The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1863-07-18
TIE ADVANCE ON CHARLESTON.
CAPTURE OF THE GREATER PART OF
NORRIS ISLAND.

NORRIS ISLAND.
A Terrific Bombardment- Splendid Charge by
Strong Brigade-Capture Of Elsren Batteries
Only taco Fort ematning-Disasirous Charge
ON Forts Wagner-Intrep,d,ty Of the 7th Conn.
Our Losses Small-One Hundred Rebels K,Hed
One Hundred Wounded, and One Hundred
and Tuenty Taken Prisoners-FuH and .authen-
tic .Account.
We have obtained from reliable sources, a full
account of our victory at Morris Island. We are
obliged for want of space greatly to condense the
details but we give all the essential facts.
Since Gen. Gilmore's arrival in the Department
the greatest activity has prevailed, but all move
ments were made with such judicious secrecy and
caution, that no suspicion vas excited among the
rebels or at the North, that the Department Of the
South was to be distinguished by an active cam
paign.
Brig. Gen. Vogdes was relieved as Post Com
mandant at Folly Island by Brig. Gen. Seymour,
Brig.-Gen. Strong was placed in command of a
fine Brigade, guns and ammunition were trans
ported to Folly Island by night, and the plan of
building batteries on this end of Folly Island,
where nothing but our own troops and vessels
could ever come, was changed for one of batteries
at the 'front.' where we could defend .ainst attack
or assume the offensive.
Large fatigue parties, consisting sometimes of
six regiments, set at work each night, build
ing batteries under the direction Of Gen. Vogdes,
with Gen. Seymour, also supervising and Lieuts.
Suter, Wilson and Mcguire, of the Engineers, to
attend to details, We had admirable Typographical
advantages. The point was surrounded by range
Of sand bluffs, and covered by dense growth of
wood and chaparral. While our men worked,
erecting lmpregnable defences and mounting bat
teries which they could not Withstand, with all
their preparation, the rebels supposed we had only
q small picket force there, and amused themselves
by wasting shell in the woods where they supposed
our pickets to be located. The arrangements had
teen made for an attack on the morning Of Thurs
day, July 10th, but Providence had ordered it
otherwise, and decreed that Friday should be the
rebels unlucky day. 1t had been arranged that
Gen. Stevenson's Brigade, and Col Montgomery's
colored Brigade, should go up on transports, on
Wednesday night, to join Terry's Division, which
had an important part to perform CT James Island
During the night gale arose, there was high
wind and heavy sea, and the transports were
obliged to lay off the bar till morning. So the at.
tack was postponed FOR day, and the plan sufh-
ciently changed to ensure success in case the org-
nal one had been discovered.
The principal features Of the plan of attack were
as follows:
A general bombardmcnt Cf the rebel works
from all the batteries at Camp Seymour, on the
front of Folly Island. Cooperating with the
navy. in bombarding the forts at the other end OF
Morris Island. An attack with boat howitzers on
the rebelriAc-pi,s, protecting the exposed flank of
their works. Capture of the rihe-pits by a charge
with four companies of the 7th Conn. stormins
of all the works by the remainder of Strong's
brigade, landing from Folly River. Occupation of
portion of James Island by strong force under
Gen. Terry to operate farther at the proper time,
under verbal Instructions
All these features of tie plan were most sue
cessfuly executed, without single failure in any
particular. We have TIE orders containing these
plans, but they are too lengthy for our columns.
The brigades outside the bar came in on Thursday,
and the movements accordingly all came off that
night. The attack commenced at five clock on