Chapter LI: Beaufort.--Campaign Planned Against Charleston

General Stevens restores public library--It is confiscated by
Treasury agents against his protest--The Gideonites come to
elevate the freedmen--General Stevens moderates their zeal;
wins their gratitude--Other visitors--Thorough course of
drill and discipline--Twenty-five-mile picket
line--Detachment of 8th Michigan defeat 13th Georgia regiment
on Wilmington Island--Death of Mr. Caverly--Governor
Stevens's views on military situation--General Stevens's
force a menace to Charleston and Savannah Railroad--Six
miles trestle bridges--General Robert E. Lee's defensive
measures--General Stevens eager to cross swords with
Lee--Plans movement to destroy railroad and hurl whole army
on Charleston--Captain Elliott's scouting trips--General
Sherman adopts plan--Commodore Dupont to coöperate--General
Hunter supersedes General Sherman--Fort Pulaski
taken--General Hunter proclaims negroes forever free, then
impresses them as soldiers--General Stevens's views on the
negro soldier--He is confirmed as brigadier-general 367

CHAPTER LII

JAMES ISLAND CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHARLESTON

Enemy abandon lower part of Stono River and batteries--General
Benham plans movement on Charleston by way of James
Island--General Stevens lands on James Island--Drives back
enemy in sharp action--Takes three guns--Cautions Benham of
need of a day's preparation before attacking--Incompetent
commanders--Wright joins, a week later, with his
division--Organization of the army--Enemy strengthening works
across island--Fort Lamar, strong advanced work--General
Stevens erects counter-battery--Reconnoissances 387

CHAPTER LIII

BATTLE OF JAMES ISLAND

General Benham's precipitate determination to assault Fort
Lamar--Protests of his generals--He orders General Stevens to
assault at dawn, Wright and Williams to support--Attacking
column--Forms at two P.M.--Drives in and follows hard on
enemy's pickets--Enters field in front of fort at
daylight--Rushes on the work in column of regiments--The
fight over the parapet--Deadly fire from enemy's reserves in
rear of the work--Troops withdrawn in good order and
reformed--General Williams attacks on left--General Wright
takes position to protect left and rear--General Stevens
about to assault a second time, when General Benham suddenly
gives up the fight and orders both columns to retreat--Forces
and losses--Causes of the repulse--Highlanders' revenge at
Fort Saunders--Benham deprived of command and sent North 399

CHAPTER LIV

RETURN TO VIRGINIA

The Highlanders present General Stevens with a sword--His
response--Death of Daniel Lyman Arnold--General Stevens's
letters to his wife--Holds Benham to account--General Wright
succeeds to command on Benham's arrest--James Island
evacuated--Troops uselessly harassed--Jean Ribaut's
fort--Voyage to Virginia--General Stevens's letter to
President Lincoln recommending such movement--His views of
military situation--Lands at Newport News--Ninth corps
formed, General Stevens commanding first division--Meets
General Cullum 416