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

[208] 1, arriving early on the 2d. There General Hatch, with Saxton's and Davis's brigades, landing at Seabrook, crossed to John's Island at the Haulover Bridge, and bivouacked some distance beyond for the night. General Birney, with his brigade and a marine battery, went up the North Edisto and landed at White Point. He then moved toward Adam's Run, but meeting the enemy in small numbers, halted for the night, after marching but two miles. Resuming the advance early on the 3d, Birney drove the enemy's light troops some five miles to King's Creek, where on the opposite bank the Confederates under Gen. B. H. Robertson had a battery which opened on our force. General Foster, with two armed transports, ran up the Dawhoo River, and co-operated by throwing shells across the intervening ground. After two or three hours of cannonading and skirmishing, and as General Birney reported that it was expedient to withdraw, General Foster ordered a retirement to White Point, where the force took transports for James Island.

In response to General Jones' requests for reinforcements, the First Georgia (regulars) Fourth Georgia Cavalry, and three companies of the Third South Carolina Cavalry, all dismounted, were sent to John's Island from Savannah, for news had been received of the landing of Hatch's and Birney's forces. The enemy was apprehensive of attacks by way of the Stono, which was the route taken by the British in 1780. During the night of the 2d the Thirtysecond Georgia, Col. Geo. P. Harrison, reported to General Taliaferro; and every available man was taken from other points to reinforce the southern lines on James Island.

Supposing that we still held the positions of the previous day, Colonel Harrison, with several companies of his regiment