The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-12
THD SIEGE OF PORT HUDSON.
The First Days Fight Rebels
Driven from their Intrenchmonts
-DosPerats VaIOr OF the Negro
Regiment.
Lcorrsspoadont N. Y. Herala.l
New oa1EASs, May 2s. 1856,

NEW ORLEANS, May 20, 1868,
As | anticipated would be the case,
the long expected attack upon Port Hud-
son commenced yesterday, and last night
and this morning il was continued, the
advantage being with us, although il has
been one OF, IL not the, bloOdiest battles
that has yet been fought on this conti-
nent As have before stated, the posi-
ton was closely invested some DAYS
since, our right resting on Thompson's
Bayou, aud the left on Springfeld's
Landing.
Our line of investment was as fol.
lows :-The extreme right was COM
manded by Gen. Weitzel, with his own
and the division of Gen. Emory; the
right center by Gen. Grover; the left
center by Gen. Augur, and the extreme
left by Gen. j. w. Sherman--Our artil
lery brigade being under command Of
General Arnold. The defences of Port
Hudson on the land face consist of sew
eral lines of intrenchments and rifle pits,
with an abbatis Of heavy trees felled ia
every direction. IL is ono of the strong
est positions in Che world, and to assault
II in the face of the terrible fire of ar
tillery and musketry TO which an attack
ing force would be exposed, seemed about
impossible, with any hope of success. It
has been commenced, however, and
carried on thus far with success, but
with terrible slaughter. We are expect.
ing momentarily to hear that il has
fallen, for if it costs ten thousand men,
Gen. Banks, and the gallant officers and
men of his command, will never rest
now that they have commenced, until the
Stars and Stripes wave over the strong
holds of the rebels. The assault has
been made with unparalleled fury; no
men in the world ever fought with more
bravery or determination than our glo.
rious volunteers; but the defence has
been excellent, as the result of the first
days fighting will show.
The number and calibre of the guns
in the rebel batteries facing the river is
yet TO be determined, aud also their force
inside the works, but we have good rea-
son for saying to-day that they have at
least twelve thousand men. The artil-
lery force Of our army is very large, and
many Of the guns are very heavy cali
bre, and under the able direction of Gen.
Arnold, they have done most efficient
service.
All the commanding Generals plans
having been perfected, IL was determined
to feel the enemy at once. Accordingly
the attack was ordered for yesterday
morning. IL was arranged with Admit
raj Farrsgut that the attack should be
general by land and water at the same
time, and signals were established be-
tween the army and navy, in order to
prevent the shot and shell from our
ships being thrown over the enemy and
into the lines of our attacking force.
The line of battle was formed at day
break yesterday morning, and no better
men can be found in any army than they
who formed IL. / refer to the division
commanders-Weitzel, the young man
but old soldier; Grover the well known
commander of brigade in Hooker's di-
vision, on the Peninsula; Augar, who
commanded brigade, and was wounded
at Cedar Mountain; and last, but not
least, Sherman, better known in the ar
my as Jim Sherman, one of the best sol
diers in the service.
wEITzEL's ATTACK ON TIE ENEMY's LEFT
The plan appears TO have been TO carry
the enemy's positions on the right aud
left FIRST, and this work consequently de-
yolved upon the divisions of Generals
Weitzel and Sherman. IL was not long
after the advance was sounded that our
troops met those of the enemy, and IL
soon became evident that every foot of
ground we gained was 60 be fought for
with determination. The fight soon
commenced along the entire line. On the
right the sharp rattle Of musketry and
roar of artillery gave n2tice that Welt
eel was at work, and as IL increased in
intensity il became evident that he was
having no boys play; and he had not.
Every inch was disputed; the enemy
fought with the ferocity Of demons; but
II was TO nopurpose; our boys drove them
slowly but steadily, usiDg dubbed mus
kets and bayOnets when they could not
load, II was soon apparent that what
ever else would be done by the army,
Weitzel was bound to win; his column
could not be checked, although suffering
greatly; tho enemy went down before
them as grass before the scythe of the
mower; and, although the work was To-
dious and bloody, no one faltered. Gen.
Weitzel, keeping his men we'll in hand
for the last rush, put them al the ehe-
my's works on the river side, and they
went on with a will, making tho air re-
sound with their shouts.
Here the fight became murderous IL
was hand 60 hand and breast TO breast, the
b yonet doing the main part Of the work
| The rebels could not stand IL, however,
and were compelled TO fall back. Our
people pressed them close, allowing no
space TO be created between the attacked
and the attacker, and finally drove them
into and then out Of the celebrated elk
gun battery that did such terrible exeou-
ton upon the steamer Mississippi the
night she was destroyed. Here was a
great point gained--a point that we could
use 10 advantage against the other works
Of tho enemy. And il did not take long
for the quick eye Of Weltzel 10 sec all
this aud profit by it, AS soon as prac-
ticable, the guns were shifted and put TO
work, and were busy Al last accounts in
throwing shot and shell into and against
the position Of their late owners. This
WAS decidedly the most brilliant and
successful part Of the days work not
that the men fought any better, or show
ed more determination than those on 9th.
er parts Of the field, but Il was the great
est point gained, 'and proved what we
could do when resolved 10 accomplish