were all in position at Paine's Dock. It was arranged between Colonel Hoyt and myself that his regiment should lead the advance, moving by the right flank, and when he (Colonel Hoyt) had gained sufficient ground to the right he would flank to the left in line of battle toward the works on Johnson's Point. I was to continue moving by the right flank, passing to the rear of the Fifty-second Pennsylvania, and when I had gained sufficient ground to the right to get all my boats in line beyond the bar I was to flank to the left and advance toward Simkins. With this understanding the boats left Paine's Dock at 2 a. m. I had formed the regiment into three divisions of five boats each, Captain Gurney commanding the right, Captain Allison the center, and Captain Henry the left. Each chief of division had a lieutenant in his boat and each of the other boats was commanded by a commissioned officer and ordered to follow their division leaders. My own boat contained, besides myself, the adjutant, sergeant-major, a bugler, and signalman, 4 oarsmen, and a cockswain.

Before we reached the mouth of Vincent's Creek I found that Captains Gurney and Henry's divisions had passed ahead of eight or ten of the boats of the Fifty-second Pennsylvania. I ordered them to halt and allow the Fifty-second Pennsylvania to pass. Soon after the line halted I went forward to see what the trouble was, and found that the boat immediately in advance of the boat containing the major of the Fifty-second Pennsylvania had halted without cause and was between 200 and 300 yards in rear of its file leader. I asked the major if he was aware that the boat ahead of him had stopped; I forget what answer he made, but soon after the line moved on slowly. When near Fort Putnam the line filed to the left and advanced a short distance and again halted. I went forward to see what the matter was, and again found that a number of the boats of the Fifty-second Pennsylvania had halted without cause. While urging them to move on, Colonel Hoyt came from the right of the line and ordered them to move on faster, saying that the other boats were half a mile ahead. Again the line moved on somewhat faster. At this time day began to break. In about ten minutes afterward I discovered that a large number of boats were congregated together, some of them with their oars locked, none of them trying to move forward. I found that they had inclined too much to the left, and were south and east from the bar that juts out from Simkins and close to the land. On the other side of the bar I saw two or three boats moving toward Johnson's Point. There was a narrow break in the bar through which the boats could pass. I ordered all the boats of the One hundred and twenty-seventh that I found there to go through the break as fast as possible and land with the boats ahead. Among this group of boats I found the major of the Fifty-second. I said, "Major Jayne, why don't you exert yourself, and order your boats to move forward ?" I cannot remember what reply he made; some one in his boat said that they were awaiting orders, or that somebody wanted to give orders. I asked if the colonel or lieutenant-colonel was there. I could get no answer. About 100 yards in rear of this group I saw a boat that looked like the one used by Colonel Gurney; thinking he was aboard, I rowed out to it. I found it contained Lieutenant Haviland, who was acting as aide to Colonel Gurney. I asked him where Colonel Gurney was. He said Colonel Gurney was at Paine's Dock. I told him that the boats would not move forward. He said,

"Shall I tell Colonel Gurney that the movement is a failure?" to which I made no reply, but went back to the boats. I called to the officers of the boats and asked them to land their men; just then the rebels fired their signal gun and immediately opened with their batteries. I called to them again to land; that it was their only chance to save themselves. Some of the boats moved forward through the break in the bar as if to land. Soon after the signal gun was fired the rebels opened a musketry fire from Simkins, which rapidly increased in volume, but without much effect, as we were about 250 yards from the works. When I saw that the boats showed a disposition to land I ordered my boat to pass through the break in the bar in order that I might land above Simkins. As I was moving forward a pontoon got foul of my boat and crowded it against the bank. At this time the rebels fired very rapidly, and were sweeping the beach with grape and canister from a gun at Johnson. I could not see a man or boat on the beach, but as far as I could see to the right the boats were retreating from the beach and heading toward Sumter. Concluding that the movement had been a failure, and that the order to retreat had been given by Colonel Hoyt, who I judged to be on the right, I ordered my boat to go about. I then found all the boats that were behind me were in full retreat, excepting Captain Henry's pontoon, which had previously landed on the marsh in front of Simkins, and were still firing at the rebels behind that work. When they found that the attack had been abandoned they took to their boat and got off without the loss of a man. I ordered my boat to head for Fort Putnam and finally went into Vincent's Creek and landed at Strong, as my oarsmen had been constantly at work from the time the troops commenced to embark.

