, 1863-06-01
GEN. STEELE In POSSESSION OF TIE
WORKS on CIIICKAS4W BAY0C,


[From Our Own Correspondent
Il THE REAR OF V1cKsBUno. |
May q, 1853. {
To, day has been a day of excitement and
battle. I have been in the saddle, visiting
hospitals and examining the progress Of the
fight from early day until dark, and am in no
mood to expatiate largely upon its terrible in
cidcnts.
It began to be whispered at dark yesterday
that to-day at 10 o'clock Gen. Grant would Or
dera charge along the line. Each division
and brigade was to select its riy a ,is, and
vigorous and determined attempt madc to OBJ
tain possession Of the rebel Notifications All
night long the gun-boats and mortars bonn
barded the city. 1t was thought tue demoral-
ization occasioncd by dropping these exp1od-
ing missiles into the devoted city would hasten
Its surrender, but its capture appears as dis
t1ut as ever.
Early this morning, in accordance with the
programme laid down By the General com
manding, every piece Of ordnance in the army
was planted upon the hills opposite the forti-
flcations-a line Of artillery several miles in
extent, and ut q given signal opened in full
chorus upon the rebel intrcnchments.
This was showing upon tho cnemy's
works. with vengeance. One
hundred and fifty cannon belching forth their
fiery thunders, might well create dislnay in
the bcleaguered city. It's impossible to con-
vcy any adequate impression Of the terrible
grandeur and sublimity Of the sight. I count
ed the reports during five minutes, after the
cannonadc was in progress an hour, and they
numbered one hundred and forty-fiyc. They
were no more numerous than these during
the hour previous. Between half-past
eight and ten O'Clock, at least two thousand
rounds were fired. The shells exploded ln-
side the works and outside Of them. Some
times they burst in mid air and dropped their
fragments over the occupants; at others they
struck the enlbankment, exploded and tore
out large assures, through which squad OF
soldiers could have marched. Several shots
entered the enlbrazures Of the fort opposite
which ] made my observations, and exploding,
tore every nejghbo1iDg object into tatters.
There was u little battery on hill little to
my right which did wonderful execution.
Further to the right heavy seigc gun poured
heavy enflading fire across the tsp Of the
embankmcnt Of one Of tue larger forts, and
cleared it Of its occupants. The loss of the
enemy from exploding shell must have been
eonsiderable-hoE considerable is Of course
mere estimate.
The enemy rarely replied, because, perhaps,
ttey did mol choose to waste their ammunition,
or that their guns were loaded with grape and
canister in anticipation Of charge. Occa-
eional shots, would, however, come booming
over the Gin house where was taking obser-
vations, frightening US, but doing no damage.
This heavy cannonade was continued until
ten O'Clock, when all at once VIC heard the
sharp rattle Of muskctry, and looking directly
before Us we discovered L brigade Of infantry
In the act Of charging rebel fort. Slowly at
first, then 4uickening into run, they crossed
the crest Of the bill under 1nurderous fire
from the earthworks, and q double charge Of
grape and canister from the rebel artillery,
No mortal man could Withstand the terrible
tempest, and they we're forced to {all on their
faces and let it pass by. Skirmishing and fir
iDgcont!nued On both sides for. IN hour.
when our men were forced to fall back behind
the crest, and await 4 more favorable oppor.
turity for assault. Subsequently charge was
again made, and they succeeded in getting
close to the ditch surrounding the works
and planting their banners there. Surround
ing the fort was ditch ten feet deem SIR
founded on Its outer edge by rows OF palinrs
over r hlch it WIS almost impossible. 10 nass
aud When passed, the bottom Of the DITCH was
twtnty feet below the top Of the eubauk-
men s. 4 few of the men fill over these nal
ings and it became necessary to djr them ont
before they could be released The enemy
could not fire ut them, for as often as a man
showed his head above the parapets o dozen
bullets from us many sbarrshooters were sent
Wh1stllng about his ears. Several ATTEMPTED
10 n1e lAelr guns, but scarcely raised their
or wounded.
Gen. Carrs division succeeded in taking
one ot the rebel forts, some soy two. The
I'd Iowa is entitled to the credit Of being the
i hTst regiment entering the rebel works. They
yet. The charge Is said By those who wit.
messed 1t to have been 4 miracle of ya1or
Col. Stone Of that regiment led tile charre
and Was seriously wounded.
The I'D with the 2lst and 23d aud 1lth Wis
eonsln ; %as concerned in the famous charge
upon the entertainments at Black Rirer
Bridge, which resulted go gloriouslT. They
lost few men then. less thnn eithcr ~ ~
other regiments epgared. hcca,,ee thcv accne nc
pied 8 position in the Fescrye Thas- sun,,o,t
cd The Charging linc and nresspd ciooeitY pna
fh.m To.Sny thsr @ a1 ;oa r. sssto elosel5 al1er
lantly di1thcv dn i ira ra,,;.,, tnlSe anu gA-
ted do not dare IN sav ho% 80 ~ nce; I;,
and woundrd Tha it1or ~" elaa man5 IT. hl!eo
n.o1roW thc fo-mar ra.rgr1 LIZ ssall OBTAIN TO-
withdrawn fTor, Tho frn.,+ 80 ~ .e54sM Is
commandinr nti,cars on' al" es'll see 1ne
A. 1ha 80 e.. t;.',o H.
f,z4n.7,n,,s ea. ue tne sc cu'lsc vas MADE 4ere,
e.ea .4th, 5i::oEan, ransom, steele, Tuttle,
,fo 7;faron+ eis.on 4a,.lt commanders occurring
ass.ui, ~ pU1uia at.h u Tue nne madca similar
onn ~ ~ ~, 'hmo[h ~ was carried, except |
R1a;r M 1,oda dnS 49, ~ Os1efhaus Steele and
he trnrts o1, taos. energetic attempt to take
1a,1a rn,nf,S ea;Ii aiel, anu 1al'cd, loosing
In eth. r af,"r,n'it' n'trea ana ROUNDED
te,,1t..S -, ai.ttn st nuon Logan anu Ransom at-
oppOsite thn rcntre ,,,5 hrornht .t:
NJ, tfosr,r n fna e.. .'o rotousnt tHelf men
M uo-t go :" ~ ~ ~ tne loftthcatlons,
~ "ets Apc!leu 10 1all back with fearful |
Ast y! Killed ana "ounded- |
IN Ransom's charge, the 11th aud I'D Iii |
nols and the 14th and 18th Wisconsin nleycd |
a most consp1cuo3,s and hnnor1h1a Tor+ fha
11th is aly:rs hrare. T. has pa...+ p...+,.: ~
which cannnf h, a.n,S ~ s iepnG.t1ou
n-n,,a., ~. w eeeu ~ queslion, II mas been
lau'cn On 100 many attle'felds. The I'D |
"as nc" regiment and untricd. They have /
passed through fire and cuu1r ont nure ooj,f
aro.1 a,.ous' Soaonel "r!sht led the charge, and
SsS!4 oAtSl aHQ IlA1, save one. did his dpty |