The mortar schooners have been firing on Wagner yesterday and to-day. One of their shells dropped in our advanced trenches and killed 1 man. It is anticipated that the sap will have to advance from the third parallel against an artillery fire from Wagner, more or less severe, and as it is believed that the fort has at least one rifled gun bearing this way, serious annoyance is feared. To advance under this fire, a system of blinded direct sap, or surface mining, has been considered and experimented upon. It is intended to protect the approaches from all horizontal, and from the splinters of a vertical, fire. This method could not be employed, as was afterward ascertained, because it required a depth of 4 feet of earth, which could only be found for a very small portion of the distance. Capts. Joseph Walker and John L. Suess have been detailed on sapping duty, and are now engaged in drilling four brigades of sappers from Companies I, B, and D, New York Volunteer Engineers. The full sap, revetted with gabions and without any revetting material whatever, has been executed for practice. * In the latter method, the parapet is kept closed upon the sap-roller, which is moved forward but a few inches at a time. Captain Walker is the special advocate of the last plan, which was afterward chiefly used, and found to work well. It is slow, but has the advantage of not requiring instructed sappers or revetting material. Sunday, August 16.-To-day Lieutenant-Colonel Sleeper, Fourth New Hampshire Volunteers, with a detail of 30 men from his own regiment, is making gabionst on Black Island.__The_same work is in progress on Folly Island, under Lieut. J. H. Harrold, New York Volunteer Engineers. Built splinter-proof shelter in rear of Battery Kearny, for use of artillerists serving its guns. Continued repairs on revetting of second parallel. Three hundred and sixty linear yards of wide and narrow splinter-proof shelter, † capable of accommodating over 1,000 men, are finished, and the work of its construction is suspended for the present. Corporal [Jacob] Steinhilber, Company D, New York Volunteer Engineers, assisted in its erection. Brig. Gen. A. H. Terry, commanding forces on Morris Island, requested to-day that a parapet be built sufficiently strong to shelter the brigade which will be stationed near the Beacon House, as a reserve during the bombardment, which will begin to-morrow morning. The general commanding approved the plan. Accordingly, this night, Capt. S. C. Eaton, New York Volunteer Engineers, with an infantry detail of 300 men, built 750 yards of splinter-proof parapet, 6 feet high, extending from the Beacon House southerly along extreme high-water line. At the same time, Captain Graef built the approach from the Beacon House to the first parallel, thus supplying a link, the want of which, for its moral effect on the men entering the trenches, has frequently been felt. Twenty-five sand-bags for each breaching gun were filled and piled up in rear of the batteries, to be used for repairs during the fight. A large quantity of engineering material,§ consisting of sand-bags, gabions, fascines, lumber, hides, ropes, spikes, abatis material, &c., is collected at the engineer service depots in the second parallel, for use in repairs during the bombardment. *See Note 13, p. 323. + See Note 9, p. 317. See Note 21, p. 331. About midnight a shell from Wagner penetrated the splinter-proof shelter used as headquarters and telegraph office,* in the second parallel, wounding Colonel [Joshua B.] Howell, general officer of the trenches, and two others. The necessary repairs were immediately made by Captain Walker, who was on duty, replacing the sand-bag revetting of the embrasures of the howitzer battery with gabions and fascines. The fire from Wagner, although inflicting much less real injury, up to this time, than the aggregate firet from the other batteries of the enemy, still gives far greater interruption to the working parties, on account of our nearness to the fort. "Cover-Johnson or Sumter," gives sufficient warning for those in the trenches to seek partial shelter, if the shell is seen to be coming toward them; but "Cover, Wagner," cannot be pronounced before the shell has exploded and done its work. At these cautionary words, I have often observed soldiers, particularly negroes, fall flat on their faces, under the delusion that they were obtaining cover from mortar shells exploding over them, when, in truth, their chances of being hit were much increased by this posture. On one occasion, a soldier was observed to place an empty powder barrel over his head, to shield him from heavy shells. The enemy's fire was heavier than usual to-day, but has done but little injury to our men or material. Monday, August 17.-All the heavy rifle guns on the right, excepting one that was accidentally spiked, and so many as are ready on the left, with the Naval Battery, opened fire on the gorge wall of Sumter this morning at sunrise. The navy, together with the siege pieces in battery on the land, fired on Wagner a considerable portion of the day, to prevent it from opening fire on the breaching batteries of the second parallel. Two engineer officers were on duty during the day, to make repairs in the second parallel. None of importance were necessary. The boomst on the left of the second parallel were fixed to-night by Sergeant [Robert] Scott, New York Volunteer Engineers, having been moved by the spring tide. Gabions and block-house material were carried forward to the third parallel. Continued to increase the covering of service magazines for breaching batteries. Tuesday, August 18.