than 1,000 yards I regard them as utterly worthless. Many of the fuses exploded prematurely, and about half of the friction primers failed. I regard as having contributed in some degree to the ill success of this expedition the loss of the diversion in favor of the two lower batteries expected from the upper battery and that of Captain Charles by reason of the necessity they were under of accommodating their operations to the movements of the infantry. I cannot close this report without expressing my high sense of the distinguished coolness and gallantry displayed by all the officers of my command, and the steadiness and enthusasm of the men, with but very rare exceptions, was most noteworthy. Where all did their duty it would be unfair to discriminate, but I desire to place on record my admiration of the herois manner in which Private William Heyward Ancrum, of Webb's battery, met his death. Must also thank Lieutenant McKee, my adjutant, and Privates Sams, Miller, and Fripp, of Major Jenkins' cavalry, who acted as couries for me, for the satisfactory manner in which they performed their duties. Accompanying this report are first, a paper marked A, showing the effective strength of the artillery on the morning of the engagement, and, second, a paper B, a list of casualties, showing 1 killed, 2 mortally wounded (since dead), and 9 wounded.* These casualties occured, it will be seen, in Webb's Smith's, and Charles' batteries.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

DEL. KEMPER,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Artillery.

Lieutenant FLETT,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

A.

Effective strength of artillery forces under command of Lieutenant. Colonel Del. Kemper, engaged in the attack on the gun-boats in the Stono River, near legarville, on the 25th December, 1863.

Companies. C L S C M Pr Of En Ag

a i e o u iv fi li gr

p e r r s at ce st eg

t u g p i es rs ed at

a t e o c . . me e.

i e a r i n.

n n n a a

s a t l n

. n s s s

t . . .

s

.

Company A, siege 1 2 4 6 1 61 3 72 71

train...

Company B, siege . 2 4 5 1 70 2 80 82

train... .

Charles' battery... 1 1 5 4 1 66 2 76 78

Schulz's battery... 1 2 4 6 1 60 3 71 74

Section Marion . 2 . 2 . 38 2 40 42

Artillery... . . .

Total... 3 9 1 2 4 29 12 33 25

7 3 5 9 3

DEL. KEMPER,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Artillery.

JOHN'S ISLAND, December 25, 1863.

[28.]

ADAMS RUN, January 6, 1864.

GENERAL: In compiance with your order of 30th ultimo, I submit the following statement of the number and character of shots fired from

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* Nominal list omitted.

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