< Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 02.djvu
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Defences of Charlestown from July 1st to July 10th.
were made to capture it. Indeed, its capture seemed to be regarded as a point of honor and an act of retributive justice. During the early part of the war the eyes of all, in every land, who felt an interest in the struggle, were directed to it, and it was generally supposed that it must soon yield to the apparently overwhelming force that the enemy was preparing to hurl against it. Even four years later, when it seemed inevitable that the Confederates must abandon it, the General-in-Chief of the United States army plainly intimated to General Sherman that it would be well if he would utterly destroy it and sow the very site with salt. But in spite of all efforts for its capture, the Confederates held it securely more than four years and until within a few weeks of the close of the war, when disasters in other quarters rendered its occupation no longer desirable. How this was accomplished may well claim the careful study and labor of the military historian. As a part of the material for such a history, we present below General Jones' report and the accompanying report of General Taliaferro, of an important episode in the defence of Charleston.]

REPORT OF GENERAL SAM. JONES.

Headquarters Department of South Carolina,⁠
Georgia and Florida,⁠
Charleston, S. C., August 22d, 1864.

General—I have the honor to submit the following report of military operations in the vicinity of this place from the 1st to the 10th ultimo.

On the 1st ultimo three brigades of the enemy—Hatch's, Saxton's and Berney's—sailed from Hilton Head and united with the troops on Morris' and Folly islands and the naval force in an attack on the works defending this city. The land force, estimated at eight thousand men, was commanded in person by Major-General Foster, and the naval force by Rear-Admiral Dahlgren.

The general plan of the enemy seems to have been to make with the troops from Morris' and Folly islands and the navy such a demonstration on our works on the south end of James' island as to induce us so to weaken the east lines on the same island as to enable them to seize the important work, Fort Johnston. At the same time a column was to move up John's island and take position from which our works on James' island could be enfiladed and taken in reverse, and where batteries could be established nearer the upper part of the city than any they have yet established. The movement on John's island was to be covered and aided by a demonstration in force on the Charleston and Savannah Railroad in the vicinity of Adam's Run.

Accordingly, at daydawn on the 2d July, several regiments

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