The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-09

MS tull view up and down the river, revealing
plantation houses nestled among The foliage and
pendant moss of the live oak and pine. On the
mainland picket fires were still burning before
huts deserted by the skedaddling occupants, and
cattle and sheep wandering about were proof of
the haste in which the landing place had been
vacated for MS.
An old dock was quickly repaired by the inge-
nury Of our mechanic soldiers, p0ntoon boats
were rapidly put in motion, aud in short time,
men, horses, artillery, and supplies were on shore.
LANDING or THE NAVAL BRIGADE.
The Naval Brigade had landed before us, and
was reconnOitring about the neighOorhood ia
search of information.
The Naval Brigade was differed as follows
Commander George Henry Prehle in command.
Lieutenant Ohane, of the Sd1g1mon, COM
manding the lst Company Naval Infantry.
Lieutenant Whitehead, Of the Paionee COM
manding the ID Company.
Marine Corps-Frs Leu'cnan, G. G. StOddard,
of the Netc Hrn,pstirei AdJutant j. Il. Stanley,
OF the philadelphia.
The following were the staff Of Commander
Prebe -
lieutenant. Commander A. I. Gresham, OF the
HtSSdhtCkOH, Adiutant,
Charles Barton, of the Phiiaaelphjg, Ati-do-
Camp.
Acting Assistant Surgeon wm j. Bowdlo, of
the Naval Hospital.
Assistant Surgeon E. NJ. Corson, of the Nan
tucket.
Ensign Walter Cooper, of the Philadelphia.
Acting Assistant Surgeon IL. l.. Gibbs, Of the
Norfolk Packet.
Acting Assistant Paymaster D. A. Smith, of
the Nahant.
7. II. Fraser, of the IgTssaiicton Clerk to the
Adjutnnt
The following officers were also with the
Lieutenant Commanding Il. o. Matthews, of
the Naval Battery.
Lieutenant W. Hayward, of the Naval Bat
terry.
Acting Master George Cabcs, of the ST.. Louis
Acting Ensign NJ. j. Daley, of the SOn0ma.
Acting Ensign Charles Boyer, OF the South
Carolina.
Acting Ensign J. A. Edgar, Of the Naval Bat-
Acting Masters Mate William Saul, of the
CdmehG
Acting Masters Mate William Merrill, of the
FIag.
Acting Masters Mate A. T. Tafc, ofthe Ca,alpa.
THE ADvANCE-THB FIRST DAYS OPERATIONS.
| As soon as a suticisnt number of troops had
landed, General Hatch sent the 32d United States
| COlored Troops, Colonel George w. Baird, and
| the Naval Brigade up the road 10 strike into the
country. They proceeded to the first crossroads
without trouble and, later in the day, were Joined
| by other regiments, when an advance was made
| up the main road to the right several miles. A
| bait was made at another CROSSROADS, near the
| Coosahatchie road, at dark, the Naval Brigade
| led by Commander Preble, in the advance.
The troops rested here for few minues, inn
| proving the time to prepare their evening coffee,
| Mt the expense of turlong or so of Rebel rail-
| fence, and were then ordered back TO the cross
| roads. There they Joined column from the
| landing, under General Potter, and turning to the
left of the said road, marched several miles to the
| southwest. In the march up the COosahatChie
| road there was some skrmishing with the piCkets
| along nearly the whole route but in the other
| direction our column was only fired on once.
About two miles west from the crossroads
| where the first halt was made is another corner
| where the Grahamsville road crosses the one we
| we're marching upon. In the corner there is Il
| church. Near there the enemys cavalry picket
| discharged their guns at our cavalry in advance,
| and then fed. After proceeding some miles up
| that road our whole force returned to the church
| and enCampGd for the night.
| The long marching had made the soldiers
| weary, and some who had eaten nothing since
noon preferred sleep to food, and laid down sup
| PEERLESS, but satisfied.
ADVANCE ON THE ENEMY.
| At about o'clock in the morning, just as our
| columns were being formed for another advance,
| a message came from Captain George r. Hurl-
1 burt, commanding the advance cavalry, that the
| enemy were advancing down the GrahamsWlIe
road in force with cavalry, infantry, and artillery.
Soon after they opened from two twelve
| FOUNDERS, placed in the road, upon our skr.
mishers, consisting of the l27th New York,
| Colonel Gurney. Several regiments and some
| artillery were at once pushed on up the road,
Generals Hatch and Potter both proceeding with
| the advance.
| OUR TROOPS MOVE.
On the left of the road, for n quarter of a mile
| or so, were dense woods, and next a small cotton
field, bounded by "A creek beyond which were
again thick woods, with a heavy underground
| On the right of the road was q skirting OF trees
with fence and two bitches, and beyond wide
field, reaching to the creek Generals Hatch and
Potter personally superintendent the disposition
of the infantry and artillery in the two fields and
in the road, the l27th still skirmshing through
the woods and up the road beyond the creek.
| While the staifs of the two Generals we're in q
group in the road, and just as both of the latter
| had jumped their horses over the bitches, solid
| 6hot-the first one hred-Came rlcOchetng down
| the road and struck among them. Thesh nearly
amputated horses leg.
ARTILLERY IN POSITION
Our artillery soon got into position, under the
| direction Of Lieutenant Colonel Ames, Chief o
| Artillery of the department. Battery b, Sd New
| York Artillery, opened on the Rebel battery
with several pieces and the l27h New York
| supported by the Hath New York, Colonel Lewis
and the 32d United States Colored Troops Colo
| mel Baird, also kept up a fire on the enemy, anC
soon caused the whole force to retreat, which they
did in rather poor order.
THE LOSSES IN THE WOODS.
Our loss ia going through the woods after
crossing the creek was considerable. Lieutenant
| Colonel Geary, of the 32d United SJate
Coored Troops, was the first man wounded il
this his regiments erst fight. He was struck by
a grape shot, which doubled up his sab:e anC
caused a confusion Of the groin. He was very
indignant At being wounded so early in the en-
gagement. Captain Penet, of the lilth had
leg shattered, but continued cheering his mel
while his leg was being temporarily bandaged
| Private Van Buren, of his company, had bott
legs shattered and maugled above the knee by
discharge Of grape.
THE ENEMY TRIES FIRE.
On the right of the road little further on
was a field covered with dry grass, which th
| Rebels set on fire. partly 1t was suspected, will
| designs on our caissons, as we advanced. Som
| of the fighting occurred here our men advancing
through fire and smoke and burning Goals.
THE RNRIY's POSITION.