Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-07-03


army, it would only delay the contest a lie
tie longer The thousands upon thousands
Of unemployed troops in the North, who are
so anxious to share the gories awaiting the
Union armies, would be called into the field
at once, aud finish this struggle at a blow.
I'VE ask for pence and are willing 10 for
get and forgive. The Government can at
ford to be generous, for she has vindicated
her power. Listen to the voice Of reason,
conscience and patriotism.
''rhe great Jehovah-the author of peace
and love. Of concord-command MS to
cease shedding each others blood. Take
things into your own hands, discard politi-
cal aspirants who fight for fear Of punish
nent, and ten thousand times ten thousand
shall rise up and call you blessed.
--.l-->. -
The Rcceht Fight on James Island.
lr near Charleston, 8. @.
We copy the following interesting details
ofthe severe battle between the Union forces
under Gen. Benham and the rebels, on
james Issnd, s. g., from the n. Y. Tri-
bune. of Saturday: at" Dtio
At 3 or 4 o'olock, therefore, on Monday
morning, june l6 in the midst of light
rain, which soon ceased, aud left the ground
in good condition, and the atmosphere cool
and refreshing the column, led by Gen.
Stevens, left camp, and advanced qrietly,
swiftly, and with great ENTHUSIASM, against
the enemys right; according to the plan of
attack previously agreed upon, Rockwell \
Battery accompanied this wing of the army.
Gen. Stevens, with his usual energy and
intrepidity, pushed rapidly on. capturing
the cnemy''s pickots, aud pushing his ad.
vanced regiments up to the very guns of the
enemy, and into the fort itself. 1t was
found that the only approach to the fort
was by narrow pass, which was well guard
cd that the fort itselfwas surrounded with
dittbes, ma The usual Instructions placed
before such works.
The advanced regiments were the 9Th
Michigan, the 10Th New York. and the 7th
Connecticut. There is some confusion as to
the order in which these regiments came up
to the fort; It seems, however from the
best information within reach, that the
glorious but unfortunate 9Th Michigan was
the first at the fort, led by its gallant Col.
Fenton. The immediate assault upon the
fort was not successful, aud the cause Of
failure, as is usual in such cases, is difficult
to determine. That the fort should have
been taken there can be but little doubt,
and that too with no more Joss of lie than
actually occurred. 1t appears from the
statements OF some of the officers and men
in these regiments, that about one half mile
from the fort there was a narrow pass
through hedge, and the men were com
PEELED to pass through very few abreast,
thus delaying the advance of the men.
The Sth Michigan got through and pushed
on with great vigor up to the fort, which
they assaulted with shout. They were
met with a murderous fire from the fort in
front, and from fanking batteries A few
of these brave boys ovcrcame all dangers
aud difficulties, and rushing over the dead
bodies Of their slaughtered comrades, ac-
tually climbed into the fort but it was i'm.
possible for them to maintain their ground
there against the fearful odds which oppos.
ed them, the men who should have sup, ,oi
cd them being delayed in passing through
the hedge; The Sth was obliged to fall back
as the 10th New York came up led by the
brave Col, Morrison, who mounted the
walls of tho tort and discharged all the bar
rels Of his revolver, in the very faces of the
enemy. Wounded in the head, aud unsup-
ported, be was, obliged to retreat. About
as far behind the 10Th as the roth was he.
hind the Sth, came the 7th Connecticut,
which also nude spasmodic aud almost in.
dependent effort against the fort but was
obliged tpfap back, Thus these brave reg.
I'iments, which were intended to act in con
cert as the advance, went into the fight one
at time, one repulsed and falling back as
the other came up, thus creating confusion
and rendering abortivc the charge on the
fort at this time. pe 400 : s20llT
A T,tl,ra lLa tL;a .i....I
troops. IL was just in front of the fort,
ana IN the first charge, that the noble and
brave Capt: Church fell, pierced through
the head with a musket ball He was fine
officer, and loved by his men. Iknew and
admired his commanding person, and frank
aud honest bearing. Although suffering
from disease, he arose from his bed and led
his men to the fatal ditch. 9l5I'WT
The 9Th Michigan has been most unfort,,-
nate-forward in every skirmhh OR battle,
always IN the advance, II has lost q consid-
cradle number Of its officers, and can now
scarcely muster 800 men, All these regi.
ments fought well, and piled their dead
around the fort but it was a terrible sac
riticc, and vain one. Gen. Stevens, aided
by his bravo son as Adiutant. General seem.
cd-to do 'sll.that was possible to retrieve the
lost ground, but could not succeed, and his
men fell BACK and reformed, still under the
fire Of the'guns Of the fort, and the cross
fire from tho fsnks. The Tooth pennsyl-
vania and the 2sth Massachusetts also mar.
ticipatcd in the engagement, under Gen.
Stevens, ON tho right wing. On the left
Gen. Williams was contending with the fort
aud the hanking batteries, as Gen. Stevens
was doing on the right. Although he did
not get up to the works, his loss was heavy,
the Sd New Hampshire espeeially suffering
severely, as also did the Sd Rhode Island
This wing Of the attacking forces was moi
only exposed TO the fire from the fort and the
hanking batteries, but most CALLING FIRE
was also poured upon their ranks from the
woods. which were filed with Rebel sharn.
shooters. Gen. Williams led his men TO tbe
conflict with great courage and gallantry. -
The center was commanded by Gen. Wright.
IN this manner our. forces struggled on amid
the terrific hail Of shot and shell for four
long hours, against an enemy OF greatly
superior numbefs, intrenched In a position
OF the strongest character .Raal Hii-3oJ u
. Gen. Henham commanded 10 person and
fearlessly exposed himself tothe dangers Of
the field. His large aud commanding person
was conspicuous during the contest. He
seemed anxious to avoid the loss Of life,
and to this may be attributed, in part the
laae af fla d,x, Whsfkar ba -. :: ~ -