Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 02.djvu/208

 steamed up the Stono, to protect his left flank. This boat, coming in range of the guns at Battery Pringle, was made to retire.

The enemy then advanced two lines of battle, with a heavy skirmish line well to the front. I directed such guns of our batteries on the southern lines and at Secessionville as could reach, to be opened upon their lines, which were retired except the picket lines beyond range.

It was believed, and acknowledged by prisoners, that this fire had a telling effect upon them.

No new advance was made, and not being strong enough to attack the enemy, no further change occurred during the day. While these events were transpiring on the southern end of the island, the enemy were intent upon an enterprise in another quarter, which would, could it have succeeded, have been attended with most serious consequences. On the morning of the 3d, at daylight, two columns of barges were observed rapidly approaching Shell Point beach, upon which the several batteries known as Simkins are situated, and which is immediately connected with the important post and harbor defence of Fort Johnston. One column landed its men near our end of the point, and the other and larger between Battery Simkins and Fort Johnston, which post was, simultaneously with Shell Point, fiercely assaulted. The gallant garrison, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Yates, received them with heroic determination, and the efficient and rapid discharges of heavy and light guns, and the unerring fire from our musketry, soon staggered and drove them back; when, with a rapid charge, headed by Lieutenants Waties' and Reynolds' First South Carolina artillery, upon the enemy, one hundred and forty prisoners, including five commissioned officers, were taken before they could make good their escape.

The participants in this brilliant affair, were Company G, First South Carolina artillery, Lieutenant Waties; Company K, Captain Gaillard; detachment Company E, Lieutenant Cooper, and detachments Companies A and E, Second South Carolina artillery, Lieutenants Halsey and Raworth. These officers and Corporal Crawford, Company G, are spoken of in high terms of praise by Lieutenant-Colonel Yates, for gallantry displayed on the occasion.

Five barges fell into our hands, and it is certain that the enemy's loss in killed and wounded was heavy, probably exceeding three hundred. Many bodies subsequently floated ashore.

On the Stono, indications began to manifest that the movement