The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1863-07-17
The Assault upon charIeston.

the deiences at Charleston on tue luth.
We annex short account of the Fight
from the Co~ier:
At ten minutes past five on the morn
ing of Friday. the enemy opened fire up
on the work at the extreme South end Of
Morris Island. from his batteries on Fol
", firing fast and iuriously. About
twenty minutes afterwaId large mum.
ben Of barges. filed with armed men,
were seen behind Little Folly.
Capt. j. c. Mitchell, who commanded
this work. replied slowly and deliberately
to the furious bombardment. The enc
my's guns numbered considerably over
seventy; his earihworks We're of uncom.
mon strength, and afforded ample shell
ter to his gunners. The works behind
which Capt. Mitchell fought, were open,
and by no means as strong as those on
Folly, and while his battery was compos-
ed of six pieces, the guns that rained
iron hail upon his devoted Company,
were of large calibre and of the most
approved form.
But nothing daunted, that gallant Off
Ger and his worthy band stood to their
pieces, firing with wonderful accuracy,
and as cool as though they were trying
the range OF their guns upon some harm
less object. For four mortal hours did
these brave men bid active defiance to
the foe.
This skillful officer was aware he could
not hold that point against odds so over
Vhelmine; but with,a pluck and fruness
worthy OF the warmest praise, he contin-
ued TO reply TO the terrific fire OF his
powerful antagonist, till the rapidly in
creasing list of casualties in his heroic
company made il his duty, on the score
of humanity, to retire from the position.
And that movement was effected in a
manner that reflected the highest credit
on himself, his brother officers, and the
men of his command.
We are panied to learn that among the
casualties sustained by Capt. Mitchels
company are the death of Lieut.. Bee and
Private Dousherty; and the serious
wounding of Lieut.. Aston and Sergeant
Morse, of Col. Graham's Regiment.
After abandoning his battery, Capt.
Mitchell joined his forces with Col. Ora
hams, and they fought as vaiantly as
infantry as they had done as artillerists
At about half past nine o'clock, a. m,
the enemy landed in some force on the
Island. They were attacked by Colonel
Graham, at the head OF his regiment
The contest was sharp and prolonged
The enemy taught with spirit and OBJ.
stinacy. Oar men were exposed during
the whole fight to murderous fire from
the four Monitors, who hurled their enor-
nous missiles with telling effect. The
foe was also constantly renfoFfh from
Folly Island. Yet notwithstanSih these
advantages, the skill with which they
were handled and the valor with which
they fought rendered it impossible for the
invaders to make Roadway. They were
met with murderous vollles, and repuls.
ed again and again. But. still embolden-
ed by his superior numbers, and by the
potent aid OF his turretted vessels, the
enemy coninued the contest.
But despite the important advantages
they enjoyed, and the spirit with which
they availed themselves of them, the
Yankee hirelings were forced to yield tc
the indomitable courage. of our brave sol
diers. After several hours, bloody fight
ing, the enemy seeing the folly of at
tempting to gain victory over the men
who stood up against them, wavered
then fed in hot haste and confusion
leaving many dead and wounded on the
field. ~te
The fight was renewed on Saturday
morning The Courier of Monday morn
ing has the following:
About daylight Saturday morning the
enemy made determined assault or
Battery Wagner--no doubt intended tC
be surprise. The assault was led by
four companies of the 7th Connecticut
supported on the right and lett by tbs 9th
Maine and 10th Pennsylvania regiments
with the Sd New Hampshire, 18th New
York and 9th Connecticut in reserve
IN all, between four and five thousand
men. The front line advanced bravell
up TO the battery our men, according Il
previous orders, res4rving their fire until
the enemy had got within musket range
when terrible fire Of grape, canister anc
musketry opened upon the advance
Some few Of the foremost companies
rushed forward only to be shot down OIL
taken prisoners. The havoc in the from
lines caused the others to waver but fol-
moment, when they retreated precipi
lately in apparent confusion back behind
the sand hills.
tine enemy's loss is estimated to have
been at least fully five hundred. One
hundred Of his dead lay directly IN from
Of the battery, one hundred and thirty
unhurt and about eighty wounded were
taken prisoners. The commanding Off
Ger of the assaulting column, Gen. Strong
is reported by the prisoners to be serious
ly wounded. The last seen Of him ht
had fallen from his horse and vas carret
off the field by his men.
The bombardment of Battery Wayne
was renewed Sunday forenoon, about II
O'clock, by three of the Monitors, assist
ed afterwards hy two wooden eunboats
The firing was very heavy, and kept vi
for several hours. The enemy fired rap
idly, but wildly, eliciting only an occa
sional response from the forts on Morris
Island and Fort Sumter. Our casualties
through the day were two killed anc
three wounded. One shot from For
Sumter is said to have taken effect OF
one of the gunboats, as she Immediately
after being struck moved off, evidently
laboring very hard, as if her machinery