The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-17
Letter OF . Soldier e. ais Father.

n
DEAR FATHERWe received orders Tor our departure AT
Ave clock last evening, and this morning we saiei
from Beaufort board the transports Our company
with the first and second sections OF the Connecticut a.
tlery, board the steamer Honduras and arly-
81 Al Hilton Head about eleven O'Clock, where we 70
maned all day and night and started nett morning Tor
Stono inlet, about fifteen miles from Charleston. We
LETT again for James island and arriving hsre began
immed ely to land our oops On tho d evilus day
part of forces had beon landed and by The line that
we arrived they had advanced and driven the rebels be-
fore them There was Continuous skirmishins during tue
whoe DAY. Two companies " our own regiment, the
Seventy ninth, N. y. s. NJ and two from the twenty
eighth Massachusetts and One Hundredth Pcnnsy vania,
were sent out n advance, and met the enemy clamp
Oh wooas ABOUT milo and hal ircn where we isGea,
and had quite severe light The enemy had the acyan-
tage Or as in cavalry and artillery, ours not having yet
been landed The enemy made charge upon Tie Two
coml anies Of Massachusetts, infantry with
whole regiment OF infantry and section
of cavalry, and drove them back. The enemy acted
very badly, throwing away their arms and everything
else Our boys seeing now they acted were ordered 10
charge. which they did with a cheer ard tiger and
scattered thu enemy like char killing and woanding
several OF nsm. In this charge lost man, MEM
Der O. the seventh company, named Clark, who iei
wounded and taken prisoner but was rescued by his
own company He has since died of his wound In this
affair we took rebel officer prisoner. His name IS
Henry Walker, a member Of the seventeenth south
Carolina Volunteers. lie is very intelligent, but bitter
secossons he that the people OF Charleston have
made their minds that will capture the place but
that we VIII have some lighting 70 DO lie also says that
most OF the people rebellion have advocated tine
render Of all the Gull cities and Of carrying on guerrilla
in interior of the seeded States. He adds
that he Is victim Of emancipation, having suffered from
II in the West India Islands He much pleased with
tho treatment he has received from hands since
he has been prisoner, and he says that IL
any Of the Seventy ninth fall into their hands and
hs has any power he will it to make their captivity
as pleasant his own had been made 10 him. He cx-
pected to be killed by our men when he was wounded
believe win kill all who fall into hands. This
idea has however, left this prisoner, for could
have had better attention than he has had.
We also captured three pieces Of artllery-6eld
howit2ers-from the enemy One OF the pieces
taken on the afternoon o. Tuesday by our two companies
They were ordered 10 take at bayonet charge which
they did, although the enemy pouring shot and
shell into them all tho time. The the seventy
cannon and at length brought safely of the field The
other guns asst in the mud and they could
get them of until next day, when the Tooth pennsyl
vania and the Eighth Michigan brought them oil.
The Tooth Penhsyivana lost captain and fifteen
taken prisoners the first days skirmish, ami
five wOundsi Of whom has died OF his wound.
lie shot through the stomach Another expect
cd to survive being wounded in the head. From inOr
nation gathered from different parties who have been in
ADVANCE the rebels have two three very strong
Notifications on this island mounted with heavy ried
cannon They have frequently returned the fre Of
gunboats showing US their position and the weight OF
their metal.
Everything remains quiet at present. but we expect
that operations will soon commence. 1t has ransd here
most Of the time which is great drawback us, and
to-day the men have had the 1rst chance of putting
dry clothing and to dry those that wet With heavy
rains, and mud to our knees, ysu may that
| pros poets have been rather danlf ened.
am proud to say that the Seventy ninth regiment
has saved brigade from disgrace for there is
doubt that they had not acted nobly thsy did
the enemy would have driven back first posi-
ton. General Stevens complnented them very highly
aud there Is doubt from expressions made BY him
the time when their against such
ODDS, that he thinks them invincible. w. GAGE
Company A, seventy ninth regiment N. Y. 8. n.