The New York herald., 1863-07-08

away and curiosity pot satisfied Another fow min.
us,s, then ..-.T.Sr : glt,s.=--tx,,-,
and upon the horizon couli be seoL an enormous
column Of earth, dust, tmters and pretcetilos ifte<
into the air at attitude of ioast eighty feet ods
entire face Of the fort d,enbodcd and scaereed
particles al over tho Tho right and
| left faces wee also ruch damaged: bat fortunately
enough Of tom remained afford excellent protection
4 Tnr AFskU4r Asp goAB,ruxEsf
No soon.s had the explosion taken place than
the wo aetacbmenis acting the forlorn Ls9e
ran iato the fort md sap, already mentioned
A brisk musketry hrc at once commenced be-
tween tho two parties, with about equal eaect upon
either side. NO had these deachmcns become
well eugae ID than tks Of egeea's brigade olneA
them and entered Into the struggle. The reyimo
relieving each other Intervals, the cont grew
severei both sides, scermned upon holding their own
were doing their best. volley aftor voIiey fred,
though WITH lass carnage than would be supposed The
Forty lfh Illinois charged Immediately up Of
parapet aud hers suffered lis heaviest. Lieutenant
Colonel Ec.ancthos Smith hit In the
hend by three buckshot, and. though stl
alive, Is " said By the surgeons his skull h,s been
penetrated and there be hopes Of his recovery
Col Smith is yeung and has figured prominently
all actions with his regiment. from Fort Donoson tho
Of 10 day Ho has repeatedly complimentod
by his supcrors in rak for under Gre great
tact in tho disposition Of troops The officers OF the army
here exhibit great interest In the g nditon OF Col
| Smith ana hope he may yet be preserved to the
corps He Is receiving every attention within
| the power of the surgeons TO cave his lie
At the tne the lieutenant Colonel was shot stood
! upon the parapet OF rhe FORT calling his men
follow, and when struck fen amongst bis who
scramblIng up the sides 4 the work his Gala
leY monysr.,s atier the wouncng of Colonel smith
MAJOR Fisk, Of the ssnat isgmsE tell dead having been
shot through the heart. Tho adjutsnt also recelveda
/ dangerous wound in the wrist
Notwithstanding the loss OF these distinguished officers
tho OF che regiment stuck 70 the he the
ground against strong bosy Of the ey thrown ag inst
| them
| OUR r1Aa doss UP.
After severe contest o. hsf hour. with varying
results the Gag Of the Forty sppeared upon the
NIT OF the work. The position gained Cheer ates
cheer broke throgh the conuson and Of the
test assuring the troops everywhere along the line that
the Forty fifth still itself The Colonel (Maltby)
left alone in command Of the regiment, and he
himself badly bruised by lying splinter. The regiment
had also suffered severely the ne and the troops
worn out BY excessive heat ana hard lighting.
l rMtw RELIEF FORWARD. aa
Relief necessary. Accordingly the Thirty first I'LL
ordescd up and tho Forty fifth drawn of-thM
six O'Clock r. NJ After this the action was kept up
brsky but steadily Tor several hour5, until uusk WHEN
the firing gl!sd and the took respite While the
Forty fifth hoty engaged in the fort the Twenty
third Indiana followed its first detachment into tho sap
from which place they were to hold tho robsls At bay
during the contest for the fort The rebels fought despe
ratcy well at this point tho other bur the character
Of the engagement different the troops firing
other bresstworks Of earth. This regiment displayed
great gallantry and did excellent service in It's way
consequence Of tho limited space in which Rght noa
atth
time accordingly regiments relieved BY regi
ments rapidly the necessities OF tho occasion d.
| tnanded
| IEGGETT.
During the Of the action General Legget IN
che fort in the midst Of bis troops sharing their dan.
gcrs and partaking Of their glory. While here .
| shell from OF the enemy's guns exploded
| in timber lying tho parapot distributing
spinters In all directions, Of which struck the Gene.
| raj the breast. knocking him over. Though some
what bruised and stunned, he recovered hiaiseN
and taking chair sat in Of the trenches near tAs
fort, whore ho could be seen by his
PARTICIPATION oY OTHER ooRrs.
Tho explosion Of the mine the signal tor the opA.
ing Of the artillery OF the entire line. General John T.
Smith, commanding the left division OF this corps, opened
nrst, and his discharges repeated along the Ion
through tho Thirteenth corps and aleft division y until
tho sound struck tho like lhs muttorings Of distant
thundar sherman, on the right. also opened his art
ery about the same time and occupied the cnemy's At
encn along his 'front.' Captain r. II. Oley Of tho rhir
ccnth United States infantry In command the siege
guns Of this corps, handled his batteries with telling
eaect. Every shell struck the parapet and, bounding
| over exploded In the midst Of the enemys forces
beyond. Tse scene M this time was one
| Of tho utmost sublimty. The roar Of artillery,
rattle Of small arms, the cheers Of the men flashes of
light wreahcs Of pale blue smoke different parts Of
the fed, tho bursting OF she'll the fierce whistle OF soa
shot, the deep boom Of the mostars tho broadsdes OF
ships Of ws and added 10 oil this tho vigorous replies
Of the eneray, set din which bcggars all description
The peculiar connguration OF eld afforded oppce-
tuDsty 70 witness almost every battery every pA
within seeing distance. and due all the troops 70
! say that evrry one did his duty.
/ THs rloSrIRs.
After the possession Of tho fort was no longer ia doubt
the pioneer corps, under Captain HckouIooper mounted
the work with their shoyes and 70 throwing up
vigorously In order 10 space for artillery most
fortunate peculiarly In the explosion the
which the sarth thrown out The appearance OF tho
place was that Of funne With heavy sides running up
to the very crest Of the parapct aordns admirable pro-
tocon not only for troops and ponecrs but
out ready madc fertilization in the rough, which,
with slight application OF tho shovel and pick VIII bs
ready 70 receive the guns 70 be used hore
Up this time the pioneers have made great progress
aud st.l al work battery may bc expected here In
aAtlc time, two how,ers OF Captain Sparstroxhs CON
map being already IN the trenches awaiting the compo-
I ton Of the ror. - .-sv,.
nArrsns - rHxs SOW srAyD 'aSs !,
There Is Isus nrrs nov going on. There h no doubt
concerning ability hold the position. The enemy
viii undoubtedly mako every effort 10 regain tho place
this evening, but there h no possibility Of tAs
srccess Of hts endeavors. We now so strengshsnsd
that would bc impossible under ordinary circumstances
10 drive out Fresh troops moving up to occu
py and hold shs position against every contingency
Mraeulous a. u may seem amid all tho fiery ordeal of
this aftsrnosns engagement, hundred kAllsd ana