, 1862-07-01
FROM GEN. HUNTERS ARAAY. Y.
Particulars of the Battle on
James Island.
REPULSE OF OUR TROOPS~-QUR
Loss 667.
GEN.. .Benham- Sent Home to be
Tried BY Court Martial


from the New York Evening Post, a6:h.1
THE ATTACK ON CHARLESTON:
By the Ericsson We have full particulars Of
the opefations Of the, federal forces on James
lslands near Charleston, up to the end Of last
week: Ihere have been two engagements
With the rebels, the first Of which occurred
on the evening Of the 10th inst, resulting in
little loss; and the battle Of the 18th, Which
WaS the only check our forces have receiTed
at any point on the coast since the war began.
Nearly six hundred men we're lost.
4 REBEL ATTACK. -
The first reconnaissance in force which was
to be made by cur troops on james Island was
poued on account Of an attack BY the rebels on
1he federal camp on the night Of the 10th.
This attack WAS, however, repulsed with little
loss on our side The fact that the enemy
had ventured to approach our camp, for the
evident purpose OF ascestaluIng the extent Of
our force, and in which effort they were sue
.cesaful to soma extent, induced Gen. Benham
to change his plan, and to make an attack in
ste I'D OF q Reconnaissance in force. With the
intention of stormfng the rebel works, II cir
cGmstances were favorable.
THE BATTLE OF THE SIXTEENTH JUNE.
The battle OF the 10th instant. began at four
O'Clock in the morning. The design of our
officers WAS to approach the rebel works near
Seceseionyille before daylight; but the delays
not perfectly understood, prevented the exc
cution Of this programme
Gen. Benham assumed command, and our
men, with the Highlandets and 9Th Michigan
regiment In the advance, marched calamity On
the enemy's works. Tilis charge was so rapid
into full use until the federal force was very
near: They poured in a destructive fire, in
Guiding nusketFy, and remained inside their
intrencbments There was but little pause.
| The regiments We have named rushed up to
| the trenches and into and through them and
| directly to the breastWorks, where terrible
| struggle took place, in which the enemy Were
driven from their guns. A large number o'
our troops scaled the parapets, the rebels re-
| tteating:s
t There are conflicting statements regarding
the battle at this point. The officers OF the
| ported-teat Gen. Stevens failed to bring VI
| his forces in time: and halt, it appears, Vas
| ordered. It is believed by the troopsI Whc
constituted the advance that they could have
cleared the defenses if they had followed i:
the advantage while the rebels were disorg2a
I ized and expected to be pursued. The halt
however, enabled the enemy to collect thei
forces. They soon recommended the fight
| and a 5anguinarY hand to hand conflict ensued
in which the vastly superior rebel torct
brought against the small number-stated 8
800 men-Who had actually seale;
back and into the trenches. Here q terzibl
snd destructive fight took Place. The rebel
obfalne d positions whence they could pour 81
enflading fire upon our tsoops, AM
4C0 Of the federal force were eithe
killed or wounded before retreat could b.
successfully accomplished.
The enemy's guns threw junk bottles, oil
mills, and pieces Of chain, which at close qua1
tiers dealt death and destruction On ever
side.
! The Sd New Hampshire was ordered L
by Gen. Benham, to support, as he said, tn
| other regiments, but when they reached th
| point designated they found no regiment
| there, but saw, to their dismaY, that they weI
eurre unded By three masked batteries, whic
opened upon them, and finally obliged ther
| to retreat very much cut up. We succeede
| in taking eight prisoners. The ene1Hy's 1oG
in killed and wounded was small
In ene Of the han6-:o-hand contests
lieutenant Of New York regiment, who wa
taken prisoner at Bull RIM and but late]
exchanged, reached over into one Of the ba
! teriee, and seizing gunner By the hair Of tt
head, dragged bin bodily q considerable di
. | tanee into cur ranks. Our troops still ho1
their position On James 18}and, and as Il
enemy's' position is now well known, tt
| guuboatE can easily shell them out. A Mon
tor or two would Soon settle the fate
| Charleston, and presume that as soon
Richmond falls, We shau receive Z reeinforo
, ment Of 1Ilia description
, Commodore Dupont says that he ce
, take Charleston with five good gnuboats. E
will run By Sumter and the other fortiflC
tons without the loss of more than two, 81
5 with the 1emaining three be can shell t
city.
Al officer who was on the island ct Il
/, tine Of the battle writes as follows: