where the landing was but at 10 P.M.
found them.
About 10 the next morning a section
of artillery opened upon us from a
cluster of buildings on the South Carolina
side about a half miles from us at the
head of a bend in the river. At the same
time a gunboat shelled us from the
lower end of the island getting a cross
fire on us. They made excellent practice
firing one of our mills at the second
or third shot & causing us to take cover
behind a dyke. As we had no artillery
to reply with we could only send
skirmishers up along the river bank
to annoy their gunners. Cos D & G went
up and laid behind a low embank–
ment up to our knees in mud & water
peppering away at them. We were nearly
400 yds distant but still succeeded in
shutting them up for a time & making
them change their position, which having
done they opened again. It was very
nasty work, for it was hot as fury &
we had to lie almost flat in the mud
for they kept throwing case & canister
into us. One poor fellow had the top of