Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 4.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[359] not operate on Stono River: the Pawnee was riddled with shots. On the morrow Gillmore recalled Terry's division: he needed all his forces on Morris Island, and could not, as we have said, attempt to occupy James Island, however advantageous might have been this conquest to menace Charleston.

On the 18th, at noon, the Federal batteries, opening fire on Fort Wagner, announced to its defenders that a fresh assault was in preparation. The latter responded with ardor, supported by the cannon of Sumter and Battery Gregg. But they were going to struggle with new and more formidable adversaries. At noon Admiral Dahlgren had arrived with five monitors, the armored frigate New Ironsides, and five gunboats, each carrying a piece of very heavy calibre, every vessel being ranged with its broadside bearing on the fort. However, the tide was not favorable, and he was obliged to keep at a distance. Finally, at four o'clock he placed himself with the ironclads at less than three hundred and twentyfive yards from the fort, which he covered with shells. Despite their courage, the Southern artillerists were soon obliged to abandon their pieces and take refuge in their casemates. The fort remained quiet and received in silence all the projectiles which the land and sea ordnance showered upon it until the evening: more than nine thousand, it is said, fell within its enclosure. Only Fort Sumter could respond to this bombardment, but the distance prevented it from causing damage either to the fleet or to the siege-batteries.

In order to render the firing from this fort less dangerous to the assaulting columns, Gillmore decided that they should begin to move at twilight. His orders are punctually executed. General Strong claims for his brigade the honor of forming the first column; it advances in good order, having at its head the negro regiment, that the white officers lead for the first time under fire. Vogdes' brigade is ready to support it. The Federal batteries remain quiet; Sumter's cannons redouble, on the contrary, their fire directed against the batteries, and, above all, against the assailants. But they are soon obliged to intermit it. In fact, the garrison, seeing that the Federals are approaching the glacis, spring on the parapet and a terrible fire of musketry mows down the front ranks of the negro regiment. The others advance even into the ditch,