The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-18 00:00:00

THE ATTACK ON PORT HUDSON.

NEW ORLEANS, May 28,
As I anticipated would be the case, the long-expected
attack upon Port Hudson commenced yesterday, and last
night and this morning it was continued, the advantage
being with us, although it has been one of, if not the bloodi-
est battle, that has yet been fought on this continent. As
I have before stated, the position was closely invested some
days since, our right resting on Thompson's bayou, and the
left on Springfield's landing. I was uncertain as to what

course Gen. Banks would pursue to reduce this stronghold.
I hardly thought he would attempt to carry the immensely
strong works by storm, seeing how much life it would cost,

but knowing that his time was limited, he has determined

upon that course, not carirg t') compel a surrender by star•
cation, or by the regular approaches of an engineer.

Our line of investment was as follows :—The extreme
right was commanded by Gen. Weitzel, with his own and
the division of Gen. Emory; the right centre by Gen. Grover,

'he left centre by Gen. Augur, and the extreme left by Gen.

Sherman—our artillery brigade being under command of
Gen. Arnold. The defences of Port Hudson on the land face

consist of several lines of intrenchments and rifle pits, with
an abbatis of heavy trees felled in every direction. It is one
of the strongest positions in the world, and to assault it in
the face of the terrible fire of artillery and musketry to which
an attacking force would be exposed, seemed about im-
possible, with any hope of success. It has been com-
menced, however, and carried on thus far with success,
but with terrible slaughter. We are expecting momen-

tarily to hear that it has fallen, for if it cost ten thousand

men, General Banks, and the gallant officers and men o,
his command, will never rest now that they have com.
menced, until the Stars and Stripes wave over the strong.

hold of the rebels. The assault has been made with un•

paralleled fury ; no men in the world ever fought with more
bravery and determination than our glorious volunteers ;
but the defence has been excellent, as the result of the first

day's fighting will show.
The number and calibre of the guns in the rebel batteries
facing the river is yet to be determined, and also their force
inside the works, but we have good reason for saying to-day
that they have at least twelve thousand men. The artillery
force of our army is very large, and many of the guns are of
very heavy calibre, and, under the able direction of Gene-
ral Arnold, they have done most efficient service,
All of the Commanding General's plans having been per-
fected, it was determined to feel the enemy at once. Ac-
cordingly the attack was ordered for yesterday morning.
It was arranged with Admiral Farragut that the attack
should be general, by land and water at the same time, and
signals were established between the army and navy in
order to prevent the shot and shell from our ships being
thrown over the enemy and into the lines of our attacking
force.

Although our men had endured the fatigues of battle and
hard marching in the recent campaigns on the Tenho, they
forgot it all when they found themselves in front of Port
Hudson and knew it was to be attacked. They were in high
spirits as the time drew nigh, and Lecame impatient for the
moment to arrive when the order " forward" should be
given. All thought of the uncertainty of battle seemed to
have vanished ; every one seemed to think he would prove a
hero, and felt certain that promotion would follow the battle
of te-morrow. Those who witnessed the enthusiasm of our
men said it was wonderful; their bearing was more like vete-
rans than men who less than a year ago knew nothing of war
and its horrors. They appeared determined to know no such
word as fail, and felt satisfied that by their exertions a great
point was to be gained in bringing this war to a successful
termination.

The line of battle was formed at daybreak yesterday morn-
ing, and no better men can be found in any army than they
who formed it. I refer to the division commanders—Weit-
zel, the young man but old soldier ; Grover, the well-known
commander of a brigade in Hooker's division, on the penin-
sula; Auger, who commanded a brigade and was wounded
at Cedar Mountain ; and last, but not least, Sherman, better
known in the army as Jim Sherman, one of the best soldiers
in the service.

