Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-09-16

was met by Ensign Porter. This officer re-
piled to the commanders inquiries, "that
he had been away" on Friday night, and
that though he had heard that there had
been capture, he vas not aware whether
Major Marley was among the; prisoners or
not. He added that be wouldi6quire, and,
if Major Marley was captive, he would
inform the commander when the dispatches
were answered. No reply has yet been're-
ceived. -'a -. '.-
It will scarcely be believed (though what
would not one believe of a Yankee y that
the shore batteries fred for some time on
the Juno, utterly regardless of her flag of
truce. Eight shots were direpted at her,
even after she had come to anlanehor, with
the white ensign Of peace attber fore. Nor
did they fire badly Several shots passed
through her rigging, a few dashed the spray
into the faces of the crew, and not one
passed more than five steps from the ship.
EVACUATION OF MORRIS ISLAND
To sum up the events through which we
have just passed, Battery Wagner has been
subjected during the last three days and
nights to the most terrific fire that any earth
works has undergone in all the annals of
warfare. The immense descending force
of the enormous Parrot and mortar shells
of the enemy had nearly laid the wood Of
the bomb proofs entirely bare, and had dis
placed the sand to SO great degree that
the sally ports are almost entirely blocked
up. The parallels of the enemy, yesterday
afternoon, had been pushed up to the very
mouth Of Battery Wagner, and it was no
longer possible to distinguish our fire from
that of the enemy. During the entire af-
ternoon the enemy shelled the sand hills in
the rear of Battery Wagner (where our
wounded lay) very vigorously.
Under these circumstances, and in view
of the difficulties of communication with
Cummings Point, the impossibility of long
er holding Morris Island became apparent;
and it was determined that strenuous ef.
forts should be made at once to release the
brave garrison of the island, who seemed to
be almost within the enemy's grasp. This
desirable result was accomplished with the
most commendable promptitude and sue
cess.
At about 6 o'clock, yesterday afternoon,
the orders for the evacuation were deliver
ed to Col. Keitt, commanding our forces on
the island. Everything was at once made
ready for the abandonment of Batteries
Wagner and Gregg. The dead were buri-
ed, and, at nightfall, the wounded we're
carefully removed in barges to Fort John.
son. The guns, which for so many weeks
had held the foe at bay, were double.shott-
ed, fred and spiked; the heavier pieces
were dismoanted, and the carriages rem.
dered worthless. The preliminary prepara-
tions being thus completed, the work of
embarkation was noiselessly begun, and the
brave men of the garrison, in forty bprges,
were soon gliding from the beach they had
held so stoutly and so long. The evacua-
tion was conducted by Col. Keitt, assisted
by Major Bryan, A. A. G. ; and the sue
cess with which what has always been con-
sidcred one of the most difficult feats of
warfare has been performed is worthy of
highest praise. Batteries Gregg and Wag-
ner had both been carefully mined, with
view to blowing them up. 1t was about l
o'clock this morning when the last three
boats-containing Col. Keitt and number
of his oficers-left the island. The slow
match was lighted by Capt. Huguenin at
Wagner, and by Capt. Lesesne at Gregg;
but, owing to some defect in the fuses, no
explosion took place at either fort. .
During. the evacuation, the enemy was
not idle. A constant fire of shell was kept
up against Wagner, and his howitzer barges
we're busily plying about this side of Nor
ris' Island, to prevent the retreat Of our
men. But fortunately the night was MUIR
ky, and all our barges, with the exception
of one, containing about twelve or fifteen
men, passed safely.
A little before 8 o'clock this morning,
the following was received from Major El-
liott, commading Fort Sumter:
Fort SUMTER, Sept. 7.-2.40a. m.
All the garrison of Morris Island who
came here have been shipped. Lieutepah
HaskelPs boat from the Chicora was cap.
tured by Yankee barge. Two of the crew
came to Fort Sumter, and report that all
our troops had left the island.
STEPHEN ELLIOTT,
Major Commanding.
Thus ends the defence of Morris Island.
The issue has been foreseen since the enc.
my's first success on the 10th of July
The defence of the island had been pro-
longed far beyond what was deemed pos
sible at first, and the brave garrison who
have held it deserve the admiration of their
countrymen.
The aggregate of casualties in the strug.
gle for the island have been, on our side,
about 700 killed, wounded and missing -
The enemy's loss is estimated at about g.
O00 The successful evacuation, after the
glorious defence of forty eight days, is un.
der all the circumstances, a most gratifying
military event.
THE ASSAULT ON FORT SUMTER.
The news of the assault on Fort Sumter
and the repulse Of the enemy, announced
Wednesday morning, was the subject
Of general copgratulation among our citi. |