Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-07-04
THEBATTLEAT CHARLESTON
Further Particulars.


Steamer Philadelphia, from Beaufort, and
the Ericsson from Key West. the 18th and
Port Royal the 23d, have arrived. The Eric
sson brings lSl passengers, including Gen.
Benham and staff and 81 soldiers who were
wounded in the late engagement on James
Island, near Charleston United States troops
under Gen. Benham made an attack at four
o clock on the morning Of the 10th and were
repuIsed after four hours Of hard fighting,
with loss of Cos in killed wounded and miss
ing. The Michigan sth regiment had but
2l0 men left on roll-call. The New York
10Th suffered severely The Union troops
were Obliged 20 retreat under cover Of the
gunboats. Gen. Brannan, from Key West,
was expected daily az Port Royal The Eric
ss0n landed the 9TH New Hampshire regi-
mcnt, companies Of the Goth New York,
and 4 companies Of the Let regular artillery,
at Port Royal The United States steamship
San Jacinto was at Key West--all we'll. The
account Of the fight on james Island, copied
from the Charleston papers is correct.
Another ACCOUNT.
Il is stated that Gen Benham is under ar
rest with orders to report to Washington
It is stated that Gen Hunter left James Is
land ON the 9th inst. leaving Benham in
command, with orders to make no advance
toward Charleston without reinioroements or
further orders.
Ii was reported by deserters that the whole
force no sccessionv!le was but two battallions
with six guns mounted and seven more ready
for use. The reconnaissance was made on the
10th. Gen. Stevens with 1000 men was to
make an attack at daybrcak, while General
Wright and Col Williams with 5000 more
were TO support him. Somehow the move
ment was delayed an hour, and as our troops
rushed up the plain field they were in broad
day, and were met By murderous fire of
grape and canister. Two regiments only
reached the front, and they we're much cut
up--the sth Michigan and 10th New York.
The 2Sth Massachusetts broke and scattered,
and the 10th New York did little better.
The first two drove the gunners from the
guns and even penetrated the work, but other
regiments failing TO support them they had to
retire after holding the battery twenty min
utes. In the mean time Col. Williams, COM
ins to the support, was separated by marsh
from the fort, and exposed to a severe cross
fire from some rebel guns in the woods His
troops, the Sd New Hampshire and Sd Rhode
Island Regiments, fought nobly and met with
considerable loss. For three-fourths of an
uDQl not "a gun WAS IIeu from tue lOIt anu
the prompt presence OF a few hundred men
would have carried it, but they were not there
and the troops retired.
Another account confirms the above in the
main, but states that the Massachusetts, 2Sth
did we'll 1t gives our loss at--killed, S4
wounded, 500; missing, 1914 Our camp is
now within range Of the guuboats' fire in safe
condition.
Entertainments are being thrown up, and
renforcements awaited. General Braman's
troops, number 2OOO, had arrived from Key
West at James Island but our forces must
be largely reinforced before operations are re-
sumed. Rebel troops are constantly arriving,
and preparations for the defense of Charles
ton are extensively making.
A Beaufort letter states that the loss OF the
Sd New Hampshire was l06 killed and
wounded Sth Michigan 800 The same
letter asserts that Com. Du Pont says he can
take Charleston with five gunboat', and will
run by Fort Sumter and the other furtifca-
tions without the loss of more than two ves-
sells and with the others she'll the city.
The following is from the Richmond En-
7uirer Of June %
Chariestou J,ne 25. All is quiet at James
Island to-day. The gunboats yesterday
shelled detachment Of the Marion artillery,
posted on Stone Island and forced them to
retire.