The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-20
OUR SOLDIERS WORK.
WHAT OUR IMPROvIsED ARMY CAN DO.
Interesting Report Of General Viele, Now
Military Governor Of Norfolk,
&C., Ae., &es
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES. I
SAVANNAH RIVER, April IL, 1862. !


SAVANNAH RIVER, April II, 1862. !
Sill have the honor to submit the following report OF
the operations OF tho troops under my command in
nection with the investment and reduction Of Fort
Pulaski
The plan o. operations assigned TO comprised the
erection OF batteries the Savannah river to cut of
between the fort and the city Of Savannah
from which supplies, ammunition and men wore drawn'
establish batteries tho islands adjacent to the
fort against the gorge and left flank with which, In con-
junction with the batteries Tybee Island tho fort could
be reduced.
The expedition for these purposes was fitted
out at Port Royal, and consisted Of detach-
ment Of the Third Rhode Island artillery, q
detachment Of the Volunteer Engineers, battalion OF
the Eighth Maine regiment Volunteers, the Sixth
regiment Connecticut Volunteers the Forty eighth New
York Volunteers and full supply Of heavy ordnance and
intrenching TOOLS
full reconnaissance and report had previously been
made by Lieutenant j. H. Wilson, Typographical Engi
neers Of the water communications with the Savannah
river by which it developed that the rebels had
sunk the hulk Of brig securely fixed in Its position by
means Of heavy piles, in what Is known as "Wa is
CUT an artificial channel connecting Wright river (one
OF the outlets OF the savannah) with Bull river which
last, by its connection. forms direct communication
with the harbor Of Port Royal thus serving tho
roughfare between that harbor and Savannah.
The removal of the hulk tho nrst thing to be
eompishsd, and was entrusted to Major o. T. Beard,
Forty-eghth New York Volunteers who, with the aid
Of company Of the Volunteer Engineers, and by
means OF mechanical appliances suggested by
his own ingenuity, succeeded. after seven days
Of unremtng night labor. and in close proximity TO the
rebel forces in removing the piles and hulk from the
channs TO admit OF the passage Of gunboas and
light draft steamers.
Mi. b>:r ~
tho north end Of Dawfuskis Island, at which point
camp and depot established for operations in the
Savannah. Reconnaissance for suitable locations for the
batteries then made under the superintendent Of
Captain and Acting Brigadier General Gilmore during
which the teegraphc communication between Fort Pu-
laski and Savannah cut and the wires both land and
Venus Point on Jones Island the north side Of the
Savannah and the upper end Of Long Island In the Savan
nah river recommended the most feasible posi-
These islands, as well as all others in the river are
merely deposits Of soft mud on sand shoals, always
The occupation Of points unfavorable for the
ton Of batteries rendered still more difficult by the
presence in the Savannah Of feet Of rebel gunboas
constantly passing and always on the alert.
TO have foated the ordnance 10 the atboats in which
Il had been placed into the Savannah river would
exposed IL to capture by the gunboats to move
the swamps seemed almost impossible while the
time IL would be constantly exposed to view from the
ment Of one battery by hand at night on shifting tram
ways across Jones Island, and it accomplished
she night Of the 18th OF February drenchng
storm added 70 the difficulties, the often sinking
70 their waists in the marsh, and tho guns sometimes
spping from the tramways. BY morning the guns
in position the river and the next day resisted with
unfinished platforms and without cover attack from
the rebel gunboats disabling tbem and driving them of
Three days after another battery erected Bird
Island in the Savannah, under cover Of tho battery
Jones Island Bird Island selected 10 preference
the upper end OF Long Island as aordng unnter
rupted Of the south channel Of tho river Since
the erection the the works have been com
pleted on both islandsthe Jones Island being
called Fort Vulcan, and that on Bird Island, Battery
Hamilton; and although the material Of which
they are composed (mud highly saturated with
they are both most creditable specimens OF
field works and evidence OF the great labor perse
the fatigue parties always standing in water
hours The positions selected for batteries tho
reduction Of the fort the lower end Of Long Island
and the south side VI Turtle Island. M
As these two points directly under the fire Of the
fort deemed advisable delay the erection of the
batteries until those ybee Island ready OPEN
Hence IL not until the night before the bombardent
commenced that they were thrown up. The intrench.
ments were completed; but before the guns all in
position the fort surrendered Internationally
The mortar battery Long Island did good execution
In reporting the results accomplished, have to refer
70 the services rendered by the stan of General Sherman
without whom the work could not have been performed
These ocers were Captain and Acting Brgadier General
Gilmore, Chief Engineer; Captain John Hamilton Chief
OF Artillery Lieutenant j. H. Wilson, Typographical En-
gineers Lieutenant Porter Ordnance Corps and Lieu
tenant ORorke, Engineer Corps. Hesitating at no
amount OF exposure or fatigue they succeeded by their
individual examples in inspiring the men with that
energy and zeal which could alone have led them to
compsh the arduous labor required. ] also greatly
indebted TO the services Of Captain Sears the Volunteer
Engineers, and TO Captain J. H. Lbenau Assistant Adu
tant General. The accompanying sketch exhibits the
positions Of the batteries. 4. a -..r
Very respectfully, your obediont servant,
EGBERT L. vIELE,
Brigadier General Commanding.
II r