Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-09-12
TIE EvACUAT.Oy OF MORRIS ISLAND,

THE EVACUATION OF MORRIS ISLAND,
The Charleston Mercury of 7th inst, gives the follow
ing interesting particulars Of tho evacuation Of Morris
Island
Battery Wagner has been subjected during the last
three days and nights the most terrific fire that an,
earth york has undergone in the annals OF warfare
Tie descending force Of the enormous Parrott
and shells of the enemy had nearly laid the wood
work of the boomprooi5 entirely bare, and hid dis
p!scsd the sand great q degree that the sally por
sro .mos. eIitcly blocked up. The parallels of the
enemy yeNerdav afternoon had been pushed Hp 10 tie
very mouth Of Battery Wagner and il was no longer
possible TO distinguish our ire from that OF the enemy
During tie entire afternoon the enemy sheed the sand
hills in tbs rear of Battery Wsg76r sbere wounded
lly) vary vigorously:
Under these circums. snces and in view OF the dill
culties Of communication with Cummings Point, the
mpossibity Of longer holding Morris Island became
apparent and il determined that strenuous efJr
should be made TO release the brave garrison Of
the Island who seemed to be almost within the enemys
grasp This desirable res Il accomplished with the
most commendable prOmputude and success.
AZ about six o'clock yesterday aferncon the orders
f., tire evacuation were delivered to COL Ket, COM
uandine our forces on tic Island. Everything ut
once maze rosdy f9r tho abandonment o! Batteries
Wagner and Gregg. Tie dead were buried, and at
ngh,fa the wounded we're carefully removed in bSrges
TO fort Johnson The gln1 which, for 80 many weeks
lad held the 70, at bsy, were dcuseshoted, flied and
spiked tho heavier EisSssFsere dfsno lEted aud the
carria ges rendered w6rfess Tie preliminary prepa-
ratous being thus completed, the work Of embarkaton
vas n-is,essy begun and the brave men OF The gar
ri.on in forty barges, gliding from tie each
they Lad held 80 stcu;ly and long. The evecnIon
was conducted by Colonel Keitt assisted b. Ga Bryan,
A. A G aud the success; NTH which what ha, always
been considered 81 the most difficult feats OF war
fare hos been performed il worthy Of the highest praise
b, tercs Gregg and Wag Ter al both ceen carefully
mined, with view to blowing the IL Ut. IL VAS ABOUT
one O'Clock iris morning wh.n !h- last three boats
containing Colonel Kett aud number Of h,3 tfi;ers-
Jeff TIE Lind The SLOW match wa lighted by captain
Huguenn at Wagner and by Captain Leeesue At Gree g.
bu, owing 10 some de,ect tie fuses, no explosion
took place 1t either fort.
During the evacuation the enemy was rot lie a
constant fire of shell kept W against Wagner ana
his howitz,r bsrges busy plyng aboui this sid"
of Morris Isaac to prevent the retreat OF our n9a
But fortunately the night murky, aud all our
with the exception of one, containing about twelve or
fifteen men, passed in faely
Thus ends the defence of Morris Island. The Issue
has oeen iofeeen snca the enemy first success on the
lO.lr of July. The defence of the leland had been
prolonged lar beyond wnat deemed possible st hs,
and the brave garisons who have held it. deserve the
admiration Of their coun:Iymen.
The aggregate OF cl;uates in the Struggle for The
Island have bseu on cur side, about 7O0kled, wou"d-
ed and mi sing The eGemys loss is estimated at about
900. The successful evacuation, after the glorious
defence of As days is, under all the circumstances,
most gratifying military event.