Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-07-31
The Assault on Fort wagner.

After the first unsuccessful assault on the
10Th inst, Gen1 Gilmore lost no time in
throwing up batteries on Morris Island,
within 500 yards of Fort Wagner, in order
to reduce it by siege. On the morning of
the 18th, twelve or fifteen heavy gus were
in position, besides eight or ten mortars.
Gent Gilmore therefore determined to COM
mence the attack, which was opened at II
o'clock, A. NJ.
The bombardment was conducted in a
spirited manner, Gilmore's batteries initiai-
ing the work, and Admiral Dahlsren's five
monitors, the Ironsides, two mortar schoon-
ers and three wooden gunboats. quickly
Joined in the engagement.
The enemy replied briskly from Fort
Wagner and Battery Bee, just beyond the
Cummings Point, while Fort Sumter kept
up sharp fire from the guns of her south
western face, among which were two rified
pieces of heavy calibre. Most of the fire
of the rebels was directed upon the monitors
and the other naval vessels, only an occa-
sional shell being sent toward the batteries.
Although the iron clads were repeatedly
struck, they suffered very little real dam.
age, and the only losses in the batteries
were lieutenant Of the Seventy-sixth
Pennsylvania regiment, who was killed by a
chance shot, and the wounding of six Of the
gunners.
Soon after o'clock the firing from Fort
Wagner ceased. 1t was then known that
our brave fellows had succeeded in dis
mounting one gun, and it was also pretty
| well ascertained that another of the rebel
! pieces had burst. These facts led to the
superstition that the enemy had evacuated
the work, and it was determined to attempt
| its occupation. For this purpose two brig
AIDES, consisting of the 9TH Connecticut reg
iment, the Sd New Hampshire, the 9th
Maine, 10th Pennsylvania, the 4Sth New
York. under Brig.-G Gen. Strong, and the
| 7th New Hampshire, 9th Connecticut, CID
Ohio, Tooth New York and 54th Massachu-
| setts, (colored,) under Col. Putnam, who
had been under arms all day screened from
the enemy behind range of sand hills, in
the rear of our works, were ordered forward.
| This was at dusk, and both brigades were
! formed in line on the beach, the regiments
being disposed in columns, excepting the
| colored regiment, which for some reason
| was given the post of extreme honor and of
danger in advance, and was drawn up in
line of battle, exposing its full front to the
enemy. This movement OF troops was OBJ
served by Sumter, and fire was opened at
once upon them, without doing injury, as the
shells went over the heads Of the men.
Gen'I Strongs brigade under this fire
moved along the beach at slow time for
about three-uuarters of mile, when the
men were ordered 10 lie down. In this po-
stion they ramaned half an hour, Sumter
meanwhile being joined in the cannonade
by the rebels in Battery Bee, but without
effect upon our troops. 1t was now quite
dark, and the order was given for both brig
aides to advance, General Strong's leading
and General Pntnam's within supporting
defiance. The troops went forward at quick
| time and in deep silence, until the oath
Massachusetts, led by Col. Shaw, was with
in two hundred yards of the works, when
the men gave fierce yell and rushed up
the gacis, closely followed by the other
regiments of the brigade.
The enemy, hitherto silent as the grave
while our men were swarming over the
glacs, opened upon them furiously with
grape, canister, and continuous fusiade o.
small arms
The gallant negroes, however, plunged
on regardless of this murderous reception
and many of them crossed the ditch, al
= though it contained four feet Of water, gain
ing the parapet They were dislodged
however, in few minutes with hand gren.
AIDES, leaving more than one-half of their
number, including their brave colonel, dead
upon the field.
The Sixth Connecticut regiment, under
Lieut.. Col. Rodman, was next in support o.
the Fifty-fourth, and they also suffered ter.
ribly, being compelled to retire after stub
born contest. The Ninth Maine, which was
the next in line, was broken up by the pass.
age of the remnant of the repused coloret
regiment through its lines, and retreated il
:, confusion, excepting three companies, which
nobly stood their ground.
u 1t now devolved upon the Third New
Hampshire regiment TO push forward, and
:, led by Gen'l Strong and Col jackson il
0 person the gallant fellows dashed up agains
l. the fort. Three companies actually gained
the ditch, and wading through the water
/, found shelter against the embankment-
n Here was the critical point of the assault
and the Second brigade, which should hav,
! been up and ready to support their com
u rades OF the First, were unaccountably de
: layed. Gen. Strong then gave the order t.
! tall back, and lie down on the glacis, which
u was obeyed without confusion.
e 1t was while waiting here, exposed TO thu
u heavy fire, that Gen. Strong was wounded
u A fragment of shell entered his thigh, pass
ing entirely through the feshy part anc
making serious wound, although the bon,
e escaped fracture. The breast of COL Jack
o. sons coat was torn off of tho emma t;rao h,