The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-25
ed. Probably many more we're added to

Oh Ine 11Cn Georgia Volunteers.
Under cover of their ceaseless fire, the
Yankees had approached on Sur day within
forty yards Of Wagner.
During the bombardment of Friday last
the brave and Jealous Major Marley was
wounded at Wagner by the fragment of a
shell. He was struck on the ankle, but the
wound is said not to be severe.
About nine o'clock P. M. of that day, he
was put into barge-the Leo, belonging
to Gen. Ripley-to be brought to the city.
Of this barge, with its gallant freight, and
of its crew, which was made up of white
men, nothing has been heard up to the
present moment. The inference is that it
was captured, with all on board, by re-
connoitering party of the enemy, whose
small boats nightly patrol the water be-
tween Morris Island and Fort johnson.
Col. Rhett's boat, returning from Morris
Island to Charleston on Saturday night,
with Lieut.. Jones, passed between several
| OF these providers, and were not fired on,
probably on account of the contemplated
attack on Gregg. II.
On Sunday, Commander A. F. Marley
went down in the Juno, under flag of
truce, to carry certain dispatches, and also
with the purpose of discovering the fate of
the missing officer. He was fired on four
teen times, but came to anchor under fire,
and was met by Ensign Porter. This Off
Ger replied to the Commanders inquiries
"that he had been away' on Friday
night, and that, though he had heard there
had been capture, he was not aware
whether Maj. Marley was among the pris-
oners or not. He added that he would
inquire, and if Maj. Marley was a captive,
he would inform the Commander when
the dispatches were answered. No reply
has yet been received.
1t will scarcely be believed though
what would not one believe of Yankee p
that the shore batteries fired for some time
on the Juno, utterly regardless of her flag
oftruce. Eight shots were directed at her,
even after she had come to anchor, with
the white ensign of peace at her 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.
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 earthwork has undergone in all the
annals of warfare The immense descend
ing force of the enormous Parrot and
mortar shells of the enemy had nearly laid
the wood work of the bomb-proofs entirely
bare, and had displaced the sand to so
great degree that the sally-ports are al
most entirely blocked up. The parallels
of the enemy yesterday afternoon had
been pushed up to the very mouth of Bat
terry Wagner, and it was no longer posi-
BILE to distinguish our fire from that of the
enemy. During the entire afternoon 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 impossibiGty of long
or holding Morris Island became apparent,
and it was determined that strenuous eff
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 success.
About six o'clock, yesterday afternoon,
the orders for the evacuation were deliv-
cred to Colonel Keitt, commanding our
forces on the Island. Every was at
once made ready for the abandonment of
Batteries Wagner and Gregg. The dead
were buried, and at nightfall the wounded
were carefully removed in barges to Fort
johnson. The guns, which for so many
weeks had held the foe at bay, we're
double-shotted fired, and spiked; the
heavier pieces were dismOunted, and the
carriages rendered worthless. The pre-
liminary preparations being thus conplet-
| ed, the work of embarkation was noise
| ly begun, and the brave men of the garri-
son. in forty barges were soon gliding
| from the beach they had held so stOutly
and so long. The evacuation was conduct
ed by Col. Keitt, assisted by Major Bryan,
A. A. G and the success with which what
has always been considered one 0. the
most difficult feats of warfare has been per-
fored, is worthy of the highest praise. Bat
teries Gregg and Wagner had beth been
carefully mined, with view to blowing
them up 1t was about one O'Clock this
morning when the last three boats, con-
tanning Colonel Keitt and a number of
his officers, just left the Island. The slow
match was lighted by Captain Hugenin at
Wagner, and by Captain Lesesne at Gregg;
but, owing to some defect in the fuses, no
explosion took effect at either Fort.
During the evacuation the enemy was
not idle. A constant fire of shell was
kept up against Wagner, and his howit-
ger barges were busily plying about this
side of Morris Island, to prevent the re-
treat of our men, But, fortunately, the
night was murky, and all our barges, with
the exception of one containing about
twelve or fifteen men, passed in safely.
A little before O'Clock this morning
the following was received from Major
Elliott, commanding Fort Sumter:
Fort SUMTER, Sept. 7-2:4O A. NJ.
All the garrison of Morris Island who came
here have been shipped. Lieut.. Haskells boat
from the Chicora was captured by a 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 en-
emys first success on the 10th of july.
The defence of the Island had been pro-
4