and 9 blockaders off Morris Island; 1 transport in Light-House Inlet ; 2 gun-boats, 1 transport, and 5 schooners off Cole's Island. No change in enemy's camps since last report. Sixteen mortar and 16 columbiad shells were fired from Simkins at Schooner Creek battery; effect unknown. Enemy fired 28 rifle shells at Simkins and Fort Johnson Battery, killing Private Sessions, Company K, First South Carolina Artillery, and wounding 1 man slightly in Bonaud's battalion. Maj. C. S. STRINGFELLOW, A. A. G. J. L. BLACK, Colonel, Commanding. ROYALL'S HOUSE, September 12, 1864-1 p. m. The reports of firing and observations are as follows: Five monitors, 9 steamers, 7 sailing vessels, 1 schooner, and 9 blockaders off Morris Island; 2 steamers and 1 schooner in Light-House Inlet; 2 gun-boats, 1 transport, and 5 schooners off Cole's Island; 1 schooner in Folly River. One transport and 1 schooner left Cole's Island bound southward, and I came in from north; no troops observed on board. No change observed in enemy's camps since last report. Fifteen mortar and 16 columbiad shells were fired from Simkins at Schooner Creek battery; effect unknown. Enemy fired 22 rifle shells at Simkins, doing no damage. P. N. PAGE, Asst. Adjt. Gen. (in absence of Colonel Black). Major STRINGFELLOW, A. A. G. ROYALL'S, September 12, 1864-9 p. m. The enemy landed this afternoon about 150 men on south end of Morris Island, who were marched to Wagner; also a transport came in from the south, going toward Morris Island, apparently loaded with troops. It was, however, too dark to see where she stopped. The enemy fired a number of shots at working party at No. 5, new line, to-day. All quiet on west line. Maj. C. S. STRINGFELLOW, A. A. G. J. L. BLACK, Colonel, Commanding. ROYALL'S HOUSE, September 14, 1864-10.50 a. m. Reports from observatories state the enemy's fleet to consist of 5 monitors, 8 steamers, 5 sailing vessels, and blockaders off Morris Island; 4 transports and 2 schooners in Light-House Inlet; 2 gunboats, 1 transport, and 5 schooners off Cole's Island; 1 schooner in Folly River. No change in enemy's encampments. Four mortar and 5 columbiad shells were fired from Simkins at Schooner Creek battery; effect unknown. Enemy fired 12 rifle shells at Simkins and Fort Johnson, doing no damage. J. L. BLACK, Colonel, Commanding. Maj. CHARLES S. STRINGFELLOW, A. A. G. 17 R R-VOL XXXV, PT I ROYALL'S HOUSE, September 16, 1864. There are this morning 4 monitors, 5 steamers, 7 sailing vessels, and 7 blockaders off Morris Island; in Light-House Inlet, 1 transport and 3 schooners; off Cole's Island, 1 gun-boat, 1 transport, and schooners; in Folly River, 1 transport and 1 schooner. The work on Long Island battery has increased some since last night. No firing from any of the batteries of this command yesterday. The enemy fired 12 rifle shells at Simkins and Fort Johnson, and 10 shots from Wagner at Haskell, doing no damage. J. L. BLACK, Colonel, Commanding. ROYALL'S, September 18, 1864-12.40. Major Cone, commanding at Secessionville, reports that 400 men landed on south end of Morris Island at 10 o'clock this morning. They came from south end of Big Folly Island. J. L. BLACK, Colonel, Commanding. ROYALL'S, September 18, 1864-6.20 p. m. Colonel Frederick reports that the enemy have torn up all the bridges between this island and battery and Dixon's Island. Only ten tents to be seen on Horse Island. Capt. H. W. FEILDEN, Assistant Adjutant-General. J. L. BLACK, Colonel, Commanding. No. 41. Reports of Col. Charles H. Simonton, Twenty-fifth South Carolina * Infantry, of operations April 8 and 15 and May 13. HEADQUARTERS FIRST LINES, CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that upon receiving the instructions last night of the brigadier-general commanding I caused all the guns at Pringle and Tynes to be manned, and sent another company of infantry to the former. The pickets on the Stono were increased, and a continued line established from the marsh in front of Pringle to the lower end of Grimball's field, on the Stono. No movement of the enemy on the river or on the picket front could be observed. I ask leave, respectfully, to express my full concurrence in the opinion of the absolute necessity for some works between Pringle and Tynes, from my experience last night. If a determined enemy had landed a thousand men in barges, with gun-boats within supporting distance, it would have been extremely difficult to have held these two batteries, and still more difficult to have dislodged them after the batteries were silenced. We had but a single regiment of infantry within reach, and that weakened by a heavy detail for picket duty. Take in connection with this the distance between Tynes and Pringle, at any point of which boats can land, and it will readily be seen how our present defenseless condition at this part of the line is calculated to make one feel uneasy. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. H. SIMONTON, HEADQUARTERS WEST LINES, CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that this afternoon, about 4.30 p. m., a two-mast gun-boat came up the Stono as far as Legare's place, on John's Island, about 3 miles from Pringle, and opened fire on our picket-line. At the same time a force, estimated between 100 and 200 of infantry, crossed over from Horse Island to Battery Island, and advanced to the causeway leading to James Island, nearly up to the broken bridge. Also at the same time the enemy opened with a sort of rocket, throwing an iron projectile about 2 feet long, filled with powder and intended to explode. These came from Dixon's Island, but not from the battery. They fired a very short time; when the firing ceased the gun-boat went back. The enemy left Battery Island and destroyed the bridge leading to Horse Island behind them. Our pickets did not leave their posts, and the enemy did not come in collision with any of them at the range of smallarms. While the gun-boat was up the river she fired 5 shots at Pringle. The first shot struck in the river about 200 yards above the battery; the second about the same distance to the left, on the land; the third in the river just below the bridge; the fourth fell short about a mile, and the fifth passed directly over the battery, falling in the field in rear. No one was hurt, and all is quiet. