The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-10-03
Battle OF sEcEssIoNVILLE.
4 Clarendon Confederate Soldiers De-
scription of Hard.F Fought Battle.


To interest and entertain the readers OF
the TINES I will write an account of the
Battle of Secessionville, as well as / re-
member it, it being the first battle I took
part in during our late war for Southern
Independence.
Twenty-six long and weary years have
rolled by, and many have been the changes
that have taken place since then. Seces-
| sionville is situated OF james Island, six
miles south of Charleston. At this place
was very strong battery for the defence
of Charleston from that direction. For
possession OF this battery the battle was
fought, the Yanks wanting to take it, and
the Rebs not wanting them to have it.
Hence the difficulty. The battery was 10
Gated in front of Secessionville, facing in
the direction of Battery Island then in pos
session of Federal troops, and separated
from it by Stono Inlet To the rear of the
battery was marsh running around several
hundred yards to the right of the battery.
thereby protecting its right flank. The
same marsh protected its left flank also.
It's hanks and rear thus protected left no
means for an enemy to approach it but
from its Immediate front This marsh in
the rear of the battery separated the island
into two parts, necessitating the building
of a bridge from point to point in order, in
case of attack, to reach the battery, in
short time. with troops stationed on this
part Of the island, the grounds around
and about the battery being too small to ac-
comnodate many troops without crowding.
The troops occupying the battery and the
grounds near by were the Charleston Bat
talon, infantry; and few artiIlerists known
as LaMars Battery, he being the captain
of the oatsery. In this battery were two
pieces of canon: one ten inch columbiad,
and one smaller p;ece, q twelve FOUNDER I
believe. Its infantry support was the
Charleston Battalion. On a part of the
island separated by the marsh running in
rear of the battery was stationed q Loulsl-
ana battalion, known in these days as the
Louisiana Tigers. About mile and
quarter from Secessionville, on the road
known as the Fort johnson road, leading
from SecessionvilIe to Fort Johnson, was
held in reserve forty-nire men Of the
oath Regt., S. C. "; and thirty of Co. G., of
which 7 was member, commanded by
Frst Lieut.. Hamiter; and nineteen men Of a
company from Edgeield, (its letter have
forgotten, commanded by Capt. Tompkins,
all being under command of Col. c. b.
Stevens. The reason of our being IN re-
serve was that the enemy had become so eve
rywhere present we had to picket thelsland
by whole regiments, a company here and
there, and the two companies under Lieut..
Hamiter and Capt. Tompkins being the
smallest, were heldin reserve. The rest OF
the regiment was on picket duty on ad-
vanced posts of different points OF the IS
land. About one mile from where We
were on this same road, in the direction OF
Fort Johuson, was camped the Eutaw
Battalion, commanded By Col. Symiton, af-
terwards the 25th S. G.. V. This much
covers, believe, the positions that the
troops occupied in the battle. We now
come to the engagement.
On the morning of June lG, 1857, the
Federals numbering, it was SAID, tVe
thousand men, advanced to assault and
carry by storm the works at SecesSlonv1lle.
Everything seemed to favor their plans.
Having successfully eluded or captured the
pickets between them and the works, they
pushed their confident columns with all
speed, aud before the defenders OF the
worksswere aware Of their approach were
within one hundred yards Of the works.
The guard at the works had become care
less, showing that there were pickets IN
their front; and knowing this, they depend
ed too much upon them, and were not Vlgl-
LIANT enough. The troops within and
around the works while enjoying the sweets
of an early morning nap, were thus taken
by surprise and at disadvantage. But
soon recovering from their surprise, they
promptly got in position, and poured
CALLING FIRE of musketry into the ranks OF
the advancing legions, causing them to re-
| coil and mix up. The artillery IN the mean
time was in position, aud training their
two pieces to bear upon the enemy, oeiched
| forth their missiles Of destruction upon
them with terrible effect. The enemy, re-
covering from their warm and unpleasant
reception, reformed and with determined
efforts gained and poured into the works IN
overwhelming and crushing numbers. The
gallant defenders, having done all mortal
men could do, began to give way, and 1t
seemed that the works would soon be the
enemy's, but at this critical junctnre the
Louisiana Battalion, who had been apprlsed
of the attack, moved forward at q double
quick, crossed the bridge in rear OF the
battery, and threw themselves forward with
full force into the works among the enemy.
A desperate struggle ensued, hand to
hand conflict with dubbed muskets and bay
onets. The enemy were driven out IN
confusion, and once out our boys could
hold it, for we now had about as many men
| in the works as could well handle them
selves. The enemy, though driven out OF
the works and chating under disappolnt-
ment, reformed and redoubled their efforts
to regain the works, but in vain, for the
defenders poured such O shower Of IRON
and leaden hail upon them that they were
willing to cease their efforts.
Leaving the engagement at the battery
we will go back to the reserve OF the 24th
Regiment, The fight at the battery had
been going on short while before We were
aware OF it. The morning being cloudy
caused dense fog to nearly envelop the
island, which suppose was the reason OF
our not hearing the firing. At that time
also the larger part of the command was
asleep. The first tidings we received OF the
| attack was a courier riding up the road at
! full speed, and in excited tones enquiring
where is the commanding officer. He was
pointed to q large live oak tree, where the