--The affair on
John's Island, near
Charleston, does not appear to have resulted in much loss to either side.
On Tuesday the
Yankees crossed from
Folly Island to Klawah, and thence to
Seabrook's Island, killing and capturing several of our pickets at Hanover At that point
Major Jenkins, with 150 men, including a company of the 59th Virginia, under
Capt. Jenett, made a stand.
Reinforcements were sent for, and
Cols. Tabb and
Page arrived on the ground.
The
Mercury says:
‘
On Wednesday evening
Gen. Wise arrived, finding Page and
Jenkins scouting the foe within a mile of the
Hanover.
The
Yankees' strength was estimated at 2,000, with six pieces of artillery, while our force, up to that time, numbered but 550, with four pieces.
A volley or two had been discharged when
Gen. Wise came up. Immediately the enemy were seen massing on our left flank, and threatening to turn our position by getting the Mullet Hall road.
Our position had been saved by our infantry beating the
Yankees in a race for it, but they outflanked us, so that
General Wise ordered our forces to fall back to the
Cooked Hat, on the
Beckett road, and then selected his position just above the upper fork.
’
All was quiet Wednesday night, and by the next morning (Thursday, the 11th,) our forces had increased to 1,050 infantry.
The enemy were soon reported advancing, and by 3 P. M. they came up to our front.
Just at this moment
Gen. Colquitt reinforced us with 900 men. At 3.25 P. M. we opened upon the enemy with six pieces, the
Marion battery and one section of Charles's, at about three quarters of a mile distance.
The enemy replied with three pieces —
Parrott's and
Blakely's. Teey ceased firing at forty minutes past five P. M., and retreated rapidly, leaving some of their dead Four bodies were found on the ground.
General Wise's men were too rest broken and fatigued to follow them.
The enemy retired in confusion to
Hanover, burnt the
Seabrook houses there, and before day crossed back to Klawah, burning the bridge behind them.
Major Jenkins lost about twelve men killed, wounded and missing;
Jenett's company about four on Tuesday.
We captured four prisoners on that day. On Thursday we had two wounded, none killed or missing.
The enemy lost on Thursday six killed and seven wounded that we know of but doubtless there were more.
A prisoner taken on that day says one of the
Yankee General lost a leg and his horse.
At
Hanover the enemy left ammunition, canteens,
oil cloths and some provisions. --They had thrown up a redoubt and had several hundred yards of breastworks made of improved rice dams.
The dispatches received at Headquarters here late Friday night produced the impression that the enemy had not only quitted the island, but had given up the expedition; but the latest accounts that reach us are conflicting on this point.
One report says that the
Yankee pickets were at
Jenkins's place on Saturday, about a mile from
Hanover, while their main body, (stated to be 8,000 strong — an exaggeration, probably,) was still at
Hanover — Another report is to the effect that they are evacuating
John's Island.
Their gunboats have been shelling the island for two days past.
