Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-07-29
TIE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.


ris Island. On the 18Th inst, a second as
saulf also, unsuccessful, was made. The
desperate gallantry of the assaulting
force was of no avail. They were repulsed
with terrible slaughter,
After the first uns lccessful assault, Gen
eral Gilmore threw up batteries within
eight hundred yards of Fort Wagner in
order to reduce it by siege. Twelve or
fifteen heavy guns were in position, be-
sides eight or ten mortars, when the at
tack was commenced st eleven o'clock on
the morning Of the 18th inst. The New
York Times gives the following account of
the engagement:
"The bombardment was conducted in a
.irited manner, Gilmore's batteries ini-
tiating the work, and Admiral Dahlgren's
five mortars, the Ironsides, two mortar
schooners and three wooden gunbOats,
quickly joining in the engagement.
The enemy replied briskly from Fort
wagner and Battery Bee, just beyond the
Cummings Point, while Fort Sumter kept
up sharp FIRE from the guns of her south
western face, among which were two ri
fed pieces Of heavy cslibre. Most Of the
fire of rebels was directed upon the moni-
tors aud other naval vessels, only an oc-
casionsl shell being sent towards the bat
| teries. Although the Ironclsds were re-
pestedly struck, they suffered very little
real damage, and the only losses in the
batteries were a Lieutenant of the Seven
ty-sixth Pennsylvania regiment who was
killed by a chance shot, and the woUnding
of six of the gunners.
Soon after four o'clock the firing from
Fort Wagner ceased. 1t was then known
that our brave fellows had succeeded in
dismounting one gun, and it was also
pretty well aseertained that another Of
| the rebel pieces had burst. These facts led
TO the supposition that the enemy had
evacuated the work, and it was determined
| to attempt its occupation. For this pur-
pose two brigades, consisting of the Sew
enth Connecticut regiment, the Third New
Hampshire, the Ninth Maine, the Seventy
sixth Peddsyl.ania, and the Forty-eighth
New York, under Brigadier General
Strong, and the Seventh New Hampshire,
Sixth Connecticut, Sixty second Ohio, One
Hundredth New York, and Fifty-fourth
Massachusetts, colored, under Colonel Put
nam, who had been under arms all day,
screened from the enemy behind a range
of sand hills, in the rear of our works,
were ordered forward.
This was at dusk and both brigades
were formed in line on the beach, the reg
iments being disposed in columns except
ing the eolored regiment which for some
reason vas given the post of extreme hon.
or and of danger in advance, and was
drawn up in line of battle, exposing its
full front to the enemy. This movement
of the troops was observed by Sumter,
and fire was at once opened upon them,
happily without doing injury, as the shells
went over the heads Of the men.
General Strongs brigade under this fire
moved along the beach at slow time for
about three-quarters of q mile, when the
men were ordered to lie down. In this
position they remained half an hour, Sum-
ter meanwhile being Joined in the cannon
sde by the rebels in Battery Bee, but with
out effect upon our troops. 1t was now
| quite dark, and the order was given for
both brigades to advance, General Strong
leading and Colonel Putnam's within sup
I poLLAuk hAoLLngUs 4uG AADuBo hCnb AUA
| ward at quick time and in deep silence,
until the Fifty-fOurth Massachusetts, led
| by its gallant Colonel Shaw, was within
two hundred yards of the work, when the
men gave a fierce yell and rushed up the
glaois, closely followed by the other reg
iments Of the brigade.
Theenemy, hitherto silent as the grave,
while our men were swarming over the
glacis, opened upon them furiously with
grape, canister, and continuous fusilads
The gallant negroes, however, plunged
on regardless of this murderous recep-
ton, and many of them crossed the ditch,
although it contained four feet of water,
gaining the psrspet- They were dis
lodged, however, in a few minutes with
hand grenades, and retired helter skelter,
leaving more than one-hAlf of their num-
Der, including their brave colonel, dead
upon the field.
The Sixth Connecticut Regiment, under
Lieutenant ROdman, was next in support
of the Fifty-fOurth, and they also suffered
terribly, being compelled to retire after
stubborn contest. The Ninth Maine,
which was next in line, was broken up by
the passage Of the remnant Of the re-
pulsed colored regiment through its lines,
and retired in confusion, excepting three
companies, which nobly stood their
ground.
1t now devolved upon the Third New
Hampshire regiment to push forward, and
led by General Strong and Colonel Jackson
in person the gallant fellows dashed up
against the foot. Three companies actual
ly gained the ditch, and wsding through
the water found shelter against the en-
bsnkment. Here was the critical point of
the assault, and the Second brigade, which
should have been up aud ready to support
their comrades of the First, we're unao-
eountably delayed. General Strong then
gave the order to fall back, aud lie down
on the glacis, which was obeyed, without
confusion.
1t was while waiting here, exposed to
the heavy fire, that General Strong was
wounded. A fragment Of shell entered
his thigh, passing entirely through the
feshy part and making serious wound,
although the bone escaped fracture. The
breast of Colonel Jscksons coat was torn
of at the same time by a piece Of shell,
slightly Wounding him. Neither of these
brave men would lie down to escape the
rain of metal, but stood unfinchingly
throughout elieiting the unbOuuded ad-
miration Of their men. Finding that the
supports did not come, General Strong
gave the order for his brigade to retire, and
the men left the field in perfect order.
A little while afterwards the o.her brig
ades came up, and made up for their ap-
parent tardiness by glorious deeds of val
or. Rushing impetuously up the glacis,
undeterred by the fury of the enemy, whose
FIRE was not intermitted for second, sew
eral Of the regiments succeeded in crossing
the ditch, scaling the parapet and descend
s-Ao l.