Official Records:  Series 1, Volume 14, Part 1, Pages 29-30

CAMP 24TH S. C. VOL. Regiment, ADVANCE FORCES,

James Island, S. C., June 10, 1862.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report the details of the recent engagement with the enemy's advance at Legare's place, below Secessionville, on the 3rd instant:

In obedience to your direction I left the camp before daylight with four companies of the Twenty-fourth, the Marion Rifles, Pee Dee Rifles, Evans Guard, and Colleton Guard, to remove the guns of Captain Chichester's battery, which were bogged in the marsh at the causeway below Rivers'. Arrived at Secessionville, it was reported to me by Colonel Lamar that our pickets had been driven in to Rivers' and that the guns were covered by the enemy. I reported this to the general, who ordered me to take my companies and drive him back until the fire of his boats obliged me to withdraw. I moved down to Rivers' and found the picket force, consisting of the Beauregard Light Infantry and the Charleston Riflemen, at that head of the causeway, facing Legare's; threw out the Marion Rifles, Captain Sigwald, as skirmishers, and ordered him to push on and draw the fire of the enemy. This was well and promptly done, the Marions soon occupying the pines and the enemy's skirmishers retiring. I crossed the causeway by flank and deployed on the other side, throwing my companies forward on the right, when we engaged the enemy warmly until, our fire becoming too severe, he fell back to the edge of the wood on this side of Legare's old field.

After a half hour's firing in this position we moved into the wood and drove through, the enemy retreating across the old field to the houses beyond. Our way was now unobstructed, the enemy occupying the Legare houses beyond and the long hedge to the east of them, from which he poured in a strong fire, most of which passed entirely over us. A regiment, which I afterward ascertained to be the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, constituted his reserve, and was posted below the negro houses, a quarter of a mile to the south. I determined, by a rapid charge on the main buildings, to cut off the advance from this support, the only difficulty being that at Legare's we would be open to the river and within a half mile. but I resolved to attempt it. Just at this period Lieutenant-Colonel Gaillard with his command, about 124 strong, reported to me and I assigned him a position, and ordered the Evans Guard, Captain Gooding; Charleston Riflemen, Lieutenant Lynch; Irish Volunteers, Captain Ryan; Beauregard Light Infantry, Captain White; Sumter Guard, Lieutenant J. Ward Hopkins, and the Calhoun Guard, Captain Miles, to perform this duty, while Lieutenant-Colonel Gaillard took command of the center and left as a reserve. It was well and nobly performed, 22 prisoners being captured, including a captain and sergeant, all of the One hundredth Pennsylvania Regiment. The prisoners in our possession and the enemy driven back to his support (which promptly took position in and behind the row of negro houses) the boats opened a brisk fire on us, while we received our only damaging fire from the negro huts. I therefore ordered a retirement to the wood, which was performed in good order and under cover of the fire from our left, where the remainder of the Charleston Battalion, with three of my companies, were posted. I deemed it proper by the general's directions. I would have retained the woods had I had a force sufficient to cover my right, which was open to the enemy and immediately under the fire of his boats.

The following is a list of the casualties of Beauregard Light Infantry, Pee Dee Rifles, and Evans Guard.* The report of Lieutenant-Colonel Gaillard, which is herewith forwarded, shows the result in his command, which makes our total injury sustained 17 wounded (1 of which was mortal) and 1 missing.

From a prisoner captured on Saturday last I learned that Lieutenant Walker was not dangerously wounded and was doing well, being held a prisoner at Legareville. The same prisoner informs me that many of the enemy were wounded, 2 having since died, and that several were killed. He represents the regiment engaged to have been the One hundredth Pennsylvania, and the reserve to have consisted of the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts and Forty-ninth New Yorks.+

The officers and men under my command behaved with coolness and determined bravery. I have no special mention to make of any one for distinguished behavior. Captain Cline surrendered his sword to Captain Ryan, of the Irish Volunteers, who now wears it as a trophy of his gallantry. To Lieutenant-Colonel Gaillard and his gallant command I return my thanks for their prompt and efficient support. The companies of the Twenty-fourth, after a long march and without break fast, went into the action with spirit and sustained it throughout.

With gratitude to God for our success, I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully and truly, your obedient servant,

ELLISON CAPERS,

Lieutenant-Colonel Twenty-fourth South Carolina Volunteers.