The plan appears to have been to carry the enemy's
positions on the right and left first, and this work conse-
quently devolved upon the divisions of Generals Weitzel
and Sherman. It was not long after the advance was
sounded that our troops met those of the enemy, and it
soon became evident that every foot of ground we gained
was to be fought for with determination. The fight soon
commenced along the entire line. On the right the sharp
rattle of musketry and roar of artillery gave notice that
Weitzel was at work, and as it increased in intensity it be-
came evident that he was having no boy's play ; and he had
not. Every inch was disputed, the enemy fought with the
ferocity of demons, but it was to no purpose, our boys drove
them slowly but steadily, using clubbed muskets and
bayonets when they could not load. it was soon apparent
that whatever else would be done by the army, Weitzel
was bound to win; his column could not be checked, although
suffering greatly; the enemy went down before them as
grass before the scythe of the mower ; and, although the
work was tedious and bloody, no one faltered. Gen. Weitzel,
keeping his men well in hand for the last rush, put them
at the enemy's works on the river side, and they went
with a will, making the air resound with their shouts.
Here the fight became murderous, it was hand to hand and
breast to breast, the bayonet doing the most part of the work.
The rebels could not stand it, however, and were compelled
to fall back. Our people pressed them close, allowing no
space to be created between the attacked and the attacker,
and finally drove them into and then out of the celebrated 6-
gun battery that did such terrible execution upon the steamer
Mississippi the night she was destroyed. Hera was a great
point gained—a toint that we could see w advantage
against the other works of the enemy. And it did not take
long for the quick eye of Weitzel to see all this and profit by

it. As soon as practicable the guns were shifted and put to
work, and were busy at last accounts iu throwing shot and
shell into and against the position of their late owners. This
was decidedly the most brilliant and successful part of the
day's work; not that the men fought any better, or showe I
more determination than those on other parts of the field,
but it was the greatest point gained, and proved what we
could do when resolved to accomplish certain ends. By this
operation the enemy's left was turned, and in a manner to
prevent the last ground being recovered. The battery cap-
tured was the most annoying of any of the line, for it raked
completely the channel way of the river.

No more desperate fighting has ever taken place than of
the division of General Sherman yesterday in the attack
upon the right of the enemy's position. Our men faced the
storm of iron and lead that was hurled against them as if it
had always been their business to do so. They moved
steadily forward under the most murderous fire of shot,
shell, grape, canister, and musketry, with a steadiness that
was surprising. When Ciudad Roderigo was stormed, the
flower of the English army was selected for the " forlorn
hope," but they, veterans as they were, never moved with
firmer step or more solid column than did the Second Divi-
cion of the Nineteenth army corps for the attack of yester-
day upon the right of the enemy's position with an impetu•
ons charge. The Sixth Michigan and the One Hundred
and Twenty-eight New York carried the enemy's works at
the point of the bayonet ; but they were compelled to give
way, for the enemy had massed his tamps here, and it be-
came necessary for our glorious fellows to fall back before
overwhelming numbers. Not much ground was lost how-
ever; we only failed to maintain our position within the
main works. The Second regiment Louisiana Native Guard,
Colonel Neilson, were in this charge ; they went on in the
advance, and when they came out six out of nine hun-
dred men could not be accounted for. It is said on every
side that they fought with the desperation of tigers. One
negro was observed with a rebel soldier in his grasp, tearing
the flesh from his face with his teeth, other weapons having
failed him. There are other incidents connected with the
conduct of this regiment that have raised them very much
in my opinion as soldiers. After firing one volley they did
not deign to load again, but went in with bayonets, and
wherever they had a chance it was all up with the rebels.
Although we gained much ground and hold it, still the
principal object of the attack was not accomplished, namely,
getting possession of and holding the batteries on the enemy's
right. It was owing to some misunderstanding. The charge
cost us heavily in killed and wounded. Gen. Sherman led
the attack in person, and fell severely wounded in the leg.
General Neal Dow was also wounded- Colonel Clarke, of
the 6th Michigan, was killed. Colonel Cowles, of the 128th
New York, also by a bayonet thrust; Lieut.-Colonel Smith,
of the Zouaves, severely wcunded. The 6th Michigan and
128th New York have each lost about half their effective
men, and other regiments have suffered severely.
As I predicted would be the case in my letter to you of
yesterday, if it was attempted to carry Port Hudson by
storm, our loss in killed and wounded is very heavy, the
least estimate I have heard is between two and three thou-
sand, which lam led to believe is about correct. When all
is taken into consi leration it is not larger, however, than we
should expect, and it falls below what I supposed we would
sustain.
It must
a,,11_ this not be supposed that while the army was doing
desperate fighting on shore the navy was idle.
the contrary, the gallant admiral was at work
with the entire squadron, both above and below. The
and
works and k their position much nearer the enemy's
kept up a continuous fire of thirteen inch
shell. The Hartford and Albatross
batteries, tad when Gan ss engaged the upper
General Weigel captured the six gun