The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1863-07-18
[Another Account From One of Our Correspondents.]
THE CdARLE5TON EXPEDITION.


THE CHARLESTON EXPEDITION.
Our force, ON Morris Island-James Island occu
pied in Force-Our Iron Clad Fleet engaged.
MORRIS ISLAND, JULY l4rH, 1868.
Mr.. Editor AS full details of our present
successes in this vicinity would fill a volume your
readers must be content with the following brief
summary of events:
As soon as General Gilmore assumed command
in this department he immediately decided upon
and commenced his offensive operations against
Charleston and its deiences, choosing as his point
of attack the southern extremity OF Morris Island.
Siege batteries were erected with the utmost Sc
crecy on the northern end of Folly Island, for the
nurpose of reducing the rebel batteries, and gain
ing foot-hold on Morris Island.
Our batteries were built undet the immediate
snperyision of Leuts. Wilson and Mcguire, the
former of the 1st u 5. Art, the latter of the N.
Y, Vol. Eng, and the work itself was done by the
following regiments: N. Y. Vol. Engineers, 99th
Illinois, SD Ohio, 9th Ohio, ooth fenn a., 4tn
n. H.. and 9th Conn. They were completed IN
seventeen DAYS, and on the 9Th instant, we had
erected two lines of siege batteries mounting forty
seven guns and mortars, under the very eyes OF
the rebels, and yet they were so unconscious OF
ony such danger that General Ripley, in command
ofth.ir force, on Morris Island, made an examl-
nation of our position on Folly Island with his
feld-glass on the 9th inst, aad said that we nad
nothing there but battery OF two guns ana II
addition, he ordered that one hundred and hfty
mon should come over on the following night and
drire our picket force a,ray.
ON Thursday evening, everything having been
comp. eted, General Terry's forces on transports
conveyed by the Pawnee and Com. McDonough
moved ND Stono river, to eff-ct landing On
lanes Island The irol,.clad Nantucket also ac'
companied them. The Pa,rnee and McDonough,
she led the shore in advance, and before dark the
expedition was we'll on its way to cooperate 10 TIE
general plan.
That night also, General strongs brigade mov-
ed up Folly river in launches with munlea oars,
nreceded by four boat-howitzers. his Drigade
,vas IN conceal themselves on the left flank OIL
Morris Island, and at the proper time, storm the
rebel batteries. c,,. r:u
AT four o'cllck Friday morning, Generals Gill
more, Seymour and stafs, proceeded from tne
White House to our lookout on Folly jsiaEd,
which is one hundred and forty-fve feet high, anu
distant in the rear of our batteries aoout Two
miles. These General s, accompanied Dy Co.onei
Turner. Major Smith, Lieut's Bragg and WeDber,
aecended the look out which commands view OF
th ocnntrv for miles around. At quarter OF five
O'Clock. party of axe-men cut away the trees anu
b,nsh which. had concealed our batteries from the
enemy and laid bare to the astonished gaze OF the
rebels. our embrasures and their glistening guns
The reb. pickets, and those on the rebel batteries
parapets, stood aghast with astonishment' ana
neither moved or fired upon the axmen, as battery
after battery was exposed to view: Inc monitors t
Catskiu, (aag-ship) Montauk, Nahant and Wee
6arIen, had now mooved up the channel and were
waiting for the signal of attack when they were
to enfiade by theft fire the rebel batteries
Our arst and signal gun at quarter past five, was
thirty pound parrott on the right ih,s snos net
disabled one of the rebel guns. AT this sgnai, our
batteries under the command of Genera Vogaes'
opeued simultaneous fire and the rebels rephea'
their first shot was from theil battery on the ielt
batteries. bait The monitors also opened at O'Clock,