Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-06-11
scenes nj Nicksbmrg.
NM RrpEL PoRTIFIoATIONs.


THE REBEL FoRTIFIcATIoNS'
And now, reader, come with me, and
Won shall witness one of the sights rarely
seen. and the story which will thrill the
hearts of postenty with mingled wonder,
admiration aud sorrow forever allerward'
Imagine Yourself on the crest OF sharp
hin, crowned with fresh earth works
-Four huge Parrot guns stand on the sum
nit. Creep up to the top and peep over
cautiously for Minnies are slipping through
the mir with that half audible, deadly
sound which the soldier so well knows
Just in front and apparently not a stones
throw off, although in fact distant about
700 wards, is the bare reddish outline oil
the fort we are to storm.
How steep how ominously silent and
desolate it looks One would fancy that
nothing of verdure or life could ABIDE
there. Between it and us there is a val
lev or ravine that makes the approach to
the opposite works almost precipltous, AT
either extremity of the bastion Is a long,
low line of rife pits, connecting with simi-
lar works to the right and left, as far as
the eve can reach, forming an unbroken
necklace of rife pits and iortihcations.
To the south of the fort, Immediately in
front, the rifle pits make bend so as to
sweep with an enilading fire stormng
party -,
When you look at yonder steep hill, at
that Gordon of breastworks, contrlved
with consummate ingenuity and labor, the
heart sinks within you. To the left with
its blood red bars Just visible above the
rife pits, now tapping defsntly IN the
breeze, now dropping to the flag staff and
almost lost from view, is the ensign Of
treason. Beyond the western hills, point
ing peacefully heavenward, IN strange
contrast with these warlike preparations,
are the spires of Vicksburg.
THE ASSAULT.
But bark ! A faint cheer rises on tn,
air. They are charging! LAWYERS brig
ade is advancing. There is a genera
rush to the summit of the hill, regardless
of sharp shooters and shells. There the,
90 with trailed muskets, half crouching
with swift but stealthy tread streaming
toward the fortress. For a moment not
shot is fired. They are screened from tn
raking shots of the enemy by the side c
the ravine But Just as they emerge int
the open space before the fort, the rife pit
and bastions to the left, the works in iron
and the sharp shooters on the right, a
open upon them with deadly storm {
bullets.
| Lately so deserted, the redoubts are a
alive with heads and muskets and Jets {
smoke The air Is crazy with the shar
rattle of musketry and the crash of can
non For moment the advancing col
umn staggers under the terrible ordeal
Then few brave fellows rush forward
righ up to the breastworks, hesitate
moment on the edge of moat, leap il
and disappear, emerge on the other side
and struggle with great difficulty up tn
steep sides of the parapet. Some of ther
reach the top and stand for a moment tn
target Tor thousands of bullets, on tina
proud but awful summit, gaze down &
something within, then spring forward an
disappear.
Is it victory ? Is the stronghold won
Or do they euter there as those who eros
the bridge of signs, never to return
Now others scale the works to be met b
shots from with II, an sink to the cart
or IA backward INTO the trenches. Me.
ciful Got! How hari it is to see BRAY
men, fighting in a sacred cause, tall Ink
cattle with no support, no rescue, by III
hani OF n foe they cannot reach
The result of the attack is aread
known. The edge OF the EGrt was game,
but lis INTERIOR was swept b. line of +
tle pits in the rear and | partitionel ureas
work so tina, our soliiers, even when witt
in the fort were almost rs far from vlctC
ry as before. Earthwurks and shar,
shooters We e everywhere. The chargin
columns crossed the open space before tn
works under d murderOus fire from f0eme
IN front and ON either flank, handful {
men scaled the redoubt only 10 he caugh
in another coil Of death.
Even IN the ditch they were not SAT;
Some of them actually burrowed into tn
earth along the sides OF the parapet +
gain shelter from this terrific storm S
this Forlorn Hol g, the heroes of Blac
River, hardly heDievng that they coul
be repulsed, chung to the steep sides G
that bastlon as the drowning man c ing
to a straw, through that long day of agon,
until the friendly brought them relief
10 mention individual bravery, wher,
cowardce was the rare except n, woul,
be only to make lnviduous distinction. |
il sufficiently significant to say that a
/ the close Of Friday, Oen. Benton foun,
! himself without one field officer who wa
not rendered unfit for duty.
Col. Humphreys of The 95th lllinoi
was in Gen. fansom's brigade. In tn
second assault hi regiment was hesitating
! Gen. Ransom called to him to move for
ward.
/ Dropping his sword in salute to tn
I General, he ordered Forward, Ninety
fifth" and tell dead. TIE color beare
-yv, shot md E,ll of tho 60 n inpfont