Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/165



The Wee Nee Volunteers of Williamsburg District. 159

doing some excellent practice, particularly the one at Shell Point, called " Battery Simkins," in honor of the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Simkins, who fell during the assault on this fort on the i8th of July.

Major F. F. Warley was struck in the afternoon by a piece of shell, which made a painful flesh wound on one of his legs. He was soon after started to the city in Brigadier-General Ripley's boat, which came down to bring dispatches. An account of the condition of the fort was given Major Warley for General Beauregard. On the way up to the city, one of the enemy's boats, commanded by Lieutenant Charles Craven, of the navy, fell in with Major Warley and captured him and his boat's crew, who were greatly outnumbered by Lieu- tenant Craven's party. Major Warley had the presence of mind to tear open the envelope containing the communication for General Beauregard, and, after putting an oarlock inside, threw it overboard before he surrendered. The enemy were in the habit of sending boats from the creek between James Island and Morris Island, around Cummins Point and between Sumter and Gregg, and out towards the bar every night. Warley was captured by this boat picket. (I have met Lieutenant Craven and heard from him an account of the incident since the war.) Captain Thomas Huguenin, of the First South Carolina infantry, who had, with his company, relieved Captain R. Press Smith and the garrison of Battery Gregg, was ordered up from that work and made Chief of Artillery in Warley's place. One of Captain Huguenin's lieutenants was left in command at Gregg. A more worthy successor of Warley could not have been selected. Huguenin was without fear; had been trained at the Citadel Academy, and was thoroughly acquainted with all of the duties of an artillery officer.

Our working parties were hard at work all day repairing damages occasioned by the enemy's fire.

Corporal Newcomer, of Company A, was killed and several men wounded this afternoon. Several men were killed and a good many were wounded of the other regiments of the garrison. The enemy's fire slacked a little after nightfall. A calcium light was displayed, but turned on the creek, which was lighted up brilliantly. Captain Sellers and Company F (St. Matthew's Rifles) were with me in the salient for two nights. I had been directed to remain in there when my presence was not needed elsewhere. Both men and officers got so they could sleep under fire when permitted to take a little rest. The shells from Fort Moultrie passed directly over the salient, and as they were now timed to burst just two hundred yards beyond us,