The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-08-12


from Wagner swept the breach, and those
from Sumter and Cummings FONT emilia
ded it on the left.
In the midst of this terrible shower of
shot and shell they pushed their way,
reached the fort, portions of the Fifty
fourth Massachusetts, the Sixth Connec-
ticut. and Forty eighth New York, dash
ed through the bitches, gained the para
pet, and engaged in hand to hand fight
with the enemy, and for nearly half an
hour held their ground, and did not fall
back until nearly every commissioned
officer was shot down AS on the mora
ing of the assault of the 18th inst, these
brave men were exposed to a most CALLING
fire of grape and canister, from howitzers,
raking tho bitches from the bastions of
the fort, from hand grenades. and from
almost every other modern implement of
warfare. The rebels fought with the TT
most desperation, and 50 did the larger
portion of Gen. Strong's brigade, as long
as there was an officer to command it.
When the brigade made the assault
Gen. Strong gallantly rode at its head
Wheni it fell back, broken, torn and bleed
ing, Major Paimpton, of the Third New
Hampshire, was the highest commission
ed officer to command it. Gen. Strong
Col shaw, Col. Chatfeld, Col. Barton,
Col Green, Col. jackson, all had fallen;
and the list send you will tell how many
other brave officers fell with them Sto-
ries are flying about that this regiment
broke and run; that but for the frightened
Fifty fourth Massachusetts, (negro) we
would have carried the fort that the Ninth
Maine did not reflect much honor upon
the gallant State she represents, and a
to enumerate.. 1t is absurd to say these
men did not fight, and were not exposed
to perhaps the most deadly fire of the
war, when so many officers and so many
of the rank and file were killed. Itmust
be remembered, too, that this assault was
made in the nigt-a very dark night even
the light Of the stars was obscured by the
blackness of heavy thunder storm, and
the enemy could be distinguished from
our own men only by the light of burst
ing shell and the flash Of the howitzer and
the musket.
The First Brigade, under the lead of
Gen. Strong, failed to take the fort. 1t
was now the turn of Col. Putnam, CON-
manding the Second Brigade, composed of
the Seventh New Hampshire, the Sixty
second Ohio, Col. Steel, the Sixty seventh
Ohio, Col. Vorhees, and the Tooth New
York, Col. Danely, to make the attempt.
But, alas! the task was too much for him.
Through the same terrible fire he led his
men to, over and into the fort, and for an
hour held one half of it, fighting every
moment of that time with the utmost des-
peration, and, as with the First Brigade,
it was not until he himself fell killed and
nearly all his officers wounded, and no re-
Inducements arriving, that his men fell
back, and the rebels shout and cheer of
victory was heard above the roar of Sum
ter and the guns, from Cummings Point.
In this second assault by Col. Putnam s
brigade, Col. Turner, of Gen. Gilmore Is
staff, stood at the side of Colonel Putnam
when he fell, and with his voice and sword
urged on the thinned ranks to the final
charge. But it was too late. The Third
Brigade, Gen. Stevenson's, was not or
hand. Il was madness for the Second tc
remain longer under SO deadly fire, and
the thought of surrendering in body tc
the enemy could not for moment be en-
tertaiued. To fight their way back to the
lintrenchments was all that could be done
and in this retreat many poor fellow
fell, never to rise again.
Without doubt, many Of our men fel
from our own fire. The darkness was Sc
intense, the roar of artillery SO loud, the
i fight of grape and canister shot so rapit
and destructive, that it was absolutely i'm
possible to preserve order in the ranks 0
individual companies, to say nothing Q
| the regiments. 49, ~ =. ...s,.-.....
More than half the time we were in til,
fort, the fight was simply hand-to- -hanC
one. as the wounds received by man,
clearly indicate. Some have sword thrust
some are hacked on. the head, some arr
stabbed with bayonets, and few wer
knocked down with the butt-end of mus
kets, but recovered in time to get ava.
with swollen heads. There was terribg
fighting to get into the fort, and terribh
6ghting to get out of it. The cowsrdl.
. stood no better chance for their life tliai
the fearless. Even if they surrendered
the shell of Sumter were quickly fallin;
around them in the darkness, and, as pris
oners, they could not be safe, until victory
decisive and unquestioned, rested .wnl
one or the other belligerant. ~
The battle is over; it is midnight; b,
ocean beach is crowded with the dead, II
. dying and the wounded. 1t is with diff
E Guilty you can urge your horse through .
!, Lighthouse Inlet. Faint lights are GIN
mering in the sand holes and rife pits {
the right, as you pass down the beacl
In these holes many poor wounded an
J bleeding soldier has laid down to his las
sleep. Friends are bending over them I
! staunch their wounds, or bind up thci
, shattered limbs, but the deathly glare f:S
sunken eyes tells that their kind service
r Iare all in vain.
+ In this nightassault, and from its con
| mencement to its close, Gen, Gilmore, h
e staff, and his volunteer aids, consisting |
, Colonel Littlefeld, OF the Fourth Sout
: Carolina, and Majors Banpister and stry
' ker, of the Paymaster's Department, wei
' constantly under FIRE, and Doing all !
: their power to sustain the courage of II
/, troops urge on reinforoements. All til;
A r.