February 4, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
We understand, from some of the officers of the captured gunboat Isaac P. Smith, that the fire of our sharpshooters during the engagement was so deadly as seriously to retard the working of their heavy guns, and that at one time they found no little difficulty inducing their crew to man the guns at all. Our brave sharpshooters were posted, without the slightest cover of any kind, upon the river bank, within 150 yards of the muzzles of the enemy guns. Their weapons were Enfield rifles, with which they poured an incessant fire into the ports of the gunboat. The force of sharpshooters consisted of Company H, Captain ROOF, and Company I, Lieut. GUNTER, of the 20th S.C.V.; a detachment of twenty men from Capt. HARLESTON’S Company D, 1st Regiment (regular) S.C.A., and Company I, 1st Regiment (regular) S.C.A., Captain MITCHEL, the last named officer being in command of the force. The skill, courage and coolness of the sharpshooters largely contributed to the success of the attack.
We have been presented with the twenty-four pounder rifle shell, somewhat broken, which struck the machinery and stopped the gunboat. It was found lodged in the steam pipe, after passing through the side of the boat and through the steam chest. No other shot penetrated the machinery, and the size and shape of the shell in question, as we are informed, shows that the retreating steamer was halted by one of Capt. GARY’S batteries, of the LUCAS Battalion of S.C. Heavy Artillery, on James’ Island. The shell can be seen at our office.