-Firing on Sumter is continued to-day. This afternoon the spring tide, which is now at its height, was fearfully increased by a northeast storm. Nearly the whole line of trenches contained water, from a few inches to 2 feet in depth. One-third of the parapet of the surf battery§ was carried away, and the sea broke over it so furiously that its two guns had to be removed. This night the general commanding ordered the full sap to be started from the left of the third parallel. Accordingly, the trench of this parallel was cleared out and widened, the parapet strengthened, and the debouch made. A Requa battery was placed in position on the extreme left of the third parallel, to enfilade the front of the parapet of the proposed sap. Sap-rollers and sapping tools were carried forward. The extreme high tide, requiring the men to work in mud and water, greatly interfered with all these operations. Wednesday, August 19.-This morning at 2 o'clock, the water having so subsided as to render it possible, the full sap was started from the point above indicated, by Captain Walker, with a sapping *See Note 20, p. 381. +See Note 18, p. 326. See Note 8, p. 308, See Note 9, p. 317, brigade, consisting of 10 men from his own company (I, New York Volunteer Engineers). He had executed 60 feet at 8 a. m., and was then relieved by Captain Suess, with a sapping brigade from his company (B), same regiment, who completed 70 feet of approach during the day. The enemy's sharpshooters opened on the head of the sap as soon as they observed its progress in the morning, and fired at it all day. One casualty occurred among the sappers, a slight wound from the explosion of a shell. Captain Walker again took the advance this night, and, by means of the flying sap, executed about 160 yards of approach, leaving the sap-roller at daybreak in position several yards in advance of our picket line. In the second parallel, during this day and night, a force has been repairing the damage done by the storm. The two field guns, which had to be removed from the surf battery, are being put in position at high-water line, 6 yards in advance of the parapet of the second parallel. The merlons of the breaching batteries have received some repairs. Lieutenant Baldwin relieved Lieutenant Farrand on this work. At the request of the officers in charge of the sap, I to-day prepared instructions for the guard of the advanced trenches. They received the approval of the general commanding, and went into operation this night. Three regiments, averaging 300 men each, were assigned to alternate as guard of the advanced trenches. The Third New Hampshire Volunteers, Captain Randlett commanding, went on duty this night. The commander of the detachment making gabions on Folly Island reports that he has sent to Light-House Inlet 350 gabions, and for the future 60 will be furnished per day, or about 1 gabion to 2 men employed. This is small work. It was soon afterward more than doubled.* Thursday, August 20.-Captain Walker was relieved in the sap this morning by Lieutenant Wilcken, who was relieved by Captain Suess, who was relieved in the evening by Lieut. Charles B. Parsons, New York Volunteer Engineers, each tour of duty being about six hours long. The sap progresses very slowly, but constantly. The soil is easily worked, but averages less than 2 feet in depth to the water; hence the slow progress in keeping a strong parapet closed up against the sap-roller. Three sappers were slightly wounded to-day. Completed emplacements and a barrel splinter-proof magazine for two howitzers in the second parallel, begun yesterday. Increased the size of left epaulement of Battery Meade, to secure its guns against an increased fire from James Island, as the enemy are opening new batteries in that direction. The frame of the bomb-proof surgery, which shows evidences of failing, has been braced and strengthened to-day. The repairs made in the embrasures of several breaching guns in the second parallel consist chiefly in replacing the iron gabions* which are worn out by new ones. In these repairs of embrasures, both of defensive and offensive guns, in the second parallel, it is observed that those having iron lining † require the least; in fact, almost none. Captain Comstock, commanding Battery Rosecrans, says of the iron embrasure of gun No. 1, which had a boiler-plate hanging door for a mantlet: It worked very well, indeed, until disabled by a shot. I consider it a good protection against musketry fire. It was not in my way in the least in loading and sighting upon Sumter. *See Note 9, p. 317. 19 R R-VOL XXVIII, PT I + See Note 12, p. 322. Lieut. M. Adams, Fourth Ne. Hampshire Volunteers, was detailed, at my request, for engineer duty, and reported to-day. The 10-inch Parrott rifle on the left has opened fire on Sumter. The Marsh Battery against Charleston City is completed. Friday, August 21.-Captain Walker reports that he relieved Lieutenant Parsons in the sap at 3.30 a. m., at which time the enemy were directing a heavy fire of grape and canister upon it, which fire ceased before daylight. This permitted him to place a line of gabions on the reverse side of the trench, to shield the sappers from the enemy's sharpshooters, who, it was feared, would occupy the cover furnished by the old ruins to the front and head of the sap. This they endeavored to do at daylight, but were prevented by our sharpshooters, who had been stationed by the captain, for this purpose, so as to command the approach to these ruins. At about 9 o'clock an artillery fire was opened upon the head of the sap from Wagner. Several shells burst directly over it; others entered the parapet and grazed the sap-roller. The fire of the sharpshooters was constant and accurate. At 11.30 a. m. Lieutenant Wilcken took charge of the sap, but was soon obliged to retire on account of the enemy's artillery fire, and that of his sharpshooters, who reached the ruins above referred to during a flag of truce. On being informed of these facts by the general commanding, the naval commander opened on Wagner a fire from his vessels, which, to a considerable extent, subdued the fire of the work. At my request, General Terry ordered the One hundredth New York Volunteers, Colonel Dandy commanding (the