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hawser was carried from the ‘Nahant,’ and by it and the rising tide she was floated at 11 A. M.
From Gregg and Chatfield our guns, mounted for the purpose, began to fire on the city at 10 A. M. on the 17th, throwing twenty-one shells.
We could see the smoke from the explosions as the shells struck about the wharves, in the ‘burnt district,’ or well up among the houses.
This bombardment of Charleston was from this time maintained with more or less vigor each day and night.
Against Sumter, from November 1 to the 20th, we fired an average of five hundred shots daily.
Our new work nearest Gregg was named Battery Seymour, and was armed with ten-inch mortars; another still farther south was called Battery Barton.
Major Conyngham, Fifty-second Pennsylvania, with two hundred and fifty men from his regiment, the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania, and the Third New Hampshire, made a boat reconnoissance of Sumter at night, November 19.
Our expedition approached to within three hundred yards of the fort, was discovered, and after an engagement of fifteen minutes withdrew with three men wounded.
In this affair a portion of Sumter's garrison acted badly, and three officers were censured.
Capt. F. H. Harleston, First South Carolina Artillery, a most gallant and able officer, while examining the defences of the fort on November 24 was struck by a Parrott-shell, and died in a few hours.
Thanksgiving Day, November 26, by general orders, was observed by the suspension of all unnecessary labor.
At 1.30 P. M. the Fifty-fourth formed with side-arms only, and marched to the beach in front of the Third Brigade headquarters.
There, with all the other troops on the island,
1894. Boston Book Co. Boston,.
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