Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-11-30
INCIDENTS OF the FuoHr AT FORT /
ROYAL.

OF
ROYAL
should have stated 10 former part OF
this letter the attempt Of the Rebels to
destroy their forts aud the capturing party by
blowing up their magazines. At Fort W ak.
er fuse was lighted and attached to the
magazine, bat it was discovered 10 time and
exIinguisbed. A Fort Besuregard a pistol
was arranged to be fred by the opening of a
door, and when the Federal party landed il
exploded the magazine, killing, however, only
two men, and blowing up the rickety old
house in which it had been deposited. Their
intention was thwarted as much by the haste
to get away as by the carefolness Of our men,
as the thing was very bupglingly arranged.
The case OF Thomas jackson, the Cox.
swain of the Wabash, deserves notice. He
was struck by shot or splinter, which so
nearly cut his leg of as TO leave it hanging by
a small portion Of the muscle and skin.
Partially rising and leaning painfully against
gun, jackson glanced at bis maDgled limb,
aud 10 an instant perceived his hopeless con.
di:iou. Feeling behind his back in his belt,
where seauen always carry their knives, be
drew his sheath knife from its leather scab-
bard and deliberately began TO saw away at
his leg. but the knife was dull and he could
not cut the limb of. a he was borne below
by hs mates and afterward, be asked contin
ually how the fight was going, and Kept
saying: II hope we'll win it, hope we'll win."
ln two hours he died, his last words being a
wish for our victory ir this battle and word
OF thanks that be had been able to do some
thing for the honor of the dear old flag"
The Rebel Ta.uall, who had landed from
his muskito feet, and who had assured his
subordnates that their position could not be
taken, was among the garrison of 800 when
they preciptately fed from their forts and
ran helter skeler over the South Carolina
soil back to the woods in the rear. lie
doubtless thought that, whether or not blood
is thicker than water" it is bad thing to
lose. The eXodean fight from Hilton Head
has not yet been equalled by anything in the
history of the war. and although 10 truth the
Rebels fought well and desperately until the
last moment yet their running bears off the
palm And as the terrified horde fed, the
balls and shells from the feet continually
screamed around and above and among them
like very devils on the wing, and made many
panic stricken fugitive to bite the dust.
The whole OF the ground passed over was
scattered with fragments Of shell, and torn
and mangled corpses. Some with the head
half torn of, some with entrails spreading for
| yards around them, some with maDgled legs
and arms, and with faces distorted with pain
and horror. Some lay prone on the ground,
with backs toward the enemy. and others
| struck dead while in peculiar postures, as il
calling and motioning to others. For two
miles back u the woods dead bodies were
| found Of those killed by our shells All the
Rebel wounded were taken oil, bnt the dead
remained. ln a massive bomb proof 10 Fort
Walker was gaund the deod body of Surgeon
Bnist, formerly of the United States army.
/ III had doubtless retired TO this place for
safety, aud indeed it seemed secure, formed
as it was of massive walls aud streng' hened
by great beams of wood y large shell had
whizzed into the small diagonal aperture, and
struck heavy piece of timber, tearing away
the supports aud tumbling down the walls
about his head. \ splinter from the iractur
ed beam struck him upon the head, killing
him instantly, just as he had thrown up bis
bands TO shelter himself from the falling
walls. His watch was still keeping coiIec;
time in his pocket when Federal soldier
pointed out the fearful tabeaux of death.