The foregoing is the official report. Colquitt drove in the pickets and
the main body of the enemy with only a strong line of skirmishers until
they reached the narrow neck between James and Battery Islands. Here
they formed a double line of battle with field artillery on the flank and
a cross-fire at close range from gunboats in Stono and Folley Rivers sweeping
their front. A rapid exchange of fire of field artillery took place. The
force at Grimball's had already escaped, and the instructions of department
headquarters not permitting a further advance, which, too, would
probably have resulted in little good, after a close reconnaissance of the
position, the troops were recalled.
Federal newspaper accounts and their subsequent histories state that
their force on this occasion was General Terry's Division, consisting of
Montgomery's black brigade (two regiments) and General Stevenson's
Brigade (white). This would make their force over 3,000[58]
men. The
prisoners on that day insisted that there were eight regiments. It seems
they were right. The assistant surgeon of the Pawnee, who had been
detailed to assist the wounded of the land forces after the assault on
Wagner of the 18th July, and, wandering into our lines on the field, was
picked up by our picket, told General Hagood that the Pawnee was struck
forty-three times, principally in her upper works. She slipped her cables
and fled after the tenth round. Kemper galloped up and unlimbered at
the short range stated in an open field and fought without epaulements.
The enemy's fire all passed over him, and he had neither man nor horse
wounded.
Greely's History (American Conflict) states Terry's loss at 100. This
is believed to have been the first time the colored troops of the Federal
army were ever in action. It was certainly the first time that any were
captured by the Confederates. When it was understood that such troops
were being organized, by Confederate proclamation it was announced that
prisoners taken from them would be turned over to the State authorities
to be tried under the local laws relating to servile insurrection, and that
white men commanding them would be dealt with as outlaws. It was not
done in this or any subsequent case.
