Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/145

 The Wee Nee Volunteers of Williamaburg District. 139

Mercer directing that the muskets of the command be discharged, so as to be ready for the next day's work with freshly loaded guns. The firing disclosed our whereabouts to the gunboats in the Stono, and their fire, which had ceased at dark, was immediately re-opened and continued through the night. It was found that only about one musket in ten would fire. - It was impossible to extract the balls and reload the guns, for want of ball screws. In arranging our pickets for the night, some of the First regiment came in contact with the pickets of the enemy and some firing ensued.

The field-officers of the First and the Eutaws held a council of war to talk over the situation. Every indication pointed to a heavy fight early the next morning. The men at the front had been wet all day, and it was still raining. Two or three thousand troops were within a mile, spending the night in comfortable houses at Secessionville. The oldest veterans, with unserviceable arms in their hands, could hardly be expected to stand the shock of well-armed troops in the vigor of a first attack. Some of the companies of both the Eutaws and the First had never been in a regimental line, even on drill, till within a very few days before. It looked hardly within the range of possi- bility that, under the circumstances, an unbroken front could be maintained. The result of the conference was, that I was directed to find General Mercer and, without asking to be relieved, lay our con- dition before him, in the hope that he would send fresh troops to lead in the expected fight of the next day. After a very fatiguing ride and much inquiry, I found the general at Rev. Mr. Mellichamp's house, about six miles in the rear. I was shown into his room, found him in bed, and made the statement which had been agreed upon.

"Are the men supplied with bayonets? " inquired General Mercer.

"Yes, sir," said I.

" Well, Major," was his reply, "tell Colonel Hagood to use the bayonet in the morning."

"Very well, General, it will be done," I replied.

I got back to Rivers' about daylight and communicated to Hagood and Simonton the result of my mission, having been nearly the whole night in the saddle.

June ^th, 1862. The First regiment and the Eutaws marched from Rivers House, as they had been directed by General Mercer, confident that the fight would very soon begin. Notwithstanding the fatigues of the last twenty-four hours and the unserviceable condition of their arms, the men showed no hesitation. The gunboats ceased shelling just before daylight. The enemy did not advance, and