New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-06-05

drawing bis saber, he started forward At q full rum
followed by the first section Of his battery. Away
went the battery at full speed amid the booming OF
cannon and rafting of musketry. Not man was
bit One horse was wounded so that be died from
the effects Of the wound, but held out until out OF
range Of the batteries Of the enemy.
An assault along the entire line bad been ordered
on that day. II was considered 30 imprscticable IN
Gen. Sturgis's division, that nothing more than a
fent was attempted. The Notifications opposite his
front WERE if anything sleeper of ascent and more
formidable than in any other quarter and bis
ordnance feebler. In Gen. Bairs division the fight
ing was desperate. Kelby Smiths brigade occupied
the left Giles f. Smith the center, Ewing the right.
In approaching the works, the assaulting column
was exposed to a terrific fire from the bresstwoTks
and the rihe-pits. Notwithstanding, six companies
of the 18th infantry TO the number Of 200, succeeded
in gazing the edge Of the parapet, but found them.
selves pretty much alone and without support, and
of course, any attempt 10 enter the works was ut
terly impracticabIe.
The loss Of this battalion was terrible % men
were either killed or wounded, and FIVE out Of II
commissioned officers. Capt. Washington, who was
in command was wounded, and in t retreat left
behind at the edge of the fort. During the night
tie Rebels came out and captured him. At last ac
counts il was not known whether he was dead or
alive. During the entire action the loss in killed
and wounded amounted TO not far from 500, being
the heaviest lo,s thus far suffered by any single
division. Elsewhere in the army the Losses in this
frat assault were small. In fact no general attack
was attempted.
Gen. Leigh, who had assumed the command OF
Garrard's Brigade in Gen. Osterbauss Division, on
the left led hs troops twice up TO the breastwoTk Of
the enemy, but found himself face TO face with an
almost perpendicular wall Of earth that rendered oil
further progress simply impossble. 10 the second
assault, he was struck on The side Of the face with
wha, appeared to be grapeshot and although not
dangerously wounded was rendered hors IL combat.
Such 10 brief rc,umt Of the condition Of affairs
Tuesday evening. No Notifications lad been taken,
although in quarter at least, dssrersss attempt
bad been made with great lose Of life.
During "Wednesday and Thursday, steady advau-
ces were made. IL one continual skifmi,h be-
tween sharpshooters, and constant oannonads.
The Rebel artillery hardly replied at all, and then
only at rare intervals. Our sbarpshoo,ers wero in
many cases within q hundred yards Of the forulca-
tions and kept up such fire as 10 compel the can
noueers FOR the time to abandon their guns. The
silence Of the enemy think, lie partly TO be At
tribuled 10 IA scarcity Of ammunition. On Thursday
afternoon Gen Graut issued HI order to all the d.
visions q the army that Simultaneous assault
should be made in columns q pAioons Al 10 O'Clock
Ia tie morning. During the night Of Tho ooh, Col.
Maiher, Clief ~ Ordnance in Gen. hcClcTpSud'-
corps, and Lieut.. Hanes q the Engineer Depart
ment, had got 10 guns In position nj an average ds-
lance Of 700 yards from the enemys works. Similar
advances bad been made in McPherson'S column.
Tha, General had obtained Pos-easion Of bill Of
great importAnc. from II, hight and I proximity to
the Rebel works.
THE ASSAULT.
BY dsy.break Friday morning Il furious oannonade
commenced along the entire line Until 10 O'Clock the
heavy discharge Of cannon In tie direction Of the
river, aud the bursting Of shells over tue city an
nounced that the gunboG,s were also engaged.
During this lombsrdment tie 3Opouuders Of tho
let IDfantry, under tie direction Of Lieut.. Robine.
Of Cornihisn celebrity, did splendid execution,
blowing up four or five cas,ons In The Rebel works.
And low, reader come with me, and you shall
witness one of the sights rarely seen, and the story
Of which thrills the hearts OF Tosierty with mingled
l WCuutI, roi4NN A"iS''' "'NN'
! Imagine yourself on the crest Of a sharp hill,
crowned with fresh esrtbworks. -Four huge Parrot
guns stand on the summit. Creep up TO tho top and
peep cautiously. for MINES slipping through
| the air with that balf.sudible, deadly sound
which the soldier knows well. just in front. brd
apparently not stones throw of, although IN fact
distant 700 yards il the bare reddish outline " the
fort we are to storm. How steepl-how ominousy
silent and desoate it looks Que would fancy that
nothing Of verdure or life could abide there. Be
tween it and US 10 valley, or rayine, that makes
the approach to the opposite works almost preeiP-
itous At either extremity Of the bastion Is long,
low line of rifle pits connecting with similar works
to the right al left as far as the eye can reach,
forming An unbroken necklace of rlepts and forth
! icaons.
10 tho south Of the fort Immediately in 'front.' the
rine-pits make bend this way, 10 as TO sweep with
On en6ladins fire a storming party. When you look
AT yonder steep hill at that Gordon Of breas.works,
contrived with consummate ingenuity and labor, the
heart sinks within you. To the loft, with its blood
red bars just vsible above the r1e-pits, now Flap
ping deiantly in the breeze, now dropping to the
flagstaff aud almost Lost from view, is the ensign oil
treason. Beyond the western hills pointing peace
fully hesvenwsrd, in strange contrast with these
warlike preparations, are the spires Of Vick,burg.
All along the lines above and below is still As the
! lul before the tempest
At length, tired Of waiting, we seek the friendly
shadows of Gen. Cars tent just below, and await
the progress of events. But. harhl A faint cheer
rises on the mir. They are charging LAWYERS
brigade is advancing! There is II general ruth to
the summit of the hill regardless of sharpshooters