56

THE ARMY BEFORE CHARLESTON IN 1863.

T1IE SIGHT ASSAULT ON BATTERY WAGNER, JULY 18, 1803.

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troops, and 350 artillerists. The ordnance on hand, deemed more or lesssuitable for our purpose, consisted of 200-pounder, 100-pounder, and 30-pounder Parrott rifles, and some 13-inch, 10-inch, and 8-inch mortars. Theprojectiles for the 200-pounders, however, weighed only 150 pounds, andthose for the 100-pounders only 80 pounds. With this feeble array ofguns—feeble because largely wanting in the strength required for throwing,with a breaching velocity, even the light projectiles provided for them—thegreat work of the siege was begun. During the operations fifty-one of theseParrott rifles were expended by bursting, most of them prematurely.

Meanwhile between the middle of June and the (ith of July preparationsfor the descent upon Morris Island went quietly forward. It was deemednecessary that this attack should be a surprise in order to insure sue-