The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-12

annoying OF any OF the line, for il rAked
completely the channel way Of the river.
sHERNAN's ATTACK upoN TUE KNRMY's
BIaaE
| No more desperate fighting has eyer
taken place than that Of the division of
General Sherman's Yesterday In tho at.
tack upon the right of the enemv's posi-
ton. Our men faced the storm of iron
and lead that was hurled against them,
as IL 1t had always been their business
SO TO do They moved steadily forward
under the most murderous fire of shot,
shell, grape, canister, and musketry, with
a steadiness thatwss surprising. When
Oiudad Rodrigo was stormed, the flower
OF the English army was selected Tor the
forlorn hope" but they, veterans az
they were, never moved with lirmer stem
or more solid column than did the ed
Division OF the 10th Army Corps in the
attack OF yesterday upon the enemy's
position with an impetuous charge.
The 9th Michigan and l28th N. York
carried the enemy's works at the point
of the bayonet; but they were compelled
to give way, for the enemy had masaed
his troops here, and IL became necessary
for our glorious fellows to fall back be-
fore overwhelming numbers. Not much
ground was lost, however; we only failed
to maintain our position within the main
works.
The I'd regiment Louisiana Native
Guard, Col Nelson, were in this charge:
they went in on the advance, and when
they came out six out Of nine hundred
men could not be accounted for. II 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 tho conduct of this req.
iment that have raised them very much
in my opinion as soldiers After firing
one volley they did not deign 20 load
again, but went in with bayoBota. and
wherever they had chance IL was ali
up with the rebels.
Although we gained much ground and
hold Il, sill the principal object Of this
attack was not accomplished namely,
| getting possession of and holding the
batteries on the enemy's right. II was
owing TO some misunderstanding. The
charge cost US heavily in killed and
wounded. General Sherman led the at
tack in person, and fell severely wound
ed in the leg. General Neal Dow WAS
also wounded. Colonel Clark, of the 9th
Michigan, was killed. Colonel Oowles.
Of the 128lh New York, also, by a bay
Onet thrust; Lieut. Colonel Smith, Of the
Zpuaves, severely wounded. The 9th
Michigan aud 128th New York have each
lost about half their effective men. and
the other regiments have suffered So
verely.
TIE ATTACK BY AUduR AND GROVER OK THE
oHHrER.
The attack on the center of the enc
my's position by the columns of Generala
Augur and Grover also exhibited the
most terrible fighting and the same OBJ
stinate resistance. Our troops here. "A
we'll as on the right and left, did all that
men could do, aud held every inch of
ground they gained. The enemV were
driven foot by foot out of their ride-pits
and intrenohments into their main works.
from whence they will never come out
except as prisoners. As before stated.
every obstacle that could be pIaoed In
that could render our columns subject TO
slaughter, was ueed by the enemy, and
with terrible effect
The lower battery at Port Hudson had
been abandoned some days since, aud
the guns spiked, as the position was too
much exposed TO the FIRE of our mortars
and the broadsides Of the heavy ships.
Between IL and the other works there is
a ravine, which also helped 20 necessi-
tate the abandonment Of that work on
account OF their concentrating all their
available force in the main position.
When we consider what was 40
complished in few hours, the result NAV
be called victory of no small propor- ..
tins Il has never been done before ia
this war. But the end is not vet; we
are to witness fighting at Port Hudson
before which that Of yesterday will sink
into insigniflcanee. II may have, and
probably did occur, to-day, aud / am
confident that we are tonight much
nearer the accomplishment of our task
than we were this time yesterday. The
details OF this first days work will be
interesting, but no more than / have
| given has rescued US. Every day now
will bring exciting int lgenoe, until the
/ finale comes, and the announcement
reaches us that Port Hudson has fallen.
| What have related ls from an eye wit
ness who was fortunate enough 20 get q
passage down In tho only vessel that loft
there last evening, Ho also saw much
Of the operations Of the feet, which !
will give hereafter.
OUR ESTIMATED LOSS DURING YESTERDAY.
As predicted would be the case In
my letter 10 you Of yesterday, II IL was
attempted 10 carry Port Hudson bv
storm, our loss ia killed aud wounded IL
heavy. TIE least ,stimaie have heard
Is bowen Two and three thousand. winch
/ am led 10 believe Il about correct
When all is taken into consideration az
not larger however, than we should ex-
peot and IL falls below what supposed
we would sustain.
Heavy reinfJrcements are being senf
up The river tonight, which will greatly
add 70 the strength of the ermy before
Port Hudson, and much more than cover
the loss sustained Yesterday.
The light commenced - early A. seven
o'clock yesterday morning, or rather be-
came general about that time. II con-
iinued during the greater part oil the day,
excepting about au hour near noon. "a
seven o'clock last evening IL was raging
along the entire line with intense fairy,
! aud was going on this morning. Dis
pactch 8 received this afternoon At four
O'clock, say that our position Was still
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