Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/180

 174 Southern Historical Society Papers.

thighs and calf of one leg. He was taken prisoner, and confined in Fort Delaware. While there he was promoted to be captain, but when he was exchanged, finding his health much broken, he returned to his profession, was made assistant surgeon, and assigned to the Twenty-fifth South Carolina volunteers. The place made vacant by the death of Lieutenant Blum, of Company A, was filled by the pro- motion of the next lieutenant in rank of his company, and Lieutenant Callahan was elected Junior Second Lieutenant. In Company K, after the death of Lieutenant McDonald, the organization was completed by the election of Charles Lesesne, Junior Second Lieutenant. S. I. Montgomery became a lieutenant in Company C, and J. R. China became junior second lieutenant of the same company. J. M. Fel- der had been promoted in Company I after the resignation of Cap- tain Y. N. Butler.

December ist to jth. Regiment moved to Secessionville, and encamped between the line of houses and the marsh towards the north. The field and staff officers occupied houses. Headquarters were in the red-top house owned by Mr. Lawton. The post was under my command. The garrison consisted of the Twenty-fifth South Carolina volunteers, and two companies of the Second South Carolina artillery, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Brown.

This place had been greatly strengthened since we occupied it last July. Strong breastworks and formidable batteries had been built along the creek south of the peninsula, and just in front of the line of houses. A large bomb-proof had been constructed about one hun- dred and fifty yards northwesterly from Lawton's House. Battery Lamar, across the neck of the peninsula, had been put in first-rate condition; in fact, the post was in a thoroughly defensive state.

December oth. The quiet of the post was disturbed this evening. A steamer of the enemy's, going from the creek or river which separates Folly Island from Taylor's and James Island towards Folly Inlet, passed between this post and Long Island, opposite this place. I ordered fire on her, but think that she was not hit. The enemy returned our fire from a battery near Folly Inlet. The enemy used percussion shells from long-range rifled guns. Some of their shells passed over us and fell in the marsh beyond, some fell in our camp, but very few exploded, and no damage was done. It was very evi- dent that the enemy's guns were of longer range than ours.

December loth, 'J86j t to March loth, 1864. Some time before the assault of Fort Sumter, of 8th of September, Colonel Rhett and his command (the First South Carolina regular artillery) were re-