BatteryWagner

During the early part of this year, a powerful armada had been fitted out from the Northern ports under the direction and command of General Seymour and Com. Farragut. The object was, the capture of Charleston and reduction of Fort Sumter. We were now ordered to Charleston to meet and repel this threatened invasion. We reached Charleston about the 15th of July, and took quarters on James Island. The first duty assigned us in this new field, was the chastisement on the 16th of some colored troops which held possession of the Western end of the Island.

The result was, these sable colored gentlemen were handsomely thrashed and driven off the Island. The next duty assigned us was the garrisoning, for four days, of Battery Wagner, on Morris Island, commencing on the 21st. During these four days the enemy’s whole floating strength was brought to bear upon this fort.

This was the most terrible scrape that we had gotten into during the war—bad weather, bad fare, bad duty, and bad everything.