More Misery

On the Island

Rosy dawns were rare on Mor-

ris Island after the turn of the

new year.

Bad weather pelted the island,

a sandbank void of timber.  Fuel

was limited.  It had to be trans-

ported from neighboring islands.

During the siege operations of

the summer and fall, the supply

on Folly island has been pretty

well exhausted.  The men had to

look for other sources now.  A

wood-chopping party of three

companies were detailed, with

teams to haul the wood to the

landing.

It was brought up the river

into the inlet, in light draft

steamboats, and delivered at the

Morris Island wharf.

“The allowance to each regi-

ment was two wagon loads a

day,” Davis recalled.  “The sup-

ply was limited.  At no time was

there enough to build up the old-

fashioned camp fires.”

Gunboat Destroyed

In February, another Union

gunboat the Housatonic, was de-

stroyed by rebel fire.  The ship

was blown up at her anchorage

by a torpedo sent down from

Charleston.  (The first one was

the Wehawken.)

Winter wore on with time-worn

ferocity.  The sea swelled at the

south end of the island at least

two hundred feet further land-

ward than it was nine months

before.

The sand ridge on which the

headquarter tents were pitched at

the first landing had long since

been swallowed up by the sea

and now was covered with seven

feet of water.

The troops passed the winter

in comparative comfort because

the camps were in part shielded

from the blustery winds by sand-

hills behind which the tents were

pitched.

“The government refused to

furnish lumber to the men to

floor their tents, Davis noted,

“but many of them picked up

enough pieces of boards and parts

of cracker-boxes to use instead.”

Plenty Of Food

Rations were abundant and

there was a plentiful supply of

clothing.  High winds prevailed. 

An equinoctial storm, the heavi-

est of the season, continued for

more than two weeks.  During

that time, the sea encorached

upon the island more than twenty

feet.

“In April, one hundred and then

veterans of the 104th left Morris

island for home,” Davis said. 

“About this time, our garrison

was further reduced by the with-

drawal of the 9th Maine Regi-

ment and the 100th New York

regiment.

“It left me with only parts of

the 52nd and 104th regiments, and

some artillery, as inadequate

force to hold the island.”

The post was reinforced by the

arrival of the 54th Massachusetts,

a negro regiment.

“My command was an honor-

able one,” Davis observed.  All

important points in the area were

accessible by water and I had

every transport at my command. 

The ships enabled me to pass

quickly from one island to an-

other.

“The enemy constantly alarm-

ed our guards by night attacks

and a strict watch was kept by

land and water to prevent the

rebels from entering our lines.”

June 13, 1864:

The 52nd Regiment was em-

barked for Folly island.

“Its removal was the separa-

tion of old friends,” noted Davis.

“The two regiments had fought

side by side since November of

1861.  They had marched and en-

camped for three years.

“Many attachments had been

formed.  They will last as long

as the parties live.”

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