Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 5.djvu/101

Rh of the Twenty-fourth still further to the left and immediately in front of the enemy’s advance. One piece of Boyce’s battery, under Lieutenant Jeter, was put in position immediately on the right of the Twenty-fourth and the four companies of the First south of the road. Jeter opened fire on the enemy, in full view at Hill’s place, and immediately Wright’s artillery replied, shelling the whole front of Hagood’s force and throwing solid shot at Jeter’s gun. The Third Rhode Island advanced to charge the position, but was handsomely repulsed by Colonels Stevens and Simonton and the effective fire of Jeter. By this time the contest in front of Secessionville having been determined, General Wright retired his troops to their intrenched positions, and the battle of Secessionville was ended.

After the first repulse, the fort was again in danger from the fire of infantry and artillery in its rear and right flank by a portion of Wright’s column, which had marched up the west bank of Lighthouse creek and were in position south and east of Hill’s negro houses. It was this force that McEnery attacked as he came up, firing at short range across the creek. They were ultimately driven off by the fire of the 24-pounders in front of Clark’s house, above alluded to, and by Hagood’s troops. The latter were well posted, and when assaulted easily repulsed the attack. Lieutenant Jeter with his guns did good service in this affair; indeed, the position of General Wright’s column at Hill s houses, though for a short time it took the work at Secessionville in flank and rear, was between the infantry fire of McEnery at the fort and Hagood’s force and the 24-pounder battery at Clark’s house. If Colonel Hagood had had his whole advance guard under his command, with Boyce s entire battery, he could have moved immediately against General Wright’s column, striking him in flank and rear. On the contrary, if Wright had known that Hagood had with him only the total strength of a good regiment, with one piece of artil-