Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-06-26
THE BATTLE NEAR CHARLESTON, C.
Southern Account,

From the Charleston Mercury, Ilth Inst
Pot the last fortnight Hgbs al long taw has
been going on al intervals between the Secession
Vile battesr and the guns Of the enemy, and
eur aftillerymen have been much tagged by
their watching and eXeftions. They have done
much to keep the foe in check.
On Sunday might. tyc companies, consisting Of
ton Battalion, under Capt f. Y. slmons, and
Company A, Capt Smart, Smiths Battalion,
Were thrown out half mile In front Of the work.
The rest Of the men OF these two battalons of In
fantry, stationed at Secessionvile to support the
battery, were laboriously occupied during the
night. Two companies of Lamar's South Caro-
Ina Volunteer Artillery-Reid's Is and Rett's-
were also engaged In labor until a half hour Of
dawn, when they Were ordered by Col Lamar to
take nap. At break Of day the pickets came
running In just before the advancing foe. When
Col Lamar was notified, and looked out from
the work he was to defend, the enemy had ap.
preached to within four hundred yards. Bot
twenty I've Of the garrison were awake. 1t was
a complete surpriss. aud nothing bat the nerve,
Promptttrde and energy Of the officers especially
e1fy capture The first round was fired when
the column was within thirty PAGES Of the guns.
IL was well directed by Col Lamar himself. The
shot burst through the closed ranks with great
havoc, and the foe soon retired,
The wearied men, Started by the sound, or
aroused by shakes and bayonet punches from
Inelr oncers, sprung TO their guns. The two in
fantry oatalons rushed to their quarter for their
to the assistance OF the gunneTs Three land
batteries two sections Of Geld artillery. and three
gunooats oesdn &c open upon the work The
second charge Of the enemy was made and re-
pulsed with great slaughter. And again the
tnlrd. The accurate fire Of our rihenen, CO.
operating with the deadly discharges Of grape
ana canister, swept the field in front and cut
down the skirmishers, who, deploying on the
LEFT rank under cover OF some bushes, had come
up 70 the very work at that angle. In these sue
cessful Efforts, which occurred by five O'Clock in
tae morning, Col Lamar fell from tue effect Of a
Mimic ball striking him through the lower part
OF the ear, and running round his neck, under the
skin. To his cool courage and energy in the
early part OF the action Ia due the preservation Of
The position, under circumstances o! great peril,
from TIE surprise His brave example and per-
sonal efforts greatly inspired his command
Aiter Col. Lamar WIS wounded he was unable
to stand rom his great loss Of blood, and was car
ried of as soon as practicable His place in the
battery was filed by that able, accomplished and
in iefatieable OH Ger OF the regular artillery 1t
Col. L. M Wagner, being the next ficer in rank
present. As Col. Gailiard had been stationed a.
Ine post with his battalion for Some time, and
had done COED service, Col. Wagner, who was
only temporarily there, requested him.to assume
command, adding that he would aid him, and
take charge Of the battery This he did until the
conclusion OF the fight, between and O'Clock,
sustaining terrible hank FIRE, and directing the
gunnery with great GOODNESS and precision.
Upon falling TO storm the WORK or to flank Il on
the left or eastward side, the enemy drew of and
the small creek and north to the marsh. Here,
at the short distance Of about one hundred and
Nifty yards, three regiments, deploying in line of
battle and partially covered by a small growth
Of underbrush, poured upon the gunners OF the
work and upon the two batteries Of infantry,
drawn up facing them across the marsh, a con-
tnuous and deadly fire. The gun-carriSges were
penetrated and torn by many balls Many of our
men fell At the guns and along the line formed to
the rearward Of the battery on Its righ flank.
The contest was very unequal and trying. Il
raged for some time; but at this critical juneture
the Louisiana battalion came up ga,lantiy at the
double-quict, under its skilliuf officer, Lieut..
Colonel McHenrv. By the guidance Of Major
Hudson, Of Smiths battalion, 1t formed on the
forcement and its calling fire disheartsned the
foe Capt Boyce, with one gun of light artillery,
began to play on his rear. He began to fall back
fairly beaten of
ateiy on the right flank Of the battery against
these three regiments, formidable force Of the
foe attempted, by passing further out TO the west
to gain the rear Of our position But in skirting
the Eutaw Regiment, Colonel Simonton, who had
come two miles. Declaring they were friends
not to shoot-they got clese up and fred into our
men-khling many Bat the response they got
was cutting The wood edge was s,rewn with
the dying and the deed. Thirty or forty bodies
were picked mp here. The movement was fofled
Nothing was LEFT but retreat from every portion
1t was a bloody fight, fought against odds, by
exhausted men, without preparation. II was a
signal victory OF southern patrists over the in.
vaders Of their soil. The averegiments attacking
are said to be the 10Th New York Highlanders,
the 9Th Michigan, one from Massachusetts, New
Hampshire and Connecticut regiments. But
for the distance Of other troops and the brief
time occupied In the action, together with OBJ
structoni In the road, preventing the passage of
light artillery In the enemy's rear, their whole
force may, perhaps have been taken or cutup
From the account Of prisoners, who assert that
there were nine United States giments ont that
morning, II Is probable that four regiments were
held In reserve to support the We engaged, and
10 protect their retreat