Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-28
w OR c e S 7 Err:
TUESDAY, JULY IS. ,saa,
The Siege of Fort wagner.

We give on our first page very full and in
terestng particulars OF the fighting on Morris
Island from the 18th to the 10Th inst On
the 18th a diversion was made on James
Island for the purpose of dividing the rebel
infantry and thus facilitating the operations
of Gen. Gilmores main body on Morris
Island. The diversion was entirely success
full IN this engagement the 54th Massachu-
sets bore the most conspicuous part, doing
nearly all the fighting, and sustaining quite
all the loss.
Fort Wagner was attacked in earnest on the
18th inst.-the land batteries opening the as
saut, and the iron -clads joining in some Iwo
or three hours afterward. The fort seemedtO
be proof against the fierce fire of the batteries
and ships, and made only lazy resistance
during the whole bombardnent, which lasted
Till night Then preparation were made for
storming the fort; and while darkness was
gathering round them, the troops selected for
this errand of death started upon their mission.
Then Fort Wagner opened all its guns upon
them. Shells from Fort Sumter were burst
ing all around them. Still the brave men
moved forward, straight into that terrible fire,
their ranks growing thinner at every step of
their progress, till they reached the parapcts
of the tort. Here they were overwhelmed by
a force for which no adequate provision had
been made, and with heavy loss were COM
PEELED to abandon the task.
Judging only from the published accounts
of this unsuccessful movement uf our troops,
who fought as never men fought before-thcy
seem to have heen led to blind, reckless, in
excusable slaughter. They were thrown at
chances against a fortress ofwhose strength and
resources their commanding general had no
adequate knowledge, and exposedtoa destroy
ing storm Of fire, to which no forethougIt
seems to have been given, and for which no
provision seems to have been made. Yet the
troops on whom the heavy task was laid bore
it with bravery and splendid daring, and no
one can heed the thrilling story of their hero
ism without admiration. The officers shrank
from no peril, their men with implicit and I'M
hesitating devotion followed them into the
very jaws of death. There was no wavering,
back to their old position only when the last
hope of success had expired.
Here, too, the colored regiments were
thrown In the advance-the fifty fourth Mas
sachusetts the only new regiment under Gen.
Gilmores command, which had been under
fire for the FIRST time only two days before on
James Island, leading this perilous expcdi-
ton. They fought with unsurpassed bravery.
Their gallant colonel fell by rebel bullet as
he stood on the parapet; and his devoted men,
inspired with his own enthusiasm, fought
around HIM till every field officer every cap
tain, and nearly three hundred of their
men had fallen. Honor to the brave
tifty-fourth They entered the service
after years of neglect and persecution,
which would have destroyed the enthu
siasm and crushed the pride Of less earnest
men. But they have indicated their title to
equal respect by the most trying of all tests
BY the courage OF strong men thrown for the
first time into the presence OF death.