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You probably will see in the papers before this reaches you, accounts of the severe losses sustained by our forces on James’ Island near Charleston [3] We made an unsuccessful at- tack and lost as near as I can learn between 600 and 700 men. The Ben De Ford [4] brought down 300 or 400 wounded two or three days ago and they are now at Gen. Hospital where they are receiving excellent care and where they have the best of accomodations though it is somewhat crowded. It is a sad sight to go through the wards and see the poor fellows wounded in all manner of ways. Seven have died. Great many operations are being performed as cutting off arms legs etc.

[footnotes] [3. Known as the Battle of Sessionville or the First Battle of James Island, fought on June 16, 1861, the Union suffered 683 casualties with 107 dead and the Confederates suffered 204 casualties with 52 dead.

4. A steamer.]