Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[221] regiments were held in reserve to support the five engaged, and to protect their retreat.

The late battle in the vicinity of this city was a far more brilliant and important affair than at first supposed. The enemy were so badly beaten that they have not fired a shot from their gunboats or batteries since, though previous to the fight they kept up a constant cannonade, day and night. Considering the number of troops engaged on our side, and the length and fierceness of the combat, the battle is one of the most remarkable of the war. The rout of the invaders was complete. They abandoned their dead, and fled in wild confusion to their gunboats. Two of their regiments, the Seventy-ninth New-York (Highlanders,) and one from Michigan, fought well. One company of the former penetrated as far as our breastworks, and its captain was killed while mounting the ramparts. The enemy had five regiments in the fight.

Our forces engaged consisted of three companies of South-Carolina artillery--the Charleston battalion, which numbered only one hundred and fifty men; the Eutaw battalion, four hundred strong, and Col. McEnery's Louisiana battalion. Other regiments came to the relief of these troops, but most of the fighting was already over. It will be seen, therefore, that the enemy outnumbered us two or three to one. Their greatest loss was occasioned in attempting to storm our intrenchments, behind which Col. Lamar's artillery was stationed. Col. Lamar was the hero of the battle. He was severely wounded. Col. McEnery also deserves great praise. He led his Louisianians fearlessly into the fight with the watchword: “Remember Butler.”

Every day's exploration of the surrounding woods reveals additional dead of the enemy. It has been ascertained that a body of the Federals attempted to cross a swamp, where many of them stuck fast in the mud, and were killed and wounded by our shells. Finally the tide came up, and drowned both dead and wounded. Two hundred and fifty of the enemy have already been buried by our troops, and fifty additional dead bodies were discovered yesterday. The total loss of the enemy in the battle cannot be far from--

Killed and left on the field,	300
Taken prisoners,	130
Wounded and dead carried off of the field, estimated at	700
Total loss of the enemy,	1430

The confederate loss in this glorious victory is:

Killed,	48
Wounded,	106
Total confederate loss,	154

The enemy's attack was a surprise to our troops. Had a competent confederate general been on the field, and some plan of action arranged, the whole of the enemy's attacking force might have been cut off. As it was, the greater part of the battle was fought by the rank and file “on their own hook.” We have four confederate generals in this quarter, but not one was in command. To the rank and file, then, be the glory given of having achieved one of the most brilliant successes of the war. If the confederate government is looking for material for more brigadier-generals, let promotion fall upon the lionhearted Col. Lamar, who defended the intrenchments, and the gallant and chivalrous McEnery, who, like Blucher, came into the field just in the nick of time.

Since the battle, the enemy have been intrenching themselves silently at the lower end of James Island. As their plan of assault has proved impracticable, it is presumed they will be contented hereafter to advance by regular approaches — that is, if they are permitted to do so. Prisoners state that there are nine Federal regiments on the island, and that Gen. Isaac I. Stevens, of Oregon, (the chairman of the Breckinridge National Committee in the last Presidential campaign,) is in command. This man Stevens professed to be an ardent pro-slavery man before the war, and was here in Charleston, enjoying its hospitalities, only two years ago.

There is much dissatisfaction here with the military authorities of the department, and a strong wish expressed for a change in the commanding officers. The South-Carolina troops are anxious to defend Charleston, and will do so successfully if they are permitted to. A report that we were to have the great services of Beauregard spread universal joy omong the troops. If, however, we cannot have Beauregard, we would be glad to get Huger, Magruder, Hill of North-Carolina, Whiting, Gregg, Joseph R. Anderson, or any other first-class general. A change of some kind is necessary to restore confidence to the troops and people.