The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1864-07-19
Army Intelligence.
SIEGE OF cHARLEsroN-367rB DAY

All day Saturday the city was alive with
rumors of the operations progressnp on
Johns and James islands and during the
afternoon the prevailing anxiety to hear
particulars from the scene of hostilities was
heightened by the rapidty and violence OF
the cannonadng heard in various directions.
The Morris Island batteries kept up q stea
dy bombardment of Fort Sumter, also
throwing, at short intervals, their shells
into the city, while, from the region of the
Stone, the roar of artillery from the enc.
mI's gun6oats, Smelling Battery Pringle
was ineessant.
On James Island the enemy's land forces
have made no special demonstration since
our last report. We learn that the total
number of casualties on James island since
the enemy's recent landing has been twen.
ty two About nine O'clock on Saturday
night the enemy sent three fire RATS up The
Stono for the purpose, probably of destroy,
ing the bridge connecting john and James
Islands. The RATS, however, were secured
before any damage had been effected.
MAJOR Blandng, lst 5. G. Artillery, com.
mnnding Battery Pringie, reports Oh Sa,ur.
day that Three shots fired in succession
from the Brooke gun struck one of the mon
itors. After the hrst shot two or more DO
dies were carried inside, and after tlre- sec,
ond thick volume ofsmoke rose fronIIht,
smoke stack.
1t seems that the first engagement on
Johns Island opeGed about three O'Clock
on Thursday attrrnOoa when the enemy
were discovered advancing up the Island
10 three lines OF battle; they were promp,-
iy-uiet 10y force Of infantry, artillery and
cavalry, and after making three desperate
assaults upon our lines, each of which We're
handsomely repulsed,by our forces, they
retired
The Marion and Washington Artillery.
of this city, and Co. ], of the % South
Carolina cavalry, fought with especial gal
lantry. The latter company lost live men
| Killed, out OF twenty carried into action -
| lhe most severc1oss on our eide was sus.
tanned on the right aud left cxtrcmit;es.-
| Captain l.. ii. keDan, OF the First Georgia
Regulars, !r"m Mi!cdgcvile, was painfully
wounded in the leg, aud Captain EEinii
| Hill, slightly in The hip. $e%
| The enemy, thus discomftted and beaten
back made no further demonstration Thurs.
day night; and Friday passed without any
more serious fighting than incidental picket
hiring and skirmishing.
The enemy, after Thursdays skiru.ishinp,
had taken up position about a mile and Il
half in front of Burdens Causway. They
had thrown up very heavy line Of en-.
| lrcnchments, which was strongly fortified
| with their artillery. Our Own line was not
more than three hundred yards from tha,
Of the cnemy's
About daylight our forces, under the
command Of General = B. II. Robertson,
moved forward to the attack.
Our men steadily aud gallantly pushed
forward to the storming Of the enemy's no
sition under terrific lire of musketry and
artillery. In leaping over their works many
OF the brave Georgjans were wounded in
the head, breast and stomach. principally
the latter. A desperate hand to. hand IN =.
counter also took place behind the fur,ti-
cations. The fight lasted about an hour,
when the enemy gave way along the whole
1ine, and were gradually driven back to
their second'lin Of entrenc hments, buhind
Burdens Causeway.
Daring the fight the enemy were rein.
forced 5y two regiments of infantry. We
| took but few prisoners, the hight being "A
most obstinate Ohe on both sides The
musketry firing ceased abont nine o'clock.
The artillery firing was kept up ill towards
| evening. Our loss was estimated at about
tfteen Killed, and from sixty 10 seventy
"OuHOtu
Our casualties in the action were about
eighty i've. Most Of our wounded were
shot 10 the bowels while taking the enc
my's lines. The enemy's force on Johns
island consisted of three brigades, comman
! ded respectively by Generals Saxton, Brswu
and Hatch. General Hatch was wounded
in the fight, The negro troops were placed
In the .enemys fron, white troops bring.
ing up the rear.
Thefe was no fighting, we believe, on
Johns Island on Saturday evening On
Sunday morning the cannonade was hushed
or at least intrequent, and about 10 l5 a.
m, the following gratifying despatch was
received:
H. SIGNAL STATION, }
CHARLEsToN, July 10, 1864
(By Signals from Johns Islana)
To General Jones The enemy retrsa:ed
last night am following.
(Signed) GEN ROBINSON