Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-06-27
A BATTLE AT CHARLESTON.



The Charleston Mercury Of the 18th gives
graphic description Of an engagement on
James Island the previous Sunday. in which
il acknowledges severe loss on both sides,
without any material change in positions.
Richmond papers Of the 2lst inst, con
tain brief accounts Oh bloody battle on
Monday last between federal regiments and
battery of Parrot guns. and parts of
confederate regiments and battery. The battle
lasted all day. with heavy loss on both sides.
The Charleston Mercury feared the battle
would be renewed the next day, and expressed
apprchcnglQR Jor the safety OF the city IN
consequence Of the great exhaustion of the
Southern troops and the loss Of many officers.
Gems. Evans and Pemberton complimented
the troops on their bravery in standing under
the shells OF our gunboats and batteries
The fight was within miles Of Charleston,
and from an editorial in the Mercury should
think the rebels had been cut off from retreat
from James Island by our gunboats. Il this
is so, Charleston must soon fall.
The following rather different account Of
the engagement is taken from the Richmond
DiVdicb whore it appears in the form Of a
dispatch from Charleston:
Charleston, June l6.--A severe battle took
place this morning on James Island, miles
from the city. Five regiments of Yankees,
reinforced by artillery, attacked the batteries
at Secessionville. Col. Lamar commanded
the Coniederates. and with a few hundred
troops repulsed the enemy three times with
great slaughter. The enemy fought bravely,
but were defeated. Our victory is com
plete. The enemy's loss is supposed to be
about 400, including 30 or more prisoners.
Our loss is estimated at from so to 100
Col Lamar was wounded. Capts. Reed and
King, and Lieut.. Edmond were killed. 1t is
expected that the attack will soon be renewed.
The confederates were much exhausted by the
sheling of enemy, day and night, for a week.
The troops engaged were an entire regiment
from Charleeton, a battalion from the 47th
Georgia, -Hapgoods regiment,-and a mask
ed battery, and a detachment Of Chatham s
artillery Of Savannah Gems. Evans and Penn
bcrton complimented Col Lamar on the field
Extracts from Charleston papers about the
late battle, published in the Mercury, say that
the federals charged the confederate battery
three times-with the bayor ct once-withou
cartridges. 1t mentions that the 18th New
York regiment was very gallant, and says
after three charges, and finding the battery
was unyielding, a flank movement was tried
and tot a time threatened the rebels seriously
Finally the latter were reinforced at critical
shot and the federals we're repulsed.-
The rebels say they buried 40 federals.-
Their own loss was first stated to be 40 kill.
cd and 100 wounded, but later accounts say
it was heavier. The rebels say the feder
ais carried off their wounded which mus
have numbered 200 or 500. The account
is evidently one-sided and it will doubtless
prove exaggerated as 20 our loss and more
serious affair to the rebels than stated in
the Mercury.
The Grenada appeal Of the 18th has the
following. 1.-The Charleston Mercury says
the Confederate loss at Seoessionville, yoster-
day, was 40 killed and 100 wounded. We
prisoners