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the island was taken -- The ground was saturated with blood in and around the Fort. Our gun carriage was completely demolished by a shell and one half of a man's head left [inserted] on h. We lost 8 killed and 5 wounded. The asst. Engineer of the Pawnee had his head shot off by a cannon ball -- The Wabash received 36 shots and out [inserted] the others 27 -- No material damage, however, was done -- Three Rebels gunboat witnessed the engagement -- They were inside of the islands and commanded by Commodore Tattnall late of the U.S. Navy and commander of the Wabash. So near as can be ascertained there were 1800 men on the island and 800 at Bay Point. The contraband say that 500 came down from Savannah to see the fun -- but I rather think they went back in a hurry, if they were all lucky enough to get back at all [bold] This was a very wealthy place. Large numbers of "contraband' (four escaped] [inserted] from the main land, besides those on the island of which there are a great many. Those that came ashore secured large quantities of things such as swords, watch pistols -- We came ashore Sat. and marched to our present encampment, which is in a cotton field -- So the boys have had their long expressed desire of being in the "land of cotton, gratified' The Cotton is in its maturity -- We have plenty of sweet potatoes for the digging -- I wish I could send some of the fine, large oranges of which large numbers are brought into Camp daily. Our boys get most any