Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-07-13
From charles.on Courier of Monday, 11tA.

Saturdays Fight On Johns Island.
AT an carly hour Saturday morning heavy and
rapid discharges of musketry and light artillery
in the direction of Johns Island we're heard in
tho city. News was seon after received of Sc
we're fight on Johns Island, and the cheering an
nounccmcnt made that the enemy, after hard
aad stubborn resistance, had been driven from all
his positions. About nine o'clock the following
dispatch was received at Headquarters from
Johns Island
~ MAJ. j. SrRIsGFELLow-I attacked the one
my, who was expecting mo, at daylight this
morning, and am driving him at all points. We
have passed the line of works he occupied ycster-
day. Our casualties heavy.
/ (signod) B. II. ROBERTSON,
Brigadier- General"
From an officer who participated VIC learn the
following facts:
The enemy, after the previous days skirmish-
ing, had. taken up position about mile and o
hslf in front of Burdens Causeway. They had
| thrown up very heavy line of intronchmcrtst
a mile long, which was strongly fortified with
their artillery.
Tho force of the enemy behind the intrench-
| ments was sestimated nj about three thousand men.
A des.rtur who came in said that it consisted Of
nine regiments, and we're commanded by Gems.
| Saxton, Brown and Hatch. Gen. Hatch wa.
wounded in the fight. The negrs troops were
placed in the enemy's frort white troops bringing
up the rear. Our own line Was not moro than
! AZ. a.. hat NO
About daylight our forces, undOr the command
Of General E. II. Robertson, moved forward to
| the attack. The infantry were commanded By
| Col. Geo. Harrison, Of The S2d Georgia, and the
artillery by Liont. Col. Del Kemper. Our ad-
vancs troops consisted of tho 32d Georgia, 1,t
Georgia Regulars, 47th Ieorgia, Bonncaus Geor.
sia Battalion and part of the 4th Georgiacaralry
! together with ths Marion and Washington Artil
lery.
Our men steadily and sallnntly pushed forward
| to tho storming of the enemy's position under Q
terrific fire of musketry and artillery. Ip leap
ing over their works many Of the brave Geor-
gians were wounded in the head, breast and stom-
acb, principally the latter. A desperate hand to
hand encounter also took place behind the forti-
fcntions. The fight lasted about an hour, when
the enemy gave way along tho whole line, ard
were gradually driven back to their second line
Of intren chments, behind Burdens CauaeWsy.
During the fight tho onemy were reinforced by
two regiments of infantry. We took but few pris-
oners, the 6.ht being most obstinate one on
both sides. The musketry firing ceased about
nine o'clock. The artillery firing wa. kept up
! till towards evening. Our loss was estimated at
about seventeen killed, and ninety three wounded.
! The following dispatch was received at Head
quarters about haIf-past twelve o'clock Saturday,
"Forr PENRERroy, July 9, 12 NJ.
Light artillery firing With occasional vsllies Of
murketry i, still heard on Johns Island ,t-adily
| rcceding Southnards in the direction Of Lcgare.
Vile, where the Yankee gunboats are stationed"
A later dispatch front Gen. Robertren was re-
i'c ived about six o'clock, which stated "that tho
: emy mas supposed to DO abandoning Johns
7 land. A llrgo number Of transports could be
seen at the wharf at Legarevile, and men OBJ
served passing to and from the boats, whether
| leaving rith their wounded or landiDg more
troops, vas not definitely ascer.ained. Our cas-
ualties were estimated at about enc hundred kill
| cd and wounded, The latter being principally in
I the stomach"
The enemy abandoned hia position on Johns
Island during Saturday night, burning the bridge
after thcm-' AT 1o.l4 A. NJ. Sunday morning, The
following despatch WAS received:
SIGNAL STATION,
.CHARLEGToS, July 10Th, 1864,
By Signals from Johns Island.
To General Jones Tho enemy rotreatcd last
night. Lam following.
(signcd) General ROBERTSON.
Several transports loaded with troops from
Johns Island left the stono Sunday afternoon,
and went round to Morris Island.
large transport flied with troops came in from
the South Sunday, and anchored behind Morris,
Island.
Unusual activity was>obscrred among the troops
on Morris Island Sunday, ard it was believed that
smother attack va, mcditatcd on our James Is
land batteries
The wounded arrived in the city about six
o'clock Sunday. morning, and we're received at
and distributed around from the Louisiana Hos
plluls tU tuc uoSPiIt'S Va kho Wy
ATTACK ON BATTERY SIMKINS.
About ,'elock Sunday night, the enemy in
barses attempted to surprise Battery simkins,
but was again ga!lantly driven back, only three
of thersbarges cifocting landing. The others
could not bo brought up to the effort. Shortly
after ten o'clock the following official dispatch
was received from 1t Col. Yates, commanding
post:
"Fenr JoHssos, July 10, 1854.
Tho enemy, Immediately after dark, expecting
not to find us en- the nlcrt, malo an attempt to
take Battery simkins. We opened upon then.
heavily with artillery and infantry, driving thom
back: Three of their barges Effected landing,
but finding TINT tho balance of the expedition
could not stand up to it, they took to thoir boats