The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-24

of the garrison, and. our casualties at sever
o'clock, p. H., were but four killed and fourteen
wounded. Of the enemys losses from our fire
if any, we have, Of course, no trustworthy &C
count. Fort Sumter, which bore part in the
action, sent several shells into the Craig Hill
Batteries, and also into the camp of the enemy
about three and a quarter miles distant it is
believed, with good effect.
THE NIGHT ATTACK.
A few minutes before eight o'clock our pick
cts gave notice that the enemy, in heavy force
was moving to the assault The attack was
not unexpected, and our men, though much
jaded by the fatigues and exposures of the day
sprang to their places with zeal and alacrty;-
The enemy advanced in two columns of about
5000 men each, the whole under the command
of Brigadicr General Strong. The column
which attacked our right was composed parti-
ally of negro troops, who were put in the ad-
vance. On our left, the other column al-
vanced with spirit, under a severe fire from the
Dahlgrcen gurs and Columbiads Of Fort Sum,
quick, the guns of Battery Wagner also opened,
When the enemy had reached point about
sixty yards distant, our infantry posted behind
the parapct, poured CALLING fire into the
moving masses; the Yankees, nevertheless, in
considerable force, succeeded in gaining the
trench, and began to Chamber up the sides of
the battery. At this moment, Lieut.. Watiees,
of Blake's Battery, who was in charge of two
brass howitzers belonging to detachment OF
artillery under Capt DePass, of Whites Bat
talion) opened a raking fire which swept the
stretch, playing terrific havoc in the ranks Of
the assailants. The howitzcrs had been as
signed to this position which they occupied so
advantageously y for us; at the instance of Col.
Harris, of the Engineers, all the horses belong
ing to the section having been put hors du
combat during the day. Twice the enemy was
driven back at this part of our works (he lcft),
and the trench filled with the cnemy's dead
attests the severity of the conflict there.
On the right, the negro troops were met
with terrible cross fire of musketry. Here
were posted, among other troops, the Charles
ton Battalion, and these gallant men behaved
in manner worthy tile fame their organi-
zation had so dearly won at Secessonvlle.-
The second assault was still more desperate
than the first but it was met and recoed in
the same gallant style by the brave troops,
Georgians, North Carolinians, and sons of our
own city, who stood shoulder to shoulder in
the fight.
In the centre of our lines small body of
the enemy succeeded in gaining odgmcnt in
a salient, the gun Of which had been disabled
Here they maintained their position for more
than an hour. A gallant but unsuccessful at
tempt was made to dislodge them, in which
Captain Ryan fell, and it was not until small
force of Gcorgians had asccnded the mag eaznc
and thus gained a position to command the
salient that the audacous Yankees surrender
ed. At the time that this occurred the firing
elsewhere had ceased, and the Georgians ac-
complshed their purpose without firing gun.
The movement by which this was effected was
undertaken at the suggestion of Col Harris.
THE RELATIVE LOSSES.
The fight lasted from eight until eleven D.
M, and was of a desperate character through
out. The enemy's losses were very heavy
His killed and wounded must have been at
least fifteen hundred The number of his
dead left on the field and buried by us ycstcr-
day exceeded six hundred. We captured over
two hundred prisoners, including few of the