Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-06-29


Correspondence of the Boston journal.
In REAR OF PoRr HUDSON, June l7.-An-
other brave, gallant, glorious attack was made
on Port Hudson, on Sunday, but unsuccess
ful-unsuccessful as regards forcing an en-
trance into this stronghold aud keystone of
the rebellion, but successful in So far adj
vantages were gained which are many steps
toward final conquest
On Sunday, at daybreak, the attack was
commenced simultaneously along the whole
line of investment. The main forces were
while the {SStttlh ei N eXtEelGe right Of the line
miShed forward as a feint of attack.
The left was under command Of Brig. Gen.
Dwight. The first brigade of the left diviS-
ion was under Col. Clark of the 9th Michigan ;
the second under Col. Benedict of the l62d
New York, and the third under Brig. Gen.
NickersOn. The attack Of this wing was we'll
planned. 1t was intended to penetrate the
enemy's works below the river bank. No
troops, without a shudder, could think of ad-
vancing again across the tangled abatts over
which the first assault made, marching
forward in the teeth of certain disaster. Nor
was this sacrifice demanded. The intersec-
ton of the right of the rebel line with the
Mississippi river afforded better prospect of
success, and the most plausible field of as
sault. The road was new, and to the troops
unknown. They were compelled to move on,
not knowing with any degree OF certainty
what was before them. For good reasons
this plan was not allowed to be followed strict
ly, the enemy having time allowed them to
mass on the point of our advance, to repel our
charge. Yet the charge was made, and Il
gallant one. Colonel Clark's brigade led the
charge, portion of it advancing in line of
battle, aud the remainder deploying as skir-
mishers inland The 9th Michigan and 18th
Maine, the advancing forces, pushed forward
to within two hundred feet of the enemy. In
this movement the second brigade supported
the first, and the third was engaged only in
skirmshing. The point of land to which our
forces advanced was high hill, and this hill
in reality commands Port HudsOm-the cita.
del and the water batteries Between this
hill and the enemys works stretches deep
ravine, and on this hill battery of nineteen
guns is being erected, under supervision of
Major Bailey, of General Dwights staff. A
party has also been detailed to tunnel the
earth under the citadel, with the intention of
blowing up the strongest point OF the enemy's
defence.
In this fight some two hundred men on our
side were killed and wounded. deserter
reported the rebel loss at about hundred
Among the killed was Col. M. X. Bryan of
the 10th New York, brave and beloved Of
ficer. The 18th Massachusetts was assigned
to Col. Benedict's brigade, and fought under
him.
The artillery on this wing won good credit
The 18th Massachusetts battery, Capt Ham
lin in command of the mortar battery, won
special mention.
In the center brisk skirmishing was kept
up by Col. Paines brigade, but the loss was
comparatively light. The idea was to distract
the enemy's fire from either wing, and in this
attempt the result showed the success. The
49th Massachusetts in this brigade, lost one
killed and nine wounded; the I'd Maine one
killed and nine wounded.
t, The right wing was most fiercely engaged.
The troops of Gems. Grober Weitzel and
Paine were thrown rapidly forward and hurl-
ed up close to the enemy's works. They
fought ravely, but were compelled to fall
back, with the loss of hundreds OF their best
men and many of their bravest officers. Gen.
Paine was himself severely wounded, and the
brave Col. Holcomb, (lst Louisiana) was kill
ed. Col. Currie, Q33d New York; was Sc
verely wounded. He was an officer of the
British army, and won honorable scars in the
Crimea. Among others wounded are Adit.
Mech, Goth Connecticut; Lieut.. John Wal
lingford, Co. l, 10th New Hampshire; and
Lieut. H. T. Jacobs, Co. F, 26th Connecticut