DECEMBER 25, 1863.-Attack on the U. S. S. Marblehead, in Stono River, S. C.

Report of Colonel Powhtan R. PAGE, Twenty-sixth Virginia Infantry.

CHURCH FLATS, S. C., December 26, 1863.

CAPTAIN: Having already informed you hurriedly of the result of the expedition to John's Island,* I now respectfully submit the following official report:

The infantry, five fompanies of the Twenty-sixth and five companies of the Fifty-seventh Regiment Virginia Volunteers, aggregate strength, 480, moved on the island on Monday, the 21st instant. The necessary details for work were furnished the engineer officer, Lieutenant P. C. Johnston, and all the work that could be done without discovery was completed on the night of the 23rd instant. Lieutenant-Colonel Kemper arrived with his artillery on Wednesday evening, the 23rd instant. On Thursday night the whole force moved down on the peninsula of Legareville, Major Jenkins' cavalry guarding the approaches to that point. The lower battery, on Lady's Island (which could not be concealed from the enemy during the day), as well as the necessary leveling for Charles' battery under the hedge, was successfully completed, and the guns and troops all put in position before daybreak on the 25th, in accordance with Special Orders, Numbers 276, department headquarters. The Marblehead was the only vessel lying in the river, her position being below the village, between it and the middle battery. As soon as it was fully light the two lower batteries opened on her; the upper battery and Charles' light battery at the same time opened on the village. The Marblead got under wat and moved slowly down the river, but seeing the Pawnee and another gun-boat coming to her assistance, returned. The Pawnee was soon in range and took position in Kiawah River, enfilading the lower and middle batteries and hedge behind which the light guns from the infantry were posted, compelling the withdrawal of the guns from the middle and lower batteries with the loss of two 8-inch howitzers. The circumstances attending the loss of these pieces are stated in the accompanying report of Lieutenant-Colonel Kemper, commanding artillery. Supporting that the Marbehead would be immediately render incapable of assisting the troops in the village, and knowing that the enemy's force there consisted of about 150 men, stationed on and island, the only approach to which was over a narrow causeway of about 150 yards in length, and were protected from infantry fire by houses, my intention was, as soon as the gun-boat was disabled, to advance the two howitzer pieces of Charles' battery with the infantry, and it that way compel their surrender.

For these reasons the infantry was not immediately advanced, and seeing that the Marglehead was not injured, and as far as I could judge not struck, and the pwnee in a short time enfilading us and in position to concentrate her force with that of the Marblehead, either on the village or on any point between it and the hedge, I abandoned the attack on Legareville as certainly involving the loss of the greater portion of my infantry and as attended with but a bare possibility of success. At this juncture I was in theact of dispatching an order to Lieutenant-Colonel Kemper to withdraw the heavy artillery, when I received the announcement through a courier from him that he was retiring. I immediately ordered off the light battery, and following

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* See VOL. XXVIII, Part I, p. 750.

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