GEORGIA- CIVIL WAR Battle of Honey Hill ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: eileenmc@charter.net Eileen December 6, 1864 Daily Chronicle & Sentinel THE BATTLE OF HONEY HILL The Savannah Republican terms the late fight at Grahamville, S.C., the battle of Honey Hill, and gives the annexed detailed account of the affair: In our account of the affair, in Thursday morning's issue, we spoke of it as a "drawn battle," until dark. We wrote with the official despatch of Gen. Smith before us,in which his modesty, which is equal to his merit, led us into error by withholding the true character of the contest and the real magnitude of the victory- for each it was, and for the numbers engaged, one of the most brilliant and important of the war. It was clearly a movement on the part of the enemy to co-operate with Sherman; so large a force would never have been sent simple to cut the Charleston Railroad, when the Yankees believed it to be defended only by a company of cavalry. Honey Hill is about two and a half miles east of the village of Grahamville, Beaufort District. On the crest of this where the road, or highway strikes it, is a semi-circular line of earthworks, defective through in construction, as they are too high for infantry and have little or no exterior scope. These works formed the centre of our line on Wednesday, whilst our left reached up into the pine lands without protection, and our right along a line of fence that skirts the swamp below the batteries. They commanded fully the road in front of as it passes through the swamp at the base of the hill, and only some fifty or sixty yards distant. Through the swamp, during the winter months runs a small creek, which spreads up and down the road for some thirty or forty yards, but quite shallow the entire distance. Come sixty yards beyond this creek the main road turns off to the left, making an obtuse angle, whilst another and smaller road makes off to the right from the same point. The enemy came by the former road and turned the angle apparently before they were aware of the presence of an opposing force. The consisted of four regiments of whites and the same number of blacks. Prisoners, of which ten or twelve are in our possession, state that this force was commanded by Generals Porter and Hatch; some of them say General Footes was also present as chef of command. The negroes, as usual, formed the advance and had nearly reached the creek when our batteries opened upon them down the road with a terrible volley of spherical case. This threw them into temporary confusion, but the entire force, estimated at five thousand, was quickly restored to order and thrown into a line of battle parallel with our own, up and down the margin of the swamp. Thus the battle raged from 11 a.m. till dark. The enemy's centre and left were most exposed and suffered terribly. Their right was posted behind an old dam that ran through the swamp, and it maintained its position till the close of the fight. Our left was very much exposed and an attempt was once or twice made by the enemy to turn it by advancing through the swamp and up the hill, but they were driven back without a prolonged struggle. The centre and left of the enemy fought with a desperate earnestness. Several attempts were made to charge our batteries and many got nearly across the swamp, but were, in every instance, forced back by the galling fire poured into them from our lines. We made a visit to the field the day following and found the swamp and road literally strewn with their dead. Some eight or ten bodies were floating in the water where the road crosses, and in a ditch on the roadside just beyond, we saw six negroes piled one on top the other. A Colonel of one of the negro regiments, with his horse was killed while fearlessly leading his men across the creek in a charge. With that exception, all the dead and wounded officers were carried off by the enemy during the night. Many traces were left where they were dragged from the woods to the road and thrown into ambulances or carts. We counted some sixty or seventy bodies in the space of about an acre, many of which were horribly mutilated by shells; some with half their heads shot off and others completely disembowelled. The artillery was served with great accuracy, and we doubt if any battlefield of the war presents such havoc among the trees and shrubbery. Immense pines and other growth were cut short off or torn into shreds. From all indications it is estimated that the loss of the enemy is fully five or six hundred. The is the lowest estimate we have heard. Many offices are of the opinion that their loss cannot be less than one thousand. Our infantry behaved with the greatest valor; throughout the protracted struggle there were little or no straggling, nearly every man standing firmly to his post of duty. The Georgia Brigade was commanded by Col. Willis, whose behaviour on the field is highly commendable. The Athens Battalion under Maj. Cook, and Augusta Battalion, Maj. Jackson stood manfully to their work. The South Carolina Artillery also acted most handsomely and served their guns with the skill of veterans. Great praise is bestowed by the ranking offices on Capt. Stewart, of the Beaufort Artillery, 5 guns, and on Earl's and Kanapaux's batteries, each of which had a gun in the action. As before stated, the general command was vested in Major General Gustavus Smith, of the Georgia State forces, though the line was immediately under the direction of Col. Colcock, whose conduct on the occasion