Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-07-18

iohs, caiilng on citizens to close their paces of
nssrne I, "so ,h ordering the arrest of all free
neeiees IN .ae CITY as they Were wanted TO work
On some unfinished defences on Morris Island
DurinR Tie cay some five or more transports
sSt.rearea S. on the haroor, and the Yankees in
stono river amused themselves during the d,v
ny smelling TWO points on James Island. The
ChaIieston Courier furnishes the following par
ncnlars OF the fighting on Friday:
The morning was fair. Light, ffeecy clouds
noaitd q slowly over the deep blue firmament
NOT n breath of wind stirred through tn
o1ah cnes, and the bay and ocean were smooth
and hriGht as mirror. The air was hot. heavy
al close, relaxing the frame and beading the
brow with drops of moisture. 1t was Just the
KIND OF weather to inf,ict the largest amount OF
inconvenience upon the enemy in those tur-
reted monsters, the pride of the Yankee ua,ion
Apout daylight Friday morning, q battsry OF
lne enemy, OF not less than fifty guns, together
VII WIN ABOUT nIteen boat howitzers, mounted on
theIhys oarges, and the guns from four Moni-
LOTS opened treme ndous fire on Capt Mitch
eils battery, completely enfiladng il on tn
IignI and isft causing some havoc among both
Tho fire from the hnat howitzers wore mar
ncuiarly destructive. The sharpshooters of
the enemy also did considerable execution nv
picking off the men at the guns 1t was by
one OF these that the gallant Lieutenant John
Bee was killed. Minnie ball striking and
passing through his head. The men, notwith-
standing this terrible shower of solid shot,
sheil and bullets, stood to their guns nobly,
and 1t as not until they were completely ex-
hausted, and the enemy who had landed in
" as given to retire.
2 The enemy succeeded in capturing Sc yeral Of
cur men, whose exhausted condition prevented
escape.
Captain J. Rayenel Macbeth and Lieut.. q.
Haywood are reported among the prisoners so
taken. II was stated yesterday that Captain
Nltchell was at one time in the hands of the
enemy, when his men rallied and succeeded in
getting him away from his captors After the
abandonment of the battery Captain Mitchell's
artillerymen fell back with the infantry TO Bat
Y "a n nfr han rhrarx
out a line of skirmishers and ad vanced, forming
three lines OF battle across Gregg's Hill to
Wagner's Hill.
The 2lst regiment Sopth Carolina volunteers.
Major Mclver commanding, and Nelson's bat
talon, together with artillerists, all under the
command of Colonel Graham, were sent for
ward 70 oppose the enemy's further progress.
Asevere fight ensued, and our forces gradually
fell back 10 Battery Wagner Two desperate
but uns uecessful attempts to carry the battery
by assault were made by the Yankees. In both
assaults the enemy suffered terribly, leaving a
large number of their dead and wounded on
the field.
The Yankees after this fell back to Vinegar
Hill. 1t is said they took and still hold pos
session of Col. Grahams former headq uarters
The enemy, after falling back. received REIN
fortements, and made 4 show OF again moving
against the battery. The force of the enemy
engaged Friday is supposed to have been about
four thousand. Our loss in killed, wounded
and missing will probably be about three hun
dred.
The firing on both sides ceased about half
past 6, when the Monitors withdrew The
report that one left during the engagement in a
crippled condition is untrue.
Tine whole four were engaged throughout the
action, and in the afternoon their fire upon
Battery Wagner was very severe We learn,
however, that the battery was very slightly
injured. An officer who observed the effect Of
our shots says they struck and rolled off the
sides and decks of the Monitors like SO many
marbles or pebble-stones. Capt. Haskell and
Lieut.. Bees bodies fell into the hands of the
enemy. Drs. r. B. Hannahan and Prioleau
are prisoners in the hands OF the enemy.
Capt. Langdon Cheeyes, an accomplished and
very efficient officer Of the engineer corps, was
Killed almost instantly by shell from Mon
itor exploding in battery Wagner and striking
him in the head. His body was brought to the
city last evening.
Fort Sumter opened OF the turreted monsters
and the Yankee infantry ON the south end OF
Morris Island, with what result we are unable
10 say. The fight doubtless will be renewed
TO- day with greater ferceness than any we have
yet seen.
The enemy has certainly shown a deep.laid
plan, and is determined to push it,
The following is 4 list of the killed and
wounded among the officers, Friday, on Morris
Island:
Killed-Capt. Chas. Haskell, Capt Langdon
Cheeves, Lieut. John Bee.
Wounded-Capt. J. w. Ford, Lieut. Alston,
Capt Wild, Capt. Thomas, Capt. Tarrin.
Mlsslng-Capt. Howard, Lieut.. A. p. Craig,
Capt Redoy, Lieut.. Woodward.