Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 02.djvu/209

 of the enemy on this front, was not designed to draw our attention from Fort Johnston, or for some sudden attack upon our lines, but that a serious and determined attack upon our Stono works was contemplated. Two (2) monitors, the Pawnee sloop of war, several wooden gun-boats, and a number of transports ascended the Stono.

Leganville and other points on John's island were occupied, troops debarked, and it seemed apparent that the design of the enemy was to occupy John's island, to erect batteries to enfilade our lines, to reduce Battery Pringle, and secure the Stono for a base of operations against Charleston.

This belief was strengthened by the fact that this route would be identical with that of the British under Sir Henry Clinton, in March, 1780, who occupied John's island, crossed the Stono at the present site of Fort Pemberton, and after securing the river for his line of supplies, moved from James' island to the main land.

The enemy commenced the day by a severe shelling of our picket line, and by a fire upon Battery Pringle and other batteries of the southern lines; upon the latter, apparently, for the purpose of drawing their fire and ascertaining the character of our guns. Believing that the enemy had withdrawn part of his force in front to reinforce John's island, I directed Colonel Harrison, Thirty-second Georgia regiment, with several companies of his regiment, to feel the enemy, and endeavor to ascertain his strength; and, if practicable, to force him back beyond the causeway.

This duty was very handsomely performed by this gallant officer and his capital command. The enemy gave back before them, and our original picket lines were re-established. I deem it inadvisable to press beyond the causeways, as the enemy on the peninsula were observed to be considerably reinforced from Dixon's island, and as the enemy's gunboats and land batteries controlled the peninsula, and it was of little consequence to us to hold it.

On the 4th the enemy continued shelling our pickets, and bombarded Pringle and the lines all day, and made several attacks at night upon our picket lines near Grimball's causeway, which were repulsed with loss. Captain Lewis, Thirty-second Georgia, commanded our pickets at the point of assault, and deserves much credit for his stout and successful resistance.

Major Manigault, siege train, commanded the general picket line. The enemy shelled our lines and pickets with mortars all night. On July 5th and 6th, the enemy maintained the show of strength