The Portland daily press., 1863-06-29
BY TELEGRAPH
EVENING PAPERS.
From Port Hudson Failure of tho Second
Assault on the Rebel Works.

preached the enemy's works sufficiently near
| TO see his fire. Previously, the columns of the
main body of Gen. Growers command were
formed in the woods skirting the enemy's
breastworks. The 18th Connecticut regiment,
being the right, had lost its way in the woods,
and the 9ist New York was ordered by Gen.
Weitzel to take their place and follow imme-
diately in the rear OF the 18th New York. Al
ter the advance of the 10Th and 9lst New
York regiments, Gen. Wetzels entire COM
mand commenced moving forward.
Several days previous our army engineers
had been preparing a covered way, which ex
tended from the woods where our troops lay,
up to within about one hundred and fifty yards
of the enemy's position. Through this COW
cred way our troops marched in single file up
to the point where the first line of battle was
formed. II should be remarked that the COW
cred way spoken of was relied upon as being
sufficiently deep to afford protection to our
soldiers. 1t turned out, however, to be of no
considerable consequence, owing to some fault
in its construction. After the advance had
arrived at the end Of the covered way, they
began slowly to push over the innumerable
barriers that had been planted by the rebels to
obstruct their march.
The difficulties that have spoken of con-
corning the open field Immediately facing the
enemys works were here experienced. The
deep gullies covered by brush and creeping
vines were completely obscured from sight,
and were only known to exist after our SOL
diers plunged into them.
Part of our ekirmishers deployed to the
right while suffering severely from the enemy's
fire, and portion of the advance took up
position on the left Of the point to be attacked.
They were Immediately followed by General
Weitzels column, Gen. Paine in the meantime
advancing toward the enemys works with his
command further on the left.
1t should be stated that our troops as soon
as they left the cover of the woods, which
were scarcely three hundred yards from the
enemy's breastworks, were subject to the con-
slant fire of the rebel infantry. A portion of
our artillery, which was placed some distance
in the rear of our advancing forces, kept up a
continuous fire at the rebel works. Captain
Terry with his battery of S-inch Dahlgren
guns, and Capt. McLafiin with his battery,
and a portion of the 21st Indiana artillery, did
good execution. These batteries served much
TO protect our troops as they were advancing
10 the attack.
After our skirmishers had picked their way
up to within about thirty yards of the enemys
works, they sprang into the ditch, expecting
to be able to shelter themselves under the COW
err of the rebel Notifications, and keep the en-
envy down while the regiment with the hand
grenades should advance and perform their
part of the work in driving the rebels from
their position. The portion of the 10Th regi-
ment which succeeded in reaching the ditch
were Immediately repulsed, and nearly all Of
them were either killed or wounded. The
ditch was SO enfiladed that it was impossible
for the men to live long under the murderous
fire of the enemy. In consequence of the re-
pulse Of the portion of the 18th that succeed
ed in reaching the ditch, the hand-grenades
could accomplish but little.
In fact, although they made desperate and
gallant attempts TO be of service, they rather
damaged than benefited our prospects of sue
cess, for as they threw their grcnades over the
rebel breastworks, the rebels actually caught
them and hurled them back among us.
In the mean time, while the skirmishers
were nobly advancing TO sustain themselves in
their position. Gen. Weitzel's column moved
up MS rapidly as possible, and made q series of
desperate assaults on the enemy's works,
which, for bravery and daring, the history of
the war can hardly furnish parallel.
AT this time, the sun having fairly risen, the
fight became general. A fog, which had par
TALLY o5scured the contending armies, lifted
and revealed their respective positions. The
enemy was fully prepared for us, and they
filed every part OF the Notifications with
heavy bodies of infantry.
The battle had begun in earnest and Gen.
Paine's column, as well as Gen. Weitzel's, was
actively engaged
Before proceeding further with the details
Of the fight of Gen. Growers command, it will
be necessary to mention a fact that | have
previously omitted, namely, that under the
general plan Of attack, as directed by Gen.
Banks, Gems. Augur and Dwight were to
make feints on the extreme left of Gen. Grow
er's position to distract the attention of the
enemy from the main assault. Accordingly,
before the engagement became general be-
tween Gen. Growers force and the enemy,
Gems. Augur and Dwight had attacked the
enemy as before indicated, on Growers ex-
IRENE LETT
1t was not the intention that the last named
of these forces should storm the rebel works,
but hold the enemy in check while Gen. Grow
er was performing his part of the work ac-
cording TO the original plan, which, had he
been successful, would have opened the way
for the advance of our entire army on Port
Hudson proper, which is surrounded, as it is
understood, by series OF Notifications more
impregnable than any we have yet assaulted
The fight on the part of Gen. Dwight's CON-
>qnand, was exceedingly severe, and scarcely
less so than with Gen. Grover.
Gen. Dwight's loss in killed and wounded
will probably not exceed 200. Gen. Augur's
loss will fall considerably short of that num-
Der.
Under Gen. Growers command. probably
the most desperate fighting was done by Gen.
Weitzel's old brigade. Col. Smith, leading
these veterans, the heroes of many fights, fell
early in the action, MORALLY wounded. A ball
pierced his spine, and passed round to the
right side. The Colonel still fingers, but his
death is hourly expected.
The charges made on the rebel works by
our brave soldiers, showed determination to
carry them at all hazards, but human bravery
on this occasion was not adequate to the ac-
eomplshment of their object.
The most Formidable ohstacia that prasapt =
ed itself as barrier TO our success was the
rebel glacis, which at the point attacked had
been constructed in such manner as to make
every bullet tell that was fired from the rebel
breastworks, while our troops were endeayor-
ing TO make the ascent
In fact, the great natural advantages and
engineering ability at Port Hudson have been
rather under than overrated.
Immediately upon the fall of Col Smith, Lit.
Col. Van Petten, of the l60th n, took com
mand of the brigade and calamity led the
charge until all further hope of driving the
enemy from their position was gone. Brigade
after brigade followed in rapid succession.
storming the rebel works until compelled to
fall back under the terrible fire of the enemy.
Conspicuous among the brigade that did the
most desperate fighting, were those under the
command of Coils. Kimball, Morgan and BRYCE.
They were all, however, eventually repulsed
with great slaughter.
The fighting ceased at eleven o'clock in the
morning, we having been repulsed in every
assault. Our soldiers, under command of
their officers, laid themselves down under the
shelter of the enllies, trees, covered way, and
In fact behind everything that could afford
them shelter, and waited for the day to pass
and ha a rlvx