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. H. SIMONTON, HEADQUARTERS WEST LINES, CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that this morning about sunrise a party of 15 of the enemy landed at the extreme point of the peninsula running to the left of Legare's house and nearly opposite Long Island. After landing they at once captured Corporal Moorer, Second South Carolina Artillery, and 4 men, who were there on post, and who apparently made no resistance. After capturing these men the enemy returned to Long Island. A small picket is kept at this point during the day, but there must have been very gross negligence on their part leading to their capture. There was no negligence on the part of the officers in charge of the picket. Very respectfully, Capt. P. N. PAGE, Assistant Adjutant-General. [Indorsement.] C. H. SIMONTON, HDQRS. SEVENTH MIL. DIST. OF SOUTH CAROLINA, Respectfully forwarded. The post at which these men were captured is a very important one and very near the enemy. It is strengthened at night, and this unfortunate capture occurred after sunrise, when the supports were withdrawn and it was a mere vedette. The men must have either been all asleep or willing to be captured, as they could have either driven off the boat or have effected their escape. Colonel Simonton says that had they been infantry he is sure they could not have been surprised. As it is, having no infantry in the Second Sub-Division, and none to send there, we have to rely for all duties upon inexperienced men. WM. B. TALIAFERRO, Brigadier-General. No. 42. Reports of Lieut. Col. Joseph A. Yates, First South Carolina Artillery, of assault and attack on Fort Johnson and Battery Simkins. : ROYALL'S HOUSE, July 3, 1864-9. 30 a. m. (Received 9.45.) CAPTAIN In absence of Colonel Black, commanding, I am instructed and have the honor to forward, without remarks, the following report of Lieutenant-Colonel Yates, commanding at Fort Johnson: There was no firing from any of the batteries of this command yesterday: the enemy did not fire. The enemy's fleet off Morris Island is as follows: Five monitors and 9 sailing vessels; in Light-House Inlet, 3 schooners. The commander of the expedition (Colonel Hoyt, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Regiment) says the expedition was about 500 or 600 strong, but the adjutant, who is mortally wounded, says they were 1,000 strong; his statement is credited by most the prisoners. I have the honor to report the capture of 140 prisoners, including 5 commissioned officers, including some wounded: also, 5 barges, 114 stand of small-arms with accouterments. Enemy's loss in killed and wounded cannot be estimated, as most of the wounded were taken off; we will be able to tell better at low tide. Our loss very small. The expedition was composed of men of army, advanced in two columns, barges about twenty-eight in number, one column around Gregg, and one down Schooner Creek; as far as ascertained they numbered 1,000 strong. The expedition was formed at south end Morris Island; the prisoners have left for Charleston. The enemy brought implements for intrenching, also rations. J. R. PRINGLE, Lieutenant and Assistant Inspector-General, Captain FEILDEN, FORT JOHNSON, July 10, 1864-11.15 p. m. The enemy immediately after dark (he expected no doubt to find us not on the alert) made an attempt to take Battery Simkins, but we opened immediately upon them, heavily, with artillery and infantry, driving them back. Three of their boats effected a landing, but finding the balance of the expedition could not stand up to it they took to their boats and made off. We are all right and ready for them. J. A. YATES, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Captain WARWICK. ADDENDA. CHARLESTON, S. C., July 3, 1864. Lieut. Col. J. A. YATES, Comdg., Fort Johnson: I most cordially thank you and your command for the gallant and complete repulse of the enemy this morning. I suspect the capture of Fort Johnson was one of the chief objects of the enemy's movements. Thanks to you and your command for so effectually disappointing them. SAM. JONES, No. 43. Report of Lieut. Col. J. Welsman Brown, Second South Carolina Artillery, of skirmish on Pine Island. HEADQUARTERS, Secessionville, May 11, 1864. LIEUTENANT: I have the honor of making the following report of the operations at this post for the past twenty-four hours: Sixteen of the enemy appeared on Pine Island yesterday morning and immediately went to work cutting an opening in the trees about the center of the island. Two smooth-bore 32-pounders on the southern front were opened on them. After firing a few rounds, the fire was returned from Folly and Morris Islands, from a twogun battery on Long Island, which has been heretofore masked, and from a little island in front of Campbell's house. This new battery on Long Island is situated just east of a work which has been noticed there for some time on the extreme west end. The enemy fired about 130 shots during the day. We expended twenty-eight 32pounder round shell, and eleven 32-pounder rifled shell, and one 8-inch round shell. At 10 p. m., two rockets were thrown up on our southern front, apparently on Big Folly Island, immediately followed by a single gun from the new battery on Long Island. At 3 a. m., they opened from two batteries, one considerably to the left of where they unmasked the battery yesterday, and directly behind where the opening was cut on Pine Island. The firing ceased between 4 and 5 a. m., having thrown 44 shots. I did not reply, as very few came into the post; after the fifth or sixth shots nearly all fell to the left of us in the direction of Battery Haskell. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. WELSMAN BROWN, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Lieut. J. C. REYNOLDS, Adjutant. |