fire of grape and musketry); total 421. Forty-sixth New York, 3 field officers, 19 offices, 452 men; total, 474.

Rockwell's artillery, 4 officers, 73 men; total, 77. Strahan's artillery, 3 offices, 80 men; total, 83. Sears' Corps Engineers, 2 officers, 59 men; total, 61. Sargent's company of cavalry, 2 officers, 28 men; total, 30. Total of special arms, 11 officers, 240 men; total, 251. General staff, 9 officers, 6 men; total, 15.

Total force in action, 3,562.

Moreover, the Seventh Connecticut had been on very severe fatigue duty the three previous nights. I desire in this official report to place on record my objections to these early morning attacks. they are justifiable, in my humble judgment, only under extraordinary circumstances. The troops get necessarily but little rest the night before, and they go to the work fatigued and excited. An attack at a more advanced period of the day I consider vastly preferable. These views I presented with all possible cogency and earnestness to General Benham on the evening of the 15th in stating my objections to his proposed attack at daylight on the morning of the 16th.

I must confess that the coolness and mobility of all the troops engaged on the 16th instant surprised me, and I cannot but believe, had proper use been made of the artillery guns from the Navy, and our own batteries, fixed and field; had the position been gradually approached and carefully examined and the attack made much later in the day, when our batteries had had their full effect - all which you will recollect were strongly urged by me upon General Benham the evening of the conference - the result might have been very different.

From the best information I can get I am satisfied the force of the enemy on the peninsula at Secessionville and in immediate defense of his works was five regiments, or about 3,000 effective men. It was the headquarters of his advance forces on James Island, and was in command of a general officer.

The casualties in the action of the 16th are as follows:

Killed. Wounded.

Command. Officers Enlisted Officers Enlisted

men. men.

First Brigade:

7th Connecticut 2 7 2 64

28th Massachusetts .... 8 2 40

8th Michigan 1 11 8 93

Total 3 26 12 197

Second Brigade:

46th New York 1 5 2 15

79th New York 1 8 5 51

100th Pennsylvania 1 8 2 30

Total 3 21 9 96

Prisoners.

Wounded. Unwounded.

Command. Officers Enlisted Officers Enlisted

men. men.

First Brigade:

7th Connecticut .... 3 .... 1

28th Massachusetts 1 4 .... 6

8th Michigan 2 20 1 13

Total 3 27 1 20

Second Brigade:

46th New York .... .... .... 1

79th New York .... 17 .... 9

100th Pennsylvania .... 1 .... ....

Total .... 18 .... 10

Missing. Total.

Command. Office Enlisted Office Enlisted Aggregate

rs men. rs men.

First Brigade:

7th .... 3 4 78 82

Connecticut

28th .... 6 3 64 67

Massachusetts

8th Michigan 1 35 13 172 185

Total 1 44 20 314 334

Second

Brigade:

46th New York .... 9 3 30 33

79th New York .... 19 6 104 110

100th .... 6 3 45 48

Pennsylvania

Total .... 34 12 179 191

Special arms:

Company 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, Captain L. M. Sargent, 2 wounded.

Company I, 3rd Rhode Island Volunteers, Captain C. G. Strahan, 1 killed.

Company Volunteers Engineers, Captain A. F. Sears, 1 wounded.