On this subject Major Gilchrist says, in his pamphlet on the defense of Morris island, himself a participant in that defense:With lookout stations on the ruins of the old lighthouse on Morris island; on the mast-head of a wrecked blockaderunner, off Lighthouse inlet, and at Secessionville on James island, there was yet no discovery of these Federal works. So far from it, that General Ripley (district commander) reports, that ‘up to the 8th or 9th of July the enemy, so far as ascertained, had constructed no works on Folly island, except to shelter his pickets from our shells.’
Johnson's Defense of Charleston.
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Morris island, designed to prevent an attack by boats from Folly island.
The enemy's strength on the latter island was unknown, boats and barges were at Vogdes' command, and if two or three thousand troops were to make a determined attack, Ripley felt unprepared to meet it. These representations were made by him to General Beauregard on the 24th of May, and the work on the south end was pushed slowly forward by an inadequate force.
Meanwhile General Gillmore had come into command, and by the middle of June was preparing his plans for attack at the south end of Morris island.
When the attack came, on the early morning of July 10th, it was a surprise and overwhelming.
Gillmore had put forty-seven guns and mortars in battery, facing the nine separate 1-gun batteries of the Confederates, within three-eighths of a mile of the rifle-pits, and without their knowledge.
Observant officers and men were satisfied that batteries were being constructed on Folly island, but so well was the work screened, that not until the brushwood was cut away, the embrasures opened out, and the fire opened, did the little force on the south end of Morris island, or the general commanding the district, or General Beauregard, realize the true character of the attack that had been so secretly prepared.
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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