The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-11
L. HERSHMAN, editor
THE SIEGE-FINALE OF THE
CONTEST FOR BATTERY WAC.
NER UNPRECEDENTED bonn
BARDMENT EVACUATION OF
MORRIS ISLAND BY OUR FOR


MORRIS ISLAND RY OUR FOR.
CES, ETC.
The dawn of Friday last revealed q large
United States banner the hated flag of stars
and stripes-faunting from a work of the enc
my within ono hundred and fifty yards of
Wagner.
On the same morning, which, from imper-
feet information, we, in our last issue. errone-
ously reported, Just before 5 o'clock, with their
Parrot guns upon that fort; firing first upon
the flank curtain, and gradually edging towards
the centre. At n quarter past five, the Iron
sides drew up within 1900 yards, and COM
mcnced to shell with great rapidty. 1t was
not until q quarter to eight that she retired,
having kept up continuous fire for more than
two hours and a half.
At three o'clock on Saturday the enemy
again opened upon Wagner from all their land
batteries, assisted by the Ironsidcs, several
gunboats, and an occasional shot from the
monitors. This ombardmcnt-bevond al
doubt the most fierce and long continued
which has taken place against Wagner since
the beginning of the siege-lasted throughout
Saturday and Saturday night, and did not
abate until Sunday morning at eight o'clock.
Nor was this abatement of much duration.
The fire was soon renewed, and was continued
with little less vigor all Sunday.
1t was on Saturday night, however, and on
Sunday morning up to eight a. m., that the
bombardment ragged with its greatest fury.
The shots-many of them coming together,
rs from the broadside of ship-were often
more than sixty to the minute.
Our batteries on James Island of course
joined in the melee, and did their utmost to
annoy the enemy's land batteries.
About 10 o'clock the enemy displayed from
the deck of monitor off Morris Island an
immense calcium light, and several monitors
soon after moved up and opened on Battery
Gregg. Moultrie and Gregg replied with spirit.
AT quarter to two rocket was thrown up,
and ere many minutes elapsed the enemy were
deserted approaching Morris Island at point
between Gregg and Wagner. They had come
down in barges through the creek west OF
Morris Island, obviously with the design of
assaulting Gregg in the rear. Advancing in
line Of battle they were permitted to come
very near, when a nine inch Dahlgrcn opened
upon them at short range, with double CAMS.
ter. Our howitzcrs then commenced fire OF
shrapnel. and canister, while our infantry, ad-
miraby posted, poured into them fire of mus
kerry. Moultrie, Battery Bee, and Battery
Mitchell also opened upon them rapid and
most demoralizing fire. This they could not
withstand, and though for very short while
they maintained fire of musketry and grape
shot from their barges, they were soon forced
to withdraw, seemingly much surprised and
confused by their reception and our admirable
disposition.
1t is almost impossible to describe the terri
BILE beauty of the scene in Charleston harbor
as witnessed on Saturday night from the city.
From Moultrie almost to Secessionville, whole
semicircle of the horizon was lit up by inces-
can't flashes from cannon and shell. As peal on