The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-12-19
THE NEW YORK SUN
THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. 10, 1861
tcontinsed FROM Second Pscs.I

and rsturnod. This walked tho enemy up and
sgain the fire continued holly until - o'clock.
At o'clock A. NJ. II recommended. Then II
was discovered, the water was all gone. The
mems threats and lips were parchcd and crack
Cd with thirst arising from tho heat, dust and
saltpctro, and not drop Of water was obtained.
One heroic f,llow, determined 10 procure water
for the wounded went forth TO q little creek
at some distance from the fort, In full
view Of the enemys sharpshooters, flllod his
osnteen and brought 1t back in safety. When the
hospital was taken tho chaplain and surgeons
were taken prisoners and now the wounded were
deprived Of all medical aid, and the dying Of the
last contolations Of religion. Captain Moriarty
had once been surgeon, and he was ordered 10
lay aside his sword and render what aid was In
his power For forty hours no cut and carved
at tho flesh Of tho gallant fellows who foil, with
nothing but a razor, the only instrument no
had. All that night the enemy kept up the fro,
and the next day. Here tho lecturer gavo
vivid description Of the mines and confusion
Iits, with which they had studded the earth for
come distance around their lines 30 "a to delay
the enemys advance and expose him to their
fire. This day tho enemy came forward pushing
before them great masses Of hemp bales, 80 "a to
hide their bodies. Tho opposing forces were
separated by space Of but 175 feet, and hero,
almost muzzle to muzzlc, tho cannon belchcd
forth their deadly missiles, and tho mon
engaged almost hand to hand for three hours.
Then the enemy burst over their hemp bales
and attacked our gallant fellows In thcir
trenches. To the anglo of tho fort whore this
terrible conflict took place othor companies
Of r,infCrcements were sent, until 400 Of our
men we've engaged hand to hand with the enc
my in deadly strife. For thirty minutes this
continued and thcn the enemy retrcatOd and the
gallant defenders were left in victorious pos
session Of tho earthwoik At about . o'clock
the firing on both sides stopped, and Goa Price
aent in note asking, What has cauied this
cessation of tho firipg3" Col. Mulligau replied,
Upon my honor, General, | hardly know,
without you have surrendered" Con. Price
answered ,hat no hadn't II Afterwards ap
pcarcd that a cowaIdly wretch named Becker
belonging to the Homo Guards, had raised a
| white flag, and the poltroon, although repeat
oily ordered to take ii dowr, in a desperation
Of cowardico persisted in showing it.
The troops came together Ia tho centre Of the
works and then it was found there was not a
single cartridge In tho lines. The men, worn
out by thirst, waking and watching by night
and working and fighting by day, were ordered
back to their posts, and without murmur from
their blood-staincd, parched lips, they went back
to the trenches with empty guns, and they
prayed God that the enemy might como, tina
they might use the only weapon loft them, the
bayonet Some of the officers began to romon-
stratc, saying this was not war, 1t was butch
cry, and at length, on some terms, the speaker
The enemy ordered them TO tako down thoir
Irish flag, tho tattcred remnants, Mt
| fragment wider than a hand which
still huttcrcd above them. No on,
moved aud tho enemy was forced TO climl
the pole and tear it down. Tho Stars an
Stripes too huttercd on high; aud they ioun
that not only were the hslliirds cut, but that !
was nailed fast to tho mast and the enemy 4
take It down was forced to cut down tho iiap
staff. Gen Price wanted Colonel Mulligan an
his remaining little band to give their word M
to run away. They replied, that they hadn
beon In the habit of doing that for some tim,
The speaker closed with an elegant pcroratio
on the future glory Of the Republic, and tn
express ion of his hopes Of speedy victory for GU
national arms.