Colonel Rice, aide-de-camp to General Beauregard, rode with
me to "Secessionville" this morning. I was mounted on the horse which
the General rode at Manassas and Shiloh. We reached James Island by crossing
the long wooden bridge which spans the river Ashley. The land of James Island
is low and marshy, and is both by repute and in appearance most unhealthy.
Three years ago no white men would have dreamed of occupying it at this time of
year; but now that the necessity has arisen, the troops, curiously enough, do
not appear to suffer.
“Secessionville,” the most advanced and most important of
the James Island fortifications, is distant by road eight miles from Charleston
bridge, with which it is connected by a chain of forts. It was surprised by the
enemy just a year ago (June 1862), and was the scene of a desperate conflict,
which resulted in the repulse of the Federals with a loss of nearly 800 men.
The Confederates lost 150 men on this occasion, which as yet has been the only
serious loss of life at Charleston during the war. Colonel Lamar, who commanded
the garrison with great gallantry, was one of the few victims to yellow fever
last year. The Yankees attacked the fort three times with much bravery and
determination, and actually reached the superior slope of the parapet before
they were driven back. They were within an ace of being successful; and
although they deserved great credit for their behaviour on that occasion, yet
it is understood that the officer who organised the attack has either been
dismissed the service or otherwise punished.
Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, the commandant, who showed me over
the fort and bomb-proofs, is quite young, full of zeal, and most anxious to be
attacked; he has artillerymen to man this and the neighbouring works, and two
regiments of infantry are also encamped within a short distance.
At the time of the attack on Charleston last April there
were 30,000 men to defend it; since that time 20,000 had been sent into
Mississippi to reinforce Johnston. I imagine that, as the fortifications are so
very extensive, the Charleston garrison ought to consist of at least 30,000
men.
SOURCE: Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle, Three
Months in the Southern States: April-June, 1863, p. 198-200
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