The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-08-01

The Attack ON Fort misunderstanding
TO Biame-south Atlantic Bloc kadtng
Squadron News, SO. o@

oguAorou NoWs, NO.
ouR NORRIS ISLAND CORRESPONDENCE.
MosRs ISLAND, 8. c., Juiy IL, 1884.
The movement made on the morning Of the ID INST.
by the One Hundred aud Twenty seventh New York and
the Fifty Pennsylvania Volunteers assisted by
q detachment OF sixty from the Third Rhode Island
artillery all under tho command Of Colonel Quincy OF
The One Hundred and TWENTY New York volun-
teers, surprise and capture Fort johnson, James
island, lying between this island and Charleston, and
enecualy commanding that hotbed Of treason and rebel
lion, has been duly recorded BY tho HERALD The failure
OF that movement bold in its conception so brilliant
Ia the results to which might reasonably have been
expected lead has been attributed 90 the ateness OF
the at which the troops embarked In their boats
from this island and to the low state OF tho tide at the
time OF their Decentralization James island and also
- alleged failure OF the New York regiment to support
tho Pennsylvania regiment which was in the advance
But why was tho embarkation delayed 30 later Why
did not the boats push OF two O'Clock instead Of wait
ing till half past four O'Clock, when the water low
that they could not fail 10 get aground and when the
dawn day expose the assaants to the view
OF the assailed? We're not officers familiar with the
ebb and flow OF the desphenomena OF daily occurrence
under their eyes. And Wherein and why, did the
supports tail TO aid their friends in the advanced
The TACT u.s. these lame will do They arc
not satisfactory any respect court Of inquiry should
DO uoe ~ oncc W ~ was
not blunder alone series OF bIunders for which
Colonel Quincy should be called that caused
disasters. IL will be well 10 note some IT these blum
ders but not Of character proper to be made
| public.
| The movement two hours too late The command
Ing officer Colonel Quincy did not accompany the troops
be should have done, but remained this sandtoo
distant from tho troops to DO Of any account except TO
create confusion.
In the absence of Col Quincy, the immediate command
devolved on Col HOyt, who may may not have been
aware OF the fact Col Hoyt became separated tram his
.totsn rnn mol
I Conyngham, upon whom the immediate command now
deyelved, looked about Tor Colonel Hoyt, and becsne
| prisoner himself Then ensued confusion battling de.
scripOn The Fifty second regiment and the dctach.
ment Of artillery had landed uuobseryed, withn Htty
yards Of Fort johnson. One volley ouv was fred when
tine oiicer q cannot learn with certainty who II was)
the order 10 retreat and general skedadde took
| place. snay one company OF the Now York regiment
la ded rsn the boats Yet must not he said that they
failed TO SUPPORT their comrades They destined to
disclosed hey were not ordered TO support the Penn
eylvana regiment, and only In certain contingency,
were TO be called on Tor thar purpose.
The whole affair occupied less than half an hour.
have since learned from several intelligent persoussome
OF whom James island at the time that the force
actuay IN Fort johnson when troops disembAr<ed
did not exceed twenty and that the whole force on the
island was less than one hundred and Atty. etr
The troops are not TO be blamed Had they been well
directed bad oiccr with energy and spirit dashed
forward at their head Fort johnson would have been
ours with small loss in killed and wounded Battery
1 Smpkips would also have been ours and Charleston
might then have been occupied by troops at almost
| any hour when they SO cheosed.
The greatest disgust prevails among the ard
wonder Fort johnson cannot he second time surprised
The garrison has been reinforced and OF the
rebel has dropped anchor oil James island pre-.
vent any further approach OF boats