Battle of Secessionville

“Battle of Secessionville, James Island, S. C.- bayonet charge of Federal troops, commanded by General Stevens, upon the Confederate batteries on James Island, June 16th, 1862. Our sketch represents the desperate bayonet charge of the Federal troops which drove back the Confederates; but the Federals were so exhausted with their victory that the reconnoissance for the next day was postponed and some heavy guns having arrived, it was proposed to put them in battery in advance of General Steven’s camp and try their effect upon the Confederate fort before renewing the project of an assault. The battery produced no effect upon the Confederate fort; and as its shells and shot commanded the Federal position and rendered its camp insecure, it became necessary to recur again to the old plan of the reconnoissance, and to attempt to reduce it by assault. The Federals were met by a murderous fire of grape and canister. Two regiments only reached the front, much cut up- the Eighth Michigan and the Seventy-ninth New York “Highlanders.” The Twenty-eighth Massachusetts broke and scattered, while the Forty-sixth New York did little better. The first two drove the gunners from their guns; some mounted the parapet, and some even penetrated the work; but the other regiments, there being two besides those named, not rushing up to their support, they were obliged to retire after having really held it for nearly twenty minutes.” —Leslie, 1896

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