New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-07-20
Gen. Gilmore Goes to Work-The Attnek
on Morris IsInnd-Cnpturs Of tho lat


on Morris IsInnd-Cupsurs Of tho Hat
teries.
Ttsn Our Special Correspondent
MoERis ISLAND, two mi!ss from Fort santsr,
July 10. 1852 : ..
On the 18th of June Gen. Gilmore arrived in the
Department of the South, and on the 18th assumed
Command, and Immediately entered upon tho dis
charge Of bis duties.
Scarcely hsd bis staff officers taken their seats in
the bea6qusrter rooms at Hilton Head, the day be-
fore vacated by the staff Of Gen. Hunter before the
Chief Z nsrtermsster Of the Department was called
upon for transportation to Folly Island and in few
moments thereafter the little steamer Mary Benton
was seen speeding Of the bay and over tho ocean
toward Charleston with the General commanding
tie department on board.
Steamers from Beaufort from Fort Pulaski, from
Eernandna, and from 81. Simon's Island with Of
6c.rs Oh board who desired 70 pay their respects 10
the new commander, came up 10 the wharf at Hilton
Heed, but upon learning that Gen Gilmore bad
more important business, on hand than even TO he.
come personally acquainted with his principal Of.
fcers returned TO their posts and awaited hs pleas
IRE for an interview.
Upon arriving al Folly Island, Gen. Gilmore die
covered that the southern point of the island, COM
mandiDg Stono and Folly Rivers and also Coles
Island was sufficiently fortified to prevent Excursions
upon tue transports in the little harbor from the
Rebel iron-clads; but that upon the extreme north
point commanding Lighthouse lnlet and the south.
err point OF Morris I.lsnd, lot y single earthwork
had been erected nor gun mounted, and nothing
bu, few picke,s scattered thinly along the beach
Offered any resistance TO the Rebel occupation Of the
island. So strong wac the southern extremity, AND
81 at (.en etnE ~
70 the officer in command Of the Island that could il
be turned around on pivot, several weeks hsrd
shoveiing and engineering would be saved to him;
but as il was, all tire available troops must take
hold aud accomplish in twenty days what, II com
mencsd IN time nish have been extended through
three or four month";.
Folly Island II will be seen by refercnce 10 the
accompanying map. is a strip Of land extending from
Stono River TO Lighthouse lulet distance OF sevon
miles, and from tic ocean TO FOLLY RIVER one mile
Tie lower twothirds Of the island 10 covered with
thick growth Of palmetto and pine trees, the up
per one-third consists Of low Darshy swamp with
the exception Of the small point running out upon
Lght-hOuse Inlet, which is covered with thick
stuuted growth OF live OAK and palmettoes, spring.
ing out Of sand bills made from the sea, ranging
from ten 10 twenty feet in hight, and to the quick
perceptive faculties of Gen. Gilmore furnishing ad
miracle positions Tor masked batteries.
On Morris Island, OIL the opposite side OF Light
House Inlet. tie RebelA had already erected, since
the late naval attack upon Fort Sumter, several
batteries, in all mounting line heavy colu Ibads,
and three leni-nch mort.rs, all bearing upon Folly
Island, the mouth Of Lighthouse Inet, and tho
approach 10 the Island via Folly River. Three OF
these guns alec upon pvots and could be brought
10 bear upon monitors or gunoOats In case they
should again make tie attempt to reach Charleston
through the southern channel.
At The time Of Gen GillmOro's arrival upon Folly
Island the Rebels were aware from several little
night Reconnaissance they had made, that no guns
had been mounted by us upon The extreme northern
point; that the ouly thing resembling al esrthwork
was at the southern side OF the swamp, and that
wooden Instead VI non cOluubiads were mounted III
them.
After Gen. Gilmores arrival and naturally sup
posiDS tbht new commander would adopt differ
ont plan from the General he had superseded the
ke5els commeoced the slmost daily practice Of
throwing d few sheils over to Folly leland intend
ing thereby to be able to prevent the erection OF
batteries directly bearing upon their Own. Gen.
Gilmore kept his counsel maintained the pro-
foundest silence If anything weakened instead of
strengthened bis picket force, did not in ID single
instance reply 10 their cannOnsdiDR but during the
day tine did everything he could 70 lead them 10
suppose that be was simply standing on the de-
fsnsiye, and had no thoughts OF entering upon
active campaign until the hot Summer months had
passed.
But, quiet LISTERS and idle by Daylight, at night
ne worked with almost superhuman energy. The
sAhu-hiiis NJ the northern point OF Folly Island
teeEed with hie. Hundreds Of spades and shOyels
nightly flashed in the moonlight but not in sight OF
Tue heoeis; From Hilton Head, huge z or,sIs and
Coluu blahs and Parrot guns were put On board Of
Transports which, under the hight Of the stars
the moon, sailed for S,ono Inlet, discharged their
cargoes, and before moraiug dswned were OH their
Istu'n TO the point OF their departure. From Stone
ltlet these immense guns were dragged TO the bat
teres erected for them through ssnd.roads over
winch II u almost impossible 10 urge your horse
faster than Il walk. Immense quantities OF rourd-
shot ANA shell, heavy t.mbers, pouderous derrlcks
and cta1es, IN fact. everything necersarv 10 COM
plet the works by man ana horsepower, were
IaEspofted during tho night, at times through ter.
iihc ifundersiSQps, 10 The exact poeitiop required
oy TIE engineers in'sL ~ 81 -hc works.
In Iess than three weeks ten batteries-in all con.
tanning forty-eig,t guns Of tiss heaviest caliber-
were erected within foar huislred yaiin Of Tie enc
Tr works Wiiloq; Lis having lhe slightest saspi.