Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-07-30

rebel sources, respecting the second as.
sault upon Fort Wagner, on Morris
Island, by General Gilmore's forces and
the Monitors, mortar schooners aud gun.
boats under Admiral Dahlgren.
After tho first unsuccessful assault on
the 10th inst, Gen. Gilmore lost no
time in throwing up batteries on Morris
! Island, within 800 yards cf Fort Wag-
ner, in order to reduce it by siego. On
the morning Of the 18Th twelve or fif-
teen heavy guns were in position, be.
sides eight or ten morars. Gen Gill
more, therefore, determined to commence
tho attack, which was opened at ii
o'clock, A. NJ.
The bombariment was conducted in
spirited manner, Gilmore's batteries in
itiati0g the work, and Admiral Dahl
gren's five Monitors, the Ironsides, two
mortar schooners and three wooden gun
boats, quickly joined in tho engagement
The enemy replied briskly from Fort
Wagner and Battery Bee, Just beyond
Cummings Point, while Fort Sumter
kept up sharp fire from the guns of her
southwestern face, among which were
rAed pieces of heavy calibre Most OF
tho fire of the rebels was directed upon
the Monitors and other naval vessels,
only an occasional shell being sent tow
ards the batteries Although tho iron.
clads were repeatedly struck, they suffer
ed very little real damage, and the only
, losses in the batteries were Lieutenant
of the 10th Pennsylvania regiment, who
was killed by chance shot, and the
-; IF IL,
f Soon after 4 o'clock the firing from
Fort W agner ceased. 1t was then known
, that our brave fellows had succeeded in
dismounting one gun, and it was also
pretty well ascertaiaed that another of
the rebel pieces had burst These facts
! led to the suppositon that the enemy had
evacuated the work, and it was deter
mined to attempt its occupation. For
this purpose, two brgades, consisting of
the 7th Connecticut regiment, the Sd
New Hampshire, the 9th Maine, the 10Th
Pennsylvania, and the 4Sth New York,
. under Brig Gen. Strong, and the 7th
New Hampshire, 9th Connecticut. 62d
, Ohio, Tooth New York and 54th Mas
sachusetts, colored, under Col. Putnam,
who had been under arms all day, screen
:, ed from the enemy behind q range of hills
;, in the rear of our works, were ordered
!; forward.
This was ct dusk, and both brigades
were formed in line on the beach, the
:, regimants being disposed in columns, OK.
:, ceptng the colored regiment which tor
"a some reason was given the post of ex-
! treme honor and of danger in the advance,
n aid was drawn up in line of battle ex-
= posing its full front to the enemy This
"a movement OF the troops was observed by
a Sumter, and fire was at once opened upon
them, happily without doing injury, as
the shells went over the heads OF the men.
Gen. Stropg's brigade under this fire
"a moved along the beach at slow time fol
he about three quarters of mile, when the
ID, men were ordered to lie down. In this
nc position they remained half an hour
* Sumter meanwhile being joined in the
ay cannonade by the rebels in Battery Bee
T. but without effect upon our troops. i
ul was now quite dark, and the order wa,
,iy given tor both brigades to advance, Gen
en- Strong's leading and Colonel Putnam'
IA. within supporting distance. The troops
l. went forward at quick time and in dee,
~ silence, until the 54th Massachusetts le,
by its gallant Colonel Shaw, was within
>" two hundred yards of the work, whei
io the men gave fierce yell and rushed al
~ '. the gacis, closely followed by the othe
~ regiments of the brigade.
w. The enemy, hitherto sientas the grave
h while our men were swarning over til
-, glacis. opened upon them iuriously wit
6, al
of small arms.
,;s The negroes, however, plunged on re
a gardless OF the murderouS reception. AM
~ many of them crossed the ditch, althoug
it contained four feet of water, gainin
Oh, Oh the parapet. They were dislodged, how
M. ever. in few minutes with hand gren
eld AIDES, and retired hotter skelter, leavn
sol more than one half of their number, in
~ cluding their brave Colonel, dead upo
'' the field.
81 The 9th Connecticut regiment, unde
80. .ou Lt,Col. Rodmsn. was next in support
-, tue 54th, and they also suffered terriby
~ NV being compelled to retire after a stabbor
~ ~ contest. The 9th Maine. which was ne,
,no in line, was broken up by the passage
, an, the remant of the repulsed colored reg
~; ment through the lines, and retired
;oh confusion, excepting three companie
IL IL" which nobly stood their ground.
~ ~. 1t now devolved upon the 3D. Ne
e'' Hampshire regiment to push forward, al
N lei by Gen. Strong and Col. jackson
a.. person, the gallant fellows dashed |
NV against the fort Three companies act
", ,' ally gained the ditch, and wading throu.
10y 10y the water found shelter against tho en-
'"o bankment. Hero was the critical poi
ven O.: the assault, and the ID brigade, whi
-. u, should have been up and ready to su
'o'' port their comrades of the LIST. were II
'o'o accountably delayed. General Stror
Hoa then gave the order to fall back, and
~ ~ down On the glaois, which was obey,
~ without confusion.
W o.' 1t was while waiting hero exposed
ta the heavy fire. that Gen. Strong W
,ns wounded. A fragment of a shell entert
''''' his thigh, passing entirely through t
aeshy part and making serious woun
M n't although the bone escaped fracture. II
"" breast of Col. Jackson coat was to-
''a, :n of at the same time by piece of She
wna WIN slightly wouuding him. Neither of the
p"' brave men would lie down to escape