Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-02
The JAMES ISLAND FIGHT.
The Attack On the Batteries.

90 the evening OF the the I5:h Gen Benham
proposed to make rseeonessones - fcTcs to ascer-
tain the strength OF the enemy's battery, and II
possible TO take Il, II being great annoyance 10
our operations. He accordingly ordered the ea-
tire Brigades Of Gens. Wright and Stevens to pre-.
pare for action at three o'clock next morning
At twenty minutes before five on the morning of
the 18th Gen. Stevens opened fire upon the enc
Dy's battery, Siranb Rhode Island Battery hav-
ing the honor Of firing the frst gun; the distance
being about one and a half miles. The Rebel
fort was an earthwork, with one face and two
tanks Is had deep ditch In front, with riff e
pits extending considerable di,tance. The
from the base ofthe wall Of the fort to the
vas hfteen feet. The fort mounted four guns Of
heavy calibre, with one howi.zer on each flank
Near the fort was tower thirty feet at the base
and over one hundred feet In height This was
erected by the Rebels a lookout. immediately
after the hre Of the artillery the infantry were or
dered to charge the battery with fixed bayoneu
10 donole-quick time As they neared the fort a
very destructive fire from the fort was poured in.
TO them, and all the regiments Were ordered 10
fail back, which they did In good order exec pt
the sih Michigan, whose right and left wings
side OF the fort
Some Of the sth Michigan, who were In the
advance, got inside Of the fort, but they were
9Th Michigan by this nre was terrible. Oacers
and men were moved down az II by the scythe
An advance was then made along the whole
length OF the hne the artillery firing furiously
q
the battery was deserted, Hamiiton's battery Of
four pieces alone airing 42a rounds. when the ad-
vance giments were brought In range Of maske ed
batteries situated In the hedges on the tanks Of
the fort.
The Federals were now under three ares. and
terribly did they feel their effect. Shot 6heIl,
grape, canister, and broken glass few thick and
carried TO the rear where the surgeons were busy
ell daY long dressing their wounds. At length
the gunboats, consisting OF the Pawnee Huron
Ottawa, Pembina and UnadiIla, commenced 70
1rs on the Rebels; but Gen. Benham finding
their shot fell short and Were liable to do our
a-en more damsge than the enemy, immediately
sent messengers TO the signal station with orders
20 signal the gunboats to cease firing. n IN hid
by some the, only one man (Federal) was killed
by the gunboas, but by others the loss IL made
large.
Again and again the regiments advanced 10 the
charge, aad again and again were they repulsed
by the terrible IRE Of the enemy's batteries At
length, afser four hours' incessant hard fghting
during which time no troops ever fought better In
the world, General Benham gave orders to retire
which was done In excellent order-much better
marching than 10 often witnessed on the parade
ground. The troops only retired when utter an
utilization was In the prospective.
Our forces during the whole fight never
ninched There was no running; onicers and
men Of the difent regiments seemed to vie with
each other a. 70 which would stand their ground
the longest, and In retreat the Rebels never fred
q single gun or sent any troops In pursuit. They
no doubt purchased their victory et dear rate
Our loss is 673 the number Of troops actuslly en-.
gagged was about 500, the other regiments being
held In reserve-so the los 10 about one in every
seven. There were great number OF Individual
acts OF bravery, but where 30 many were per.
formed Is 10 invidious to name any single one.