Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-07-13
Siege Matters.
Three Hundred and Sirty First Day

Three Hundred and .Sirty First Day.
Since our last report events of consider
able interest have taken place within the
circle of hostilities of which Charleston is
the centre.
During Friday night the enemy crossed
over from the upper end of Dixon's Island
to Legsre's Point, and at daylight on Sat-
urday morning advanced on Rivers cause
way. Here they were met in gallant style
by Lieut.. DePass, in charge of a section of
Blake's Light Battery, lst S. G. (Regalar)
Artillery, then on picket duty. With his
two guns he promptly opened a.brisk fire,
delivering fifty two rounds with good effect,
driving back portion Of the enemy's force
in some confusion. The enemy soon allied,
however, and again advanced. Our artil.
lerists stood to their position nebly, and, as
it proved longer than twas prudent, for, be.
ing entirely without infantry supports at
hand, they were compelled to retire, and
through the desertion of ono Of. their dri-
vers Originally deserter from the Yam
KEGS, they found it impossible to remove
their pieces in time, their assailants being
but forty yards distant, and both guns fell
in the hands of the enemy. The caissons,
however, were both saved.
The musketry fire lasted three quarters
of an hour. Our batteries opened heavily
on the enemy's advance and checked them
at the causeway. 1t was reported Saturday
evening that gunboat and barges were in
Stopo, but no further development took
place before nightfall.
The enemy's force in this affair is esti-
mated to have numbered 1900 under COM
mand of Col. Heiner, of the 103 New York
regiment. From deserters afterwards taken,
we learn that the Yankee loss in the ad-
vance was 96 killed and wounded. During
the remainder of Saturday no more fighting
took place. On Saturday night the enemy's
lines seemed quiet, stretching from Grim
along the causeway. Their force at
that time was believed to be about 5000.
Gen. Ialiaferro commands our forces on
James Island. -,
Simultaneously with this movement a
column of the enemy was reported adyanc.
ing up the Stono on Johns Island, in the
district commanded bS SrGen. Robertson.
All this, however, seems to have been
mainly designed to divert our attention
from the rea! point Of attack:
THE ASSAULT ON FORT JOHNSON,
Early yesterday morning dispatches were.
received by Gen. Jones, announcing that
the enemy had made a, determined assault
upon Fort johnson, in 4S ba.ges, but were
handsomely repulssd by the garrison Of that
post, under Lieut.. Col. Joseph A. Yates,
1st SIC, ARTILLERY. NE captured in the
affair lao prisoners, lib stand Of small arms
and FIVE barges, Only II out of the 4S
barges which made the attack were seen to
return to Battery Gregg. The following
official dispatch gives some additional par
ticulars of the assault.
RoYAL's HOUSE, July 8, $50 am.
Captain Felden, A. d. G..
In the absence of Col. Black, I have the
honor to forward the following report of
Lieut.. Col. Yates; -&
.. & + 4 *
The commander of the expedition, Col.
Hoye, SD Pennsylvania Regiment, says the
expedition was about five or six hundred
strong, but the Adjutant who is mortally
wounded, says they were one thousand
strong. His statement is credited by most
of the prisoners. have the honor tosre-
port the capture of one hundred and forty
prisoners, including five commissioned Off
GERS and some wounded, also FIVE barges,
one hundred and fourteen stand Of small
arms, with accoutrements. "
The enemy's loss in killed and wounded
cannot be estimsted, as most of the wound
ed were taken off. We will be able to tell
better at low tide. Our loss was very small.
The expedition was composed of men of the
army, who advanced in two columns of
barges, about 2S in number, one column
around Gregg, and one down Schooner
Creek. AS far as ascertained they number
ed 1000 strong. The expedition vas form
ed at the south end Of Norris Island. The
prisoners have left for Charleston. The
enemy brought implements for entrenching,
also ratiols.
(signed) j. R. PRINGLE,
Lieut.. and A. L. General.
[Oficial:]
CHAs. s. STRINGFELLow, A. A. G.
We are gratifed to be able to state on
official authority that the enemy on James
Island fell back hastily before our troops
sent forward on Sunday to. feel them, and
that our picket line is now re.established
where it was before the move began.
General Robertson reports that the ene-
my landed at White Point, and advanced
to Kings Greek, whore they were met, and
after sharpsskirmish fell back. Our loss
very slight.
The bombardmeDt of the city goes on
Thirty shots were fred on Saturday and thir.
ty three on Sunday, up to six p. m. There
has been considerable firing on the Stono
and Edisto, and brisk shelling of Battery
Pringle has been kept up. Two monitors
were in Stono yesterday. Heavy firing was
going on up to the hour at which we went
to press last night, but we could not ascer-
tain the cause.