guard of the advanced trenches), to endeavor this night to drive the enemy from behind a small ridge 150 yards to our front, where their picket reserves were stationed, and which was the only natural cover outside of Wagner. We hoped and expected to have obtained a lodgment here by the flying sap, which would bring us within 200 yards of the fort. Several efforts were made, which caused brisk skirmishing and the loss of 6 men, but we did not get the ridge. The picket line settled down in nearly the position occupied last night. I examined the ground, and concluded to establish a fourth parallel, in order to secure possession of the ruins on the elevated ground to the left, from which the enemy's sharpshooters had long given us so much annoyance, and to increase our front preparatory to another attempt to take the ridge. This parallel, comprising a linear development of 300 yards, was opened from the beach to the marsh, close alog the heels of our outposts (its right being 350 yards from Wagner), by Captain Suess. He reports most part of the work was done by means of the flying sap, the engineers placing the gabions and the negro troops (Third Regiment United States Colored) digging the trench. The part on the left, near the ruins, being constantly swept by the enemy's musketry fire, was performed by the full sap; not, however, using the sap-roller, as a flank fire only had to be provided against. The details for this advanced work this night were 100 infantry and 15 engineers. The same repairs and improvements are in progress in the second parallel as yesterday, and under the same officers. Seventeen 8-inch Parrott rifle projectiles were fired from Battery Brown at Wagner to-day. Each threw up large quantities of earth, but did no serious injury to the work, so far as could be observed. *See Note 13, p. 323. Saturday, August 22.-No attempt to advance the sap was made to-day. The sappers and an infantry detail were employed in strengthening the fourth parallel, widening trench, and building banquette tread and loop-holes for sharpshooters. To-day I reported in writing to the general commanding the facts above recorded, relating to the progress of the sap for the past twentyfour hours; also that— One Requa battery * was mounted last night on the right of the first line of approach to the rear of the fourth parallel, so placed as to enfilade its face and the beach. Another battery of this kind is about 50 yards in rear of the fourth parallel, near the center of the island, and taking this parallel in reverse. Two other Requa batteries are in the third parallel. These four light defensive pieces comprise all the artillery in position in advance of the second parallel. I think it will be impossible to continue the sap in the daytime under Wagner's artillery fire. But if our picket line continues to advance, which can only be done with considerable loss, we may make some progress each night. Should the enemy's pickets retire inside his work, which they will soon be forced to do, he will then maintain an artillery fire from his light guns in the fort, which will make it impossible for the sap to progress night or day until this fire be subdued or kept down. His light guns are now run behind the merlons of the work to avoid our shot; hence it is only by destroying the parapet of the fort with our heavy guns in the second parallel, thus uncovering them, or by rendering their service impossible by a superior fire from light pieces which can be mounted in the fourth parallel, assisted by a strong force of sharpshooters, that we can proceed with certainty. (Our light guns in the second parallel cannot be used effectively against Wagner, on account of the distance, and the fact that their fire endangers our own men in the advanced works; five, I am informed, have already been injured.) Destroying the parapets I consider the best plan, for, so long as the enemy is so strongly intrenched in Wagner, he will give us serious annoyance, and possess an excellent base from which to assault our works, which he must more than ever be convinced is his only hope. The general commanding expressed himself unwilling to risk a battery of light guns in the fourth parallel, and not yet ready to spare any considerable amount of the heavy gun fire of the second parallel. Capt. W. Pratt, Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers, having been detailed by Brigadier-General Vogdes, at my request, for engineer duty, reported to-day. The following instructions are approved by the general commanding, and take effect immediately: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Engineer's Office, Morris Island, S. C., August 22, 1863. Instructions for superintending engineer officers employed on th right and in advance of the first parallel, under direction of Captain Brooks, ai e-de-camp and assistant engineer. I. The sapt which is in progress toward Fort Wagner is in charge of Captain Walker, assisted by Lieutenant Parsons, and Captain Suess, assisted by Lieutenant Wilcken, New York Volunteer Engineers. Twenty-five men from Company I, under Sergeant [Cyrenius R.] Stickle and Corporals [John G.] Brooks and [Joseph] Longto as chiefs of sap; 12 men from Company B, under Sergeants [Henry] Fiene and [William] Huebbers as chiefs of sap; and 12 men from Company D, under Sergeants [Frederick] Buerkle and [Charles] Spilker as chiefs of sap, New York Volunteer Engineers, will be formed into four sapping brigades. The above-named officers will arrange their brigades, times of relief, &c., as they see fit. One-third the length of the sap must be fitted for infantry defense. The advanced guard of the trenches will furnish a constant detail of 20 infantry for duty in the sap, in accordance with written instructions given them. Captains Walker and Suess will each report progress of themselves and assistants daily, according to inclosed form.‡ **See Note 16, p. 324. See Note 13, p. 323. + Omitted. |