Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-07-27
Mlistellaneuns &eadiug,
REMINISCENSES OF THE WAR.
NIGHT ATTACK ON MORRIS ISLAND, JULY
IA. 1868.

IL, loOo.
lCo James H. Ron in Charleston Weekly News1
This is not intended as dignified historical
sketch, but rather as cosy cold soldiers talk
with my former companions-in-arms, to whom
minute details and even egotistic garrullty
will have peculiar interest.
The Union forces had effected landing at
Oyster Point, south end of Morris Island, al
daylight of the 10th of July, 1868. On the
morning of the 18th they made their first dis
astrous assault on Battery Wagner. They
then continued landing troops and building
earthworks In Battery Wagner were some
of the First Regular Artillery, Capt. Boag's
company, Capt. Chichester's company, De-
Passs Battery, the Fifty-frst North Carolina
the Twelfth and Eighteenth Georgia Battal
ions, the Twentieth South Carolina and the
Seventh South Carolina Battalion. Gen. TAI.
iaferro was in command, and Col. Yates CHIEF
of artillery.
On the morning of the 18th we found oul
bomb-proof nearly skinned by
THE FIRE OF THE IRONCLADs
and gunboats. had been placed in charge OF
working details to strengthen the bomb-proof
and supposed my labors were ended for that
day at least. When 1 heard in the afternoon
attack on the enemy's first line that night
did not regard myself as in anyway individu-
ally interested :; and when told that l was to
lead the party very confidently pronounced
the report to be mistake. Late in the even.
ing volunteers were called for from the differ
ent commands, each one being limited, and
the whole to amount to one hundred and hfty.
The party assembled, consisting of sixty rank
and file from the 51st North Carolina, under
Capt +. Switzerland and two lieutenants, one
each from Companies E and whose names
cannot recall thirty from the 7th Battalion
under Capt Dore Seegurs and Lieut.. Louis
L. Clyburn !; twenty-five from the 18th Geor-
ga Battalion under Lieut.. Tutt twenty from
the Goth South Carolina under Capt Cowan
eighteen from the 18th Georgia Battalion,
Lieut.. In all one hundred and ffty-one
rank and file, and eight commissioned officers.
After being inspected by Major TWlggs, (noW
Judge Twiggs, of Augusta, Georgia. of Gen.
Taliaferro's staff, they were dismissed to their
quarters to await orders.
| At dark was sent for by Gen. Tallaferro.
He then informed me that Gen. Beauregard
| had ordered reconnaissance that night by a
party of volunteers to be commanded by me,
| for the purpose of ascertaining the position
and strength of the enemy's first line, and to
endeavor to capture one or more prisoners
from whom information might be obtained
as to what troops had by that time been land
ed on the Island. He stated that after my
work during the day he would take the respon-
sibility of substituting another field officer,
but he could find none sufficiently acquainted
with the island. then thought I would Sc
cure the substitution by informing him that
my knowledge of the island at night was con-
fined to the half mile had fought over in the
morning of the assault of the 18th. But, after
a consultation in an undertone with the otfi-
GERS present, he informed me that Capt. Chi
chester stated that he had man who was per-
fectly acquainted with the island at night,
and he (Gen. Taliaferro) would have to ask
me to 60, while l was at liberty to decline.
So, was in for
THE NIGHT ATTACK.
! At O'Clock the attacking party was assem-
bled, and after putting my sash and musket
ball in my pocket, and leaving my watch,
sword belt and scabbard with Col. P. Nelson,
I Joined the party, accompanied by Major
Twiggs and Captain Chichester's man Coffee.
We went out followed by strong night pick
et Gen. Taliaferro told me that Major Twiggs
would further inform me of what it was de-
sired for us to do.
When about a quarter of mile from the
battery we were halted and the picket set to
work throwing up breastworks, and was dl-
rected to advance about 200 yards and keep on
| "
Some half hour after we had taken our posi-
tion Major Twiggs came to us and further ex-
planned the order Of Gen. Beauregard, and
told me he would return about midnight if the
works were then completed, and that we
would then start. I then requested him to
give personally such warning as should secure
us from being fired into by the picket, no mat
ter in what order we fell back, or by the bat
terry, if, as might happen, both the picket and
ourselves fell back OH the battery, and to i'm.
press the Importance of the caution, told him
of the experience of the battalion on the
morning of the 18th when our principal loss
had been from the fire of the battery.
After sending out scouts to the front, and
ascertaning that for some distance there were
no enemy's videttes, l commenced forming
the acquaintance of my command, and drilling
them in the tactics l intended to use that
night. / placed ten men deployed across the
island with unloaded guns, under Lieut.. Tutt.
The command was then divided into Two
wings, the first being fifteen PAGES behind
Lieut.. TUFTS line, the right wing commanded
by Capt. Seegers directed to follow Lieut..
TUFTS right man, and to halt whenever he
stopped; the second wing, commanded by
Capt Switzerland, fifty PAGES in rear Of the
right wing in echelon, its right directed to
keep little to the left Of the left of the right
wing and to halt whenever the advanced wing
halted. A sergeant was detached to keep {
position half way between the extremes OF the
two wings nearest each other, SO that the real
wing by keeping connected with him might
not be thrown out of position on account OF
the darkness. The skirmish line was to halt
upon seeing an enemy and Immediately tt
unmask the command. Neither wing was tc
fire without my order to that wing: the firing
to be delivered standing, but the loading
done kneelng. / then exercised the command
in advancing, joining wings; and especially il
retreating, by the left wing firing while the
right wing retreated fifty PAGES to it's rear
when the right wing was to keep up firing un
til the left wing retreated fifty PAGES to it
rear, both wings keeping all the time in eche
lon. Of course there was no actual firing, eV
erything being done rs noiselessly as possible
About midnight Major Twiggs returned, re
peated the instructions and told lis to 60.
WHAT HAPPENED TO Us.
We moved quietly forward, Coffee and my
self on line with the right wing and opposite
to the centre Of the left wng-a safe position
from our own fire, if preceding orders wer
obeyed. We had reached a point about three
quarters of a mile from the Battery where TIN
island narrows between the ocean on the left
and the marsh on our right, and going down
slight slant, when observed a halt OF tn
skirmishers. This was followed by four or liv
scattering shots and then Immediately by
line of fire about 200 yards in width, some 4
Yards to our front. l gave the order, "Righ
wing, fire - This was Immediately followe
by a splendid volley from Joth wings. Coife
fell Feeling for him with my foot, | foun
his body gone. | rapidly placed myself Oh tn
left of the right wing, out of range of the fir
of the left wing Our men kept up well-d
rected fire at the line of flashes, while
THE BULLErs OF THE ENEMY
pooct1v ovar orr heads I then tllrr