U
li UI Ml M
THE “ WEEHAWKEN.”
land forces were engaged in putting up works nearthe middle of Morris Island. They were very muchdisturbed by the accurate firing of Fort Sumter andof Battery Gregg.
On the arrival of the remainder of Clingman’sbrigade and of other troops called from the Secondand Third Military Districts of my department, Iwas about to issue an order for an attempt in forceto expel the enemy from Morris Island. But theconfiguration of that island, its proximity to theFederal monitors, and the fact, no less important,that fully four thousand men would have been re-quired for that purpose, convinced me that no stepof that kind could then have been successful. Ourlimited means of transportation was also a greatdrawback to us. Upon further reflection I came
_ to the conclusion that we could
__ - do more toward checking the
S® Sfc™. - - progress of the enemy by erect-
ing new batteries on JamesIsland, and by strengtheningothers already in position thereand elsewhere. I issued ordersthat effect, and they were vigorously carried out. Battery Simkins, inadvance of Fort Johnson, on Shell Point, was one of these new batteries.^ was armed with one 10-iuch Columbiad, one 6.40 Brooke, and threelO-incli mortars; and guus were taken from Sumter to increase the arma-ment of Moultrie.
EFFECT OF BLAKELY SHOT FROM FORT SUMTER ON THEplating AND THE SMOKE-STACK OF THE MONITOR“WEEHAWKEN.” FROM PHOTOGRAPHS.
The damages in Battery Wagner were soon repaired, and the fire of themonitors and gun-boats was regularly answered. Three guns, instead of two,'Were mounted at the Shell Point Battery; and I also caused gun-batteiies of10-inch Columbiads to be substituted for the mortar-batteries at Foit Jolin-son. I ordered the forces on Morris Island to be reduced to a number strictlysufficient to hold our works there; and, the enemy’s pickets along the Stonohaving been increased at that time, I instructed General Johnson Hagood toadvance at once on the position occupied by the Federals, and thus ascertain■"hat was their real intent as to James Island. This was done with General