Emilio, Luis F., History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry , 1863-1865

[206] harangued the Rebels, to divert the men. Soon after dark the Chatham Artillery in our front withdrew to their lines, as General Taliaferro feared a sudden dash. There were no further infantry movements or fighting during the remainder of the day; but from the river the gunboat continued to fire, and receive shots from Battery Pringle. During these events a force of the First New York Engineers and civilian employees had thrown up a defensive line along our margin of the low ground; and to it General Schimmelfennig ordered all his troops in advance to retire after nightfall. It was not until 11 P. M., however, that the Fifty-fourth called in its skirmishers and silently withdrew to the main line. Bivouac was made in a cornfield just at the general's headquarters. Lieutenant Leonard and a large part of Company K were in the darkness inadvertently left on post until Lieutenant Swails, who was sent back with ten men, brought them in.

Thus ended a most memorable day for the regiment, not sanguinary, but full of trials requiring not only courage, but constancy to suffer and endure. Having drawn the enemy to the south lines of James Island, General Schimmelfennig prepared a daring attack on Fort Johnson. Colonel Gurney commanded; and his force was the Fifty-second Pennsylvania, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh New York, and a detachment of the Third Rhode Island Artillery. It left Payne's Dock in twenty-eight barges at 2 A. M., July 3, but was delayed in crossing the harbor and bar. The boats were observed and fired upon. A portion, however, landed near Battery Simkins, and was at once repulsed. Colonel Hoyt, Fifty-second Pennsylvania, and a number of his officers and men, were not supported by their comrades,