Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-07-24
THE SlEEs AND FALL or PORT
HUDS0N

4
conversed with an officer who succeeded III
passing out from Port. Hudson whle the sur
render was taking place, on Thursday, the
9th inst, from whom he has been furnishes
with details Of the siege which will not fail to
prove interesting to our readers
The initiatory steps ui the sieg" may be
rcckopeI from The 18th of MAY, when Zen.
Anger advanced from Baton Rouge. HIS ap-
proach being reported by our cavalry, On the
list, Gen. Gardner sent out Col. Miles, with
400 cavalry aud battery, under orders to
proceed 10 tho Plain Store, six or seven miles
from Port Hudson, and reconnoitre. About
four miles from Port Hudson he encountered
tue enemy, and u severe action ensued OF two
| and hull hours duration, with loss i thirty
killed and forty wounded III our side. at
| night, in pursuance OF an order Ut recall from
| Gen. Gardner, our forces fell back within the
| fOrtlfcatlons.
| At the same time Col. Powers cavalry, some
30U strong were engaged on the Baton Rouge
and Bayou Sara ROAD. milo and hHli Or
| TWO miles from Col. Miles. No communication
has been had with them since, and their loss
Is unknown.
On tho morning Of the 22d the enemy push-
cd his infantry forward within mile VI our
breastwulks, and Ut the same time It was re-
| ported By the cavalry scouts that Gen. banks,
vino he'd recently completed his Teche cam
pulgn, was, landing troops ut Bayou Sara II
miles ahuyc) and moving III the direction OF
Port Hudson. From Saturday, the I'D, to
| Tuesday, the 10Th, inclusive, the enemy was
engaged in taking his position for the invest
luert Of our WORKS. This being completed, On
the morning Of the 9th he advanced with his
whole force against the breastwurks, directing
his main attack against the left, commanded
by Col. Stcadman. Vigorous assaults were
also made against the extreme lett OF Col.
Miles and Gen Bcaie, the former Of whom
commanded in tho centre, tho latter ca TIE
! righ1.
uil the left the attack WAS made By bri-
gadc OF negrues, comprising Gbuut three regi-
luents together with the same iurcc Of white
Yankees, across u bridge which had Been
bills over Sundy Greek TN the night Of the
18th. This force WAS thrown against the
39th mississippi regiment, cOnniauded by
| Col. Shelby. About i've hundred negroes III
front advanced 1T doube-quick within ono
hundred and fifty yards of the works, Th.f
the artillery OIL tue river bluff and two light
pieces on Col. Shelby'a Lett, opened upon
tucm, and, ut tho samc time, they were re-
| ceircd with volleys Of musketry, from five
mpahies Of tho 3Yth. The negroes fled
every way in perfect confusion, without firing
eun, probably carrying with them. in their
panic iii- hi. their aaLle comrades further in
Tho rear, for the enemy themselves rep: TT
ehat six hundred Of them persisted. If this
| be so, they must have been shot down by the
Yankees in the rear, for the execution va did
upon them did not exceed t*o hundred and
fifty: and, indeed. rolleys of muSkctry were
! heard iii the direction of their flight
| Among the slain were found the bolios Of
two negro captains, with commissions in their
! pockets.
| The lst Alabama 1t. Col Locke. and the
! 10Th Arkansas, Col. Witt, engaged the enemy
outside the works, in the thick woods, and
fought most Ralluntly, but we're compelled by
the heavy odds brought against tn m 10 fall
back across the creek and within the works.
In this action Col. Witt was captured, hut was
nor iated to remain long prisoner. being ono
IF the daring band WIN effected their escape
from the Maple Leaf, while or their way 70 q
! Yankee prison.
| Col. johnson. with the 18th Arkansas regi-
ment, numbering about 800 men. occupied o
hill across Sandy Creek, which he had been
terrifying for the previous week. About FIVE
thousand Of the enemy came against this posi-
ton, moy!ug down a very narrow road, and
many Of them succeeded in gaining the
brcastworks, but they were repuised and COM
PEELED to fall hack into tho woods, leaving SO
Or 90 dead in front of the works.
] On Gen. Beale's left. consisting of the LIT
Mississippi and tho 10th Alabams, the enemy
| advanced in strong force, and were driven
! L.. 81 ,bta, T1,o &c
| COL Miles left was decisive.
About O'Clock the Yankees, true to their
knavisl national instinct, raised tho white
flag, and under it attempted to make rush
with their infantry. This being reported to
Gen. Gardner, he sent orders to tho different
commanders not to recognize any white flag
unless sent by the Federal commander him
self. At sunset the firing ceased, after hot
" contested engagement Of twelve hours, dur
| ing the whole of which our men had behaved
with unfInchng gallantry and had complete
" repulsed the enemy at every point. Every
man along the entire line had done his duty
nublv. lille this assault was going OH, all
the gun and mortar boats kept up al, inces-
| SAINT firing upon the lower batteries, but with
out inhicting any damage.
On the 2stb. Gen. Banks sent q flag pro-
posing q cessation Of hostilities, for the pur-
pose Of hurying the dead, which was granted.
| About o'clock, p. NJ, the truce ceased, and
the enemy, in hedvy force, made furious at
! tack upon the lst Alabama. which was gal
lantly rcpulaed.
From this time till June l3th heavy skir-
mishing WAS constantly kept up, the men were
behind the breastwGrks night and day, and
one could scarcely show his head an instant
without being made tho mark Of sharp
shooter: Many were sick from exposure to
the sun and other causes. The enemy we're,
meanwhile, engaged in digging bitches, erect
ing batteries. and advancing their parallels.
The gun and mortar boats kept up u continual
! fire by night and day, more. it would seem,
| for the purpose Of exhansting the garrison hy
wakefulness than from any hope Of direct ad-
| vantage.
| Monday, :llr 18th u June, communication
was received from Gen. Banks demanding the
unconditional surrender Of the post. lie com
| rlimsnted the garrison aud is commander in
| high terms. Their courage, he said, amounted
almost TO heroism: but it was folly for them to
attemp. 10 hold the place any longer M it was
ut his will, and he demanded the surrender in
thename Of humanity. to prevent the sacrifice
of lives. ~ it would he i'm possible for his COM
man,lers 10 save the garrison from being nut
to the sword when the works should be carried
by assault. His artillery he said, was equal
to any in extent and efficiency. and his men
outnumbered ours FIVE tn one. Tic knew to
what condition they were reduced, as he had
captured Gen. Gardeners courier sent out with
dispatches to Gen. Johnston. As these dos
patches wero in cipher, it is probable that
Banks exaggerated the amount Of information
he had derived from them.
| Gen. Gardner replied that his duty required
bin to defend the post, and lie must refuse to
entertain any such proposition.
On the morning of the 18th just before day,
the fleet and all the land batteries which the
encny hud succeeded in erecting at 100 to 300
yards from our hreastworks. opened fire ut The
/ samn time 4 bout DAYLIGHT under COY nr al