The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-05-07
rHR 1ArrLn OF PLYMOUTH.
TIE FIRST ATTACK

s. TIE FIRST ATTACK <
Was made on the ferti6cations Of PIypouta,
On the 18th uls., but reptlsed. q slso q.
other made on Fort Gray. The momentary
repulse kept the enemy a, bay aud lasted
for nearly twenty four hours. On Tuesday
morning the rebel ram made her appear
auce, to cooperate with the land forces,
and succeeded not only in siuking the South
field, but in killing Captain Flysser. They
drove our naval vessels from the river, and
consequently this sufport failed General
Vessels in the most trying hour of his
campaign.
THE SECOND ATTACK
wa. made by the enemy on all our forts
surrounding the town almost simultaneously
and every assault he was driven back with
terrific slaughter. But the rebels seemed
determined and renewed attacks we're made
and checked, each one still attended with
the most dreadful carnage from this time
until half past ten o'clock on Wednesday
morning, the Sighting was almost uninter-
rupted.
THE EVACUATION OF FORT VESSELS.
better known as the S5th regiment redoubt,
situated a short distance from Mill creek.
Captain Chaplin, the commandant Of the
fort, had been killed, and although the stock
of ammunition on hand was growing "small
by degrees and beautifully less" still the
heroic little band kept up an incecssant
firing on the enemy, every slot telling with
fearful effect. Upon the reception Of the
orde:: ::nhe survivors Of thu garrison awaited
the coming of night, and under its protect
ing shade silently withdrew to the town,
having first, however, disabled the guns Of
the fort.
| THE UNION FORCES CONCENTRATED
on the evacuation of Fort Vessels, in Forts
Williams, Comfort, and redoubt facing
the Roanoke river, below Mill Greek, and
kept up the fight necessarily. The forces
of General Vessels, thus being massed, and
being able to handle their artillery more
effectually, kept up regular, steady, and
CALLING fire on the rebels. The enemy used
tbirty-two FOUNDER Parrot guns aud other
artillery of about similar caiibre.
FORT WILLIAMS sroRxED.
At nine o'clock on the Goth instant, q
most impetuous assault was made by the
rebels on Fort Williams. Our brave boys
stood nobly by our guns and repulsed every
attempt of the enemy to enter their forti
6cation. In splendid order did the rebe
column advance to the assault. General
Vessels allowed him time to come within