is spoken of as beyond all praise. The gallant Col. Gonzales was an active participant in the fit, and might have been seen everywhere along the line posting the guns and encouraging the troops. So much for the battle of Honey Hill. The enemy was whipped long before it close, but they waited for night to save themselves from disaster in their retreat. Soon after dark, they made off with all possible speed, and, as the evidences show, with the wildest fright and confusion. Nearly everything was thrown away in their flight. The road and woods for miles were strewed with clothing of every description, canteens, cooking utensils, &c. &c., whilst in their camp, about two miles from the battle-field, they left everything. Any quantity of provisions, bottles of liquor, preserved meats, blankets, overcoats, &c., were abandoned in their hasty retreat. With the exception of shelling from their gunboats next day, which was harmless nothing has been heard of them since their galling defeat and inglorious flight. December 4, 1864 Daily Chronicle & Sentinel (Private Dispatch) Augusta Local Battalion In The Fight At Grahamville We are indebted to His Honor the Mayor for the use of the following dispatch: Grahamville, S.C., Dec. 3 The casualties in this Battalion in the fight at this place are as follows: Co A- Capt Holleyman: Private Hayle wounded slight Co D-Private John L Ammon, killed (accident); Private Boatright, wounded, slight. Co E- Lieut Shackelford: Sergt Tice, wounded, slight. Co C-Capt Smith: Private Jas Walker missing The balance are all well. December 7, 1864 Daily Chronicle & Sentinel Carswell's Brigade - Annexed is a list of the casualties which occurred in Carswell's Brigade, At the battle of Honey Hill, S. C. Nov. 3d First Regiment, Lieut. Col. T. A. Walton, Commanding Company A - Wounded : T O'Keef, Wilkes county, in back slight; J W Smith, Wilkes county, left shoulder. Company B - Wounded: Peter Wright, Columbia county, left thigh; G W Martin, Columbia county, breast slightly; Richard Foster, Columbia county, back. Company C - Wounded: Elijah Norman, Wilkes county, right thigh Company G - Wounded: Lieut E A Burgess, Green county, flesh wound in right leg. Company K - Joseph D Byrd, Lincoln county, both feet; Corporal Robt Davy, Lincoln county, right shoulder. Second Regiment, Col. James Staplton Comd'g Company G - Wounded: Private Jno Tompkins, Jefferson county, face severely; Private J Vining, Jefferson county, right arm; Corporal John Barrow, face slightly Company H - Wounded : Private Allen Rountree, Emanuel county, left shoulder. Third Regiment, Col. L G Johnston, Commanding Company C- Wounded: Private Walter Davis, Hancock county, groin; Lieut A D Butts, Hancock county, left leg. Company D - Killed: Corporal Thos A Orr, Washington county. Wounded: Sergt W H Armstrong, Washington county, left breast; Private E F Orr, Washington county, left knee. Company E - Wounded: Private J Brown, Hancock county, right arm and shoulder Company G - Wounded: W C Faulkner, Elbert county, left rist. Company H - Wounded: Lieut T T J Fortson. Elbert county, flesh wound in head. Company K - Wounded: Private C R Hitchcock, Oglethorpe county, face; Private W J Bell, Oglethrope county, back. Company B - Killed: Corpl Oliver Griffeth, Madison county. December 7, 1864 Daily Chronicle & Sentinel Forty Seventh Georgia Regiment - Annexed is a list of the casualties in the Forty Seventh Georgia regiment at the fight near Grahamsville, S.C. Nov 30: Z P Thompson, leg, flesh, wound; J Bruer, arm and shoulder; Clinton Sapp, right thigh; Jos D Byrd, feet; W Ellis, both legs; D F Robbins, left shoulder; W P Owens, scalp; Wm H Wise, left arm amputate; Wm Bussor, neck, wrist and head; John Tompkins, through face; L M Prine, left hand; E E Orr, left knee; E Norman, right thight and hand; Br R Grenn, left hand; J E Cone, Major wrist broken; J C Dedge, Capt, right elbow; A Setching, left hip; Thos Harrison, left leg; Arther Ray, left side; John Barrow, forehead, W H Armstrong, left breast. December 7, 1864 Daily Chronicle & Sentinel WOUNDED AT GRAHAMVILLE The annexed Georgians wounded at Grahamville, S.C., have been brought to Savannah: H G Wolfe, co A, 21st Regt G M, disability; A Litehge, co A, 47th Ga, wounded in hip slight; W C Faulker, co G, 3d Regt G M, left shoulder slight; J W Smith, co A, 1st Regt G M, left shoulder, slight; Thos Wylly, co D 47th Ga breast mortal; W J Bell, co K, 3d G M, wound in the back; 1st Lieut J C Murphy, co B, 2d Regt G N, flesh wound in forehead; Lieut Jas L Fulcher, co B, 2d Regt G M, left groin; W H Armstrong, Ord Sergt, co D, 3d Regt G M, left breast; J Withington, co E, Augusta (Ga) Batt, injured by concussion of shell; Lieut T J Folsom, co H, 3d Regt Ga State Troops, left side of head; 2d Lieut John Coswell, co I, 2d Regt, 1st Brig, G M., debility; 1st Lieut A S Butts, co C, 3d Regt, 1st Brig, left leg, severe; 2d Lieut E A Burgess, co G, 1st Regt, 1st Brig G M, right leg; 2d Sergt J. H. Tice, co D, Augusta Batt, left shoulder and back; C R E Hitchcock, co K, 3d Regt, G M, left shoulder. NOTES: Carswell's 1st regiment - Wilkes, Columbia, Greene, Lincoln 2nd - Jefferson, Emanuel 3rd - Hancock, Washington, Elbert, Oglethorpe, Madison 47th Regiment, Georgia Infantry 47th Infantry Regiment was organized during the winter of 1861- 1862 with men raised in the counties of Mitchell, Randolph, Bullock, Chatham, Screven, Tattnell, Appling, Bryan, Liberty, and Dodge. Gustavus Smith was a native of Kentucky - didn't live in Georgia Colcock was from South Carolina