Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 02.djvu/205

 James' or Sullivan's island or the Edisto. I had reduced the force on Sullivan's island to the lowest point I thought admissible, to reinforce James' island, and every available man along the line of the Savannah Railroad had been ordered to John's island.

As soon as this movement of the enemy was known—2d July—I telegraphed General Johnston (repeating the telegram on the 4th), the War Department, and General Whiting, at Wilmington, asking for reinforcements. I also telegraphed General Chestnut to send me State reserves. General Johnston sent me two small regiments, the Fifth and Forty-seventh Georgia (the same that he had been directed some weeks before by the War Department to send to me in exchange for a brigade that I had sent to him), and General Whiting sent me two companies of artillery. I could obtain no State reserves. When the troops sent by Generals Johnston and Whiting arrived, I directed Colonel George P. Harrison to carry the Thirty-second (his own) and Forty-seventh Georgia regiments and Bonand's Georgia battalion to John's island, and report to General Robertson, commanding that district. With the force thus collected, though not more than a fifth of the enemy's force, as estimated, on the island, it was intended to attack the enemy on the morning of the 8th; but the steamer sent through Wappoo Cut to transport the troops getting aground, the attack was delayed. At daydawn on the 9th it was gallantly made, Colonel Harrison commanding the advance, composed of the Thirty-second and Forty-seventh Georgia regiments and Bonand's Georgia battalion. The enemy was driven from his first line of breastworks, but rallied behind a second, where he maintained his position until late in the evening, when he withdrew and embarked on transports in the Stono, and on the 10th sailed out of the river.

In the meantime, from the 2d to the 10th, the enemy's monitors and gunboats—the naval force has been increased to twenty-two (22) vessels—kept up a heavy fire on our lines and batteries, especially battery Pringle, which was returned with spirit and accuracy crippling and driving out of action one of the monitors. But the active operations of the enemy were abandoned after his reverse on John's island on the 9th.

The details of these operations are given by the reports, which are herewith forwarded, of Generals Taliaferro, commanding on James' and Robertson on John's island. I send also a copy of General Foster's confidential circular, found on the battle field, directing the