Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-21

The Operations against Charleston.

Correspondence OF the ~ L. llnles
HnToN HEAD, S. c., Wednesday, July IA,
1663.-rhe advent of General Gilmore has
awakened this department from its lethargy.
Taking Folly Island as the base, he has COM
menced siege operations against Charleston
which bid fair to result successfully. The
batteries on the southern extremity OF Morris
Island were captured on the morning of the
10th inst, and our troops now occupy the
island and are threatening fort Wagner and
Cummings Point batteries, which are situated
at the northern extremity, and command the
entrance to the harbor and fort Sumter.
On the evening of the 9th inst Gen. Terry's
division was sent up the Stone river to effect
a landing on James Island, near place called
Stevens point. This movement was partially
intended to occupy the attention of the enc
my and conceal from them the real object of
the large fleet of vessels lowering about
Stone inlet and movements OF the troops On
Folly island; all of which they could plainly
discern from a high lookout. AT nghtfall
small boats loaded with armed men, began to
dash out from either shore, noiselessly gliding
over the unruffied surface Of the water, with
mufIled oars, appearing by ones and twos, I'M
til they dotted the water, and like spectres,
silently disappeared. These men were to make
up Il narrow creek, which makes into Morris
island and there wait until moaning, when on
given signal they would assault the battery.
This force was under Gen. Strong, and con-
sisted of the 9th and 9TH Connecticut, the 4Sth
New York, the Goth Pennsylvania, the Sd New
Hampshire and the 9th Maine regiments. This
was the disposition of the forces on the night
preceding the attack. At daybreak on the
following morning the brush ndboughs which
had served to conceal the battery ON Folly ISL
and from observation were hastily removed,
and the guns exposed to the enemy.
The attack begun about o'clock, and con-
tinucd for two hours without intermisslon,
when three OF our ironclads were seen to APP
proach the land and open al enilading fire on
the right, and soon after four navy launches,
which had made their way through the creek,
openpd on the left. The report soon after
came from the front that the first fire had dis
mounted one OF the enemy's guns. The graf
flying intelligence was passed from mouth to
mouth, and we grew elated with hopes of VIC
tory. Soon after this the fire from the enc
my, battery slackened, and the signal was
given tor the force lying in the creek to land
and attack. The men, impatient OF delay,
rushed forward with shout to the urst nue. O1
rlilc pits, where the enemy made but snght
resistance, and retreated In disorder. our
troops succeeded i'll surrounding portion OF
them, and took SO prisoners, including several
officers. Those who managed to escape fled
to the other end OF the island and took refuge
In fort Wagner.
The next morning the attack was made on
Fort Wagner The assaultng party consist
ed of the seventh Connecticut volunteers,
seventy-sixth Pennsylvania volunteers, and
the ninth Maine volunteers, commanded by
Gen. Strong. The men advanced on the fort,
the seventh Connecticut in line Of battle, the
seventy-sixth Pennsylvania and ninth Maine
in close column, but when within few hum
dred feet of the battery they were met with
hot fire of grape and canister. The order was
given to lie down TO escape the murderous
hail. Soon the order "Forward" was given,