The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-08-07

be closely confined to their cells, though
they will doubtless be allowed to take
some exercise each day. We under.
stand that details from the Provost
Guard will keep close watch over them.
Bloody Work at Charleston.
A correspondent of the New York
World, after giving an account OF the
attack Of the Union iron-clads and land
forces on Fort Wagner, in the harbor of
Charleston, week before last, thus pic.
lures the charge of the Union forces and
their repulse:
CHARGE OF sTRoNG's BRIGADE.
Strong's brigade marched in column
up past the old building on the right of
our batteries; then deployed and advanc.
ed in line a short distance; then deploy.
ed again, and marched up the beach in
close column, Putnam's brigade follow.
ing at supporting distance, and halting
at point where they had been ordered
to stop. Fort Sumter saw the move.
ment, and pitched her shells over among
the troops, but hurt none of them
When Strong'S troops, led by their gal.
liant General, had got two-thirds of the
distance to the fort the cannonadng
ceased, to avoid injuring our own troops,
and then the rebels in Fort Wagner
came out in full strength. A thousand
muskets flashed almost together, and
poured deadly fire into our troops
The guns were brought to bear on them,
and grape and canister hailed down up.
on them. With shout they advanced,
at word from the General, on double
quick, unfalteringiy directed up into that
terrible fire. Musketry ratified, Sumter's
shells burst all around them, bullets
wtistled, canister hummed, grape plow-
ed along the ground, the fort was light.
ed up almost constantly with the fire
from howitzers, rifles and mHskets-not
in titfu flashes but with steady, CLEAN.
ing sheets of fame. They never stag.
gered--never wavered-did not stop for
the many who fell, or listen to the moans
of the wounded. They reached the
ditch and crossed it, on some planks,
some rushing down in and toling up,
some seeking better entrance to the
left, where the ditch. was, however, filled
with water. AS they were making the
crossing, howitzers in the bastions kept
mp raking fire, prostrating many bod.
les, but not deterring the mass. Over
they went and clambered up the para
pets. But the grape met them every
where, sweeping the ditch, the curtains
outside, the parapetS above and the
rebel infantry, seeing all, but unseen
themselves, peppered them with bullets,
and gave no chance to respond effectu-
ally. Some retreated without further
effort, the majority struggled on manful.
ly and charged down over the parapct,
driving all before them. There was Ger.
tain danger now in retreating, uncertain
danger in staying or advancing. The
rebels were driven from one corner over
traverse, and the 9Th Connecticut col
ors planted on the parapet. But from
the opposite sides of the fort, from be.
hind parapets and traverses and bas.
tionS, the fire was kept up. Two guns
commanded our position with their vol.
leys of grape. All attempts to reach
them commenced with slaughter and end
ed with retreat. The 54th Massachu.
Setts (colored) found place lower down,
and charged bravely over the parapet,
their officers urging them to distinguish
themselves. But the rebels made dash
at them, with all their bitter feeling
against negro troops aroused, and neg
lected all else for moment in attack.
ing the negroes They took some pris.
oners, slaughtered many; bayonets clash
ed and muskets ratified, and the Massa-
chusetts blacks got bewidered. They
barely saved one Of their flags, and the
staff Of another, and then, with thinned
ranks, retreated through the showers of
iron hail, leaving their Colonel in the
fort, many officers unaccounted for, and
many black bodies, lifeless or disabled,
along their track. All the other regi.
ments got, wholly or in part, on or over
the psrapets, but all we're finally forced
to fee. The contest on their part was
a short Sut bloody one. Had these reg.
iments held on together but a moment
longer, they would have had whole
brigade to help them; but the Difficult
ties we're greater than had been antici.
pated, and they could not be longer held
where victory seemed so impossible. -
With one or two regiments it was a
rout; they went off heller. .skelter, run.
ming wildly, anxious only for some shell
ter from the rebel fire. Others marched
of as orderly as if executing simple
manepver, carrying their arms and TAX
ing away such Of their wounded as were