickedup here. The move
ment was foiled. Nothing was left but retreat
from every portion of the field.
TIE REGIMENTS ENGAGED.
1t was bloody fight, fought against odds
by exhausted men, without preparation. 1t
was signal victory of southern patriots over
the murderous invaders of their soil. The
five regiments attacking are said to be the
10Th New York, Highlanders, the Sth Michi-
gan, one from Massachusetts, a New IIamp-
shire and Connecticut regiments. But for the
distance of our troops and the brief time oc-
cupied in the action, together with obstruc-
tons in the road, preventing the passage of
light artillery to the enemys rear, their whole
force may perhaps have been taken or cut up.
From the account Of prisoners, who assert
that there were nine United States regiments
out that morning, it is probable that four regi-
ments were held in reserve to support the five
engaged, and to protect their retreat.