If the proper spirit had been shown, if the efforts of the colonel and lieutenant-colonel of the Fifty-second Pennsylvania had been properly supported, I think the movement would have been a success. For my own regiment, I can say that both officers and men obeyed promptly and cheerfully all the orders I gave them.

Following is a list of casualties in my command: Private Lake, Company A, contusion on shoulder from shell; Sergeant Wells, Company G, arm, slight.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

EDWARD H. LITTLE, Major, Commanding Regiment.

Reports of Col. William W. H. Davis, One hundred and fourth Pennsylvania Infantry, commanding brigade, of destruction of blockade-runner Presto, and operations July 1-6.

HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,

Morris Island, S. C., February 6, 1864.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report, for the information of the major-general commanding, the part taken by the Morris Island

batteries in the destruction of the steamer Presto, which attempted to enter the harbor of Charleston on the night of the 1st instant: After passing safely through the fleet, she struck on a bar on the Sullivan's Island shore, between Forts Beauregard and Moultrie. She was discovered to be aground at reveille on the morning of the 2d, when the three 30-pounder Parrotts in Fort Putnam were immediately opened upon her. The first 3 shells (time fuse) burst over her, driving away the men who were engaged in discharging the cargo. At 8 a. m., the 300-pounder Parrott in Battery Chatfield was opened upon the steamer with good effect, 1 shell striking the furnaces. About this time two monitors moved up and commenced firing at long range, most of their shots passing over or falling short. Fort Strong opened soon after, firing a shell every fifteen minutes from the 200-pounder Parrott until 7 p. m. A 100-pounder Parrott at Strong was opened at noon and continued to fire until daylight the next morning. The fire of this gun, with that of the two 30-pounders in Putnam, prevented the rebels from getting any of her cargo during the_night. She was set on fire about noon and burned for two hours. During the afternoon her mainmast was cut away by a shell from our batteries. On the morning of the 3d, the 200-pounder at Fort Strong threw 15 shells at the wreck, of which 5 struck the hull. The vessel was again set on fire in the afternoon by the 30-pounder Parrotts in Putnam and burned until dark. The fire was kept up from the 30-pounders through the night of the 3d and morning of the 4th until daylight, to prevent anything being taken from the wreck. The iron-clads kept up a fire during the 2d, 3d, and 4th, but with little accuracy. The night of the 4th, the rebels constructed a foot bridge from the shore to the wreck, and since then I have caused a shell to be fired at intervals to prevent their obtaining any of her cargo or other articles which may not have been destroyed.

While our batteries were shelling the steamer on the morning of the 2d, the rebel batteries on Sullivan's and James Islands kept up a heavy fire. They threw 400 shells, which burst in and around our batteries, wounding 2 of the Third Rhode Island Artillery.

During the 2d, 3d, and 4th, 769 projectiles were thrown at the steamer from our batteries, of which Chatfield threw 34 300-pounder shells; Fort Strong, 74 200-pounder shells and 86 100-pounder; and Fort. Putnam, 535 30-pounder shells. The distance of the steamer from the batteries is as follows: From Fort Strong, 3,600 yards; from Battery Chatfield, 2,700 yards, and from Fort Putnam, 2,600. The vessel is a complete wreck; she was a side-wheel steamer. I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. W. H. DAVIS,

Colonel 104th Pennsylvania Vols., Comdg. Post.

Brig. Gen. JOHN W. TURNER,

Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS DAVIS' BRIGADE,
Hilton Head, S. C., July 14, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my brigade in the late expedition to John's Island down to the time I was wounded and obliged to go to the rear:

The brigade, composed of the One hundred and fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, One hundred and fifty-seventh and One hundred

and forty-fourth New York Volunteers, embarked at Hilton Head on steamers on Friday afternoon, the 1st of July, and left the harbor about sunset. Upon opening the sealed instructions given me before starting, I found my destination to be North Edisto, and accordingly steamed in that direction. We arrived off the bar at 2 a. m., but were obliged to wait until daylight before we could cross. Entering the mouth of the river I disembarked my brigade at Seabrook soon after sunrise, and by order of Brigadier-General Hatch, commanding, pushed forward to Haulover Cut, 5 miles from the landing, at the point where we were to cross to John's Island. The One hundred and forty-fourth New York Volunteers had the advance, and when they arrived at the cut, they found a small body of rebel cavalry there, which retired without disputing the passage. Colonel Slidell threw out skirmishers and secured the approaches on the side of the enemy. The bridge across the cut had been destroyed some time before, and until it should be repaired neither artillery nor wagons could cross over. On reaching that point with the other two regiments of the brigade, I set my pioneer corps at work to rebuild the bridge, in charge of Quarterinaster Lehnen, of the One hundred and fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and in less than four hours they built a bridge of 66 feet span, with two abutments and two piers, of sufficient strength to pass artillery and cavalry. General Hatch joined the advance in the afternoon, but toward evening returned to Seabrook. I made the best disposition possible for the safety of the command and the night was passed without alarm.

During the night two regiments of General Saxton's brigade came up, and in the morning the third regiment and the battery reported. General Hatch returned to the front at daylight and assumed the direction of the expedition. The troops advanced at about 8 a. m., my brigade leading, and bivouacked on the main road, about 4 miles from Haulover Cut, near a place called Parker's. We reached there about 11 o'clock, Saxton's brigade coming up about 5 o'clock in the afternoon. We remained there all night. Soon after halting an officer with a small body of cavalry reported to me that there were four pieces of artillery and 200 infantry at a point about 4 miles to our right, which General Schimmelfennig had sent to re-enforce us. I marched the next morning, the 4th instant, at 5 o'clock, taking the right-hand or lower road, which covered more securely our new base of supplies, which had been transferred to the Stono. The day was unusually hot and sultry, and the men suffered severely from the dust and heat. We reached the point where the road branches to the right to go to Legareville about noon, and halted there for the day. Surgeon Robinson, One hundred and fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, during the march, unfortunately fell into the hands of the enemy. Leaving the camp after the brigade had marched, he took the wrong road and rode into the enemy's lines before he was aware of it. Company G, of the same regiment, following as rear guard, also got off the road and encountered the enemy's skirmishers, but effected its return to the regiment without any loss. A few of the enemy's vedettes were seen on the march and wounded 1 cavalryman in the ankle.

The next day we marched about 5 miles, near to a point known as the Huts, which the advance reached about 9 o'clock. This was found to be a strong position, with an impassable swamp on our right flank and front, and it was concluded to advance no farther. After securing the crossing I sent skirmishers to the front and

seized the woods and open country for about three-fourths of a mile. During the afternoon a force of some 200 of the enemy showed themselves in our immediate front on both sides of the main road. As there were indications of an advance on their part, I sent out Captain Laughlin, of the One hundred and fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, with a detachment of sharpshooters, who quickly drove them from the hedges and ditches they were behind to the woods a half mile beyond. To make my position secure for the night, I placed two Napoleon guns in battery at the bridge, and dug a line of rifle-pits from the road to the edge of the swamp covering our left and rear. General Hatch and staff came to the front shortly after dark, when he assumed command.

On Wednesday morning, the 6th instant, while at the picket-line examining the position of a piece of artillery the enemy had brought down and was using against us, I received a severe wound in the right hand by the explosion of a shell, which compelled me to go to the rear. I placed Col. P. P. Brown, One hundred and fifty-seventh New York Volunteers, in command of my brigade, who will make a report of its subsequent operations. It affords me pleasure to return my thanks to Major Place, One hundred and fifty-seventh New York Volunteers, and Lieutenant McCoy, One hundred and fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving on my staff, for their efficient assistLieutenant-Colonel Bennett, One hundred and second U. S. Colored Troops, was temporarily attached to my staff, and I am also under many obligations to him. Before I left camp I organized a small battalion of sharpshooters, which I placed under the command of Captain Laughlin, One hundred and fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers. They rendered the most valuable assistance, and on every occasion the conduct of Captain Laughlin and his officers and men was marked with great gallantry.

ance.

I remain, very respectfully,

W. W. H. DAVIS,

Colonel 104th Pennsylvania Vols., Comdg. Brig.

Maj. E. L. ROGERS,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 26.

Report of Col. Philip P. Brown, jr., One hundred and fifty-seventh New York Infantry, of expedition to John's Island and skir

mishes.

HEADQUARTERS 157TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,

Folly Island, S. C., February 14, 1864. CAPTAIN: In compliance with circular received February 13, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part sustained by this regiment in the late expedition into Seabrook Island:

The One hundred and fifty-seventh New York Volunteers left camp on the evening of Sunday, February 7, with 173 armed men, 10 cooks, 4 stretcher-bearers, 10 pioneers, 3 hospital attendants, 3 detailed as orderlies; total, 203 men, commanded by 1 field, 2 staff, 3 line, and 4 acting officers; total force, 213. In accordance with orders from brigade headquarters, the regiment proceeded to Stono