Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/554

542 his force (two companies), under similar orders, also to James's Island. By like orders the buildings on Cole's and on Battery Island were fired by our men before retiring; volumes of smoke from the burning buildings; our men on the qui vive. On appearance of a gunboat off mouth of Folly river carronade on marsh battery, near Folly river, thrown overboard by those in charge. Cole's and Battery Island shelled by the enemy.

May 21.—Six of our pickets, of Captain Jones's company, Twenty-fourth regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, made prisoners on Battery Island; expecting, apparently, the enemy to pass by without discovering them, they, instead of withdrawing, hid themselves in the magazine on the approach of a gunboat up the Stono. Enemy saw them and landed. "Legare's," on James's Island, shelled this day by a gunboat slowly going up the Stono.

May 25.—Gunboats to this time had been running up the Stono for several miles every day, shelling both sides of the river, and returning in the evening to Battery Island. Effort to-day of Brigadier General Ripley to draw them within effective reach of guns of "Fort Pemberton" failed. Gallantry of Captain Frank Bonneau, and the men of our little floating battery, stationed for the day in the creek near Dixon's Island, remarked. A gunboat which engaged the battery was driven off in a few minutes. The battery was moored to the land. Three gunboats had been drawn up the river a short distance by General Ripley's movements. On their return, they had passed by altogether, when one came back, apparently to learn what was the little dark object across the marshes and the small islands. Captain B., who was aboard, had just received orders not to fire unless attacked. He had his men ashore under cover. The gunboat opened on him. Captain B. promptly fired his battery (two or three guns) himself. His men, at the first sound of the enemy's gun, came bounding to their little float, and soon manning their guns, drove the gunboat away.

May 31.—Gunboats, to this time, running up the Stono every morning as before, shelling every one who came in sight, whether on foot, on horse, or in vehicle. Some peaceful citizens crossing "Newtown Cut" bridge in a buggy, during this period, were very much startled by a shell, and took to flight on foot across the fields. To-day a few shells thrown from the Stono towards Secessionville, fell near the camp of Twenty-fourth regiment South Carolina Volunteers, and to Brigadier-General Gist, Captain James Gist and Captain Joseph Glover, of his staff, who were riding out.

June 1 (Sunday).—A gunboat came some distance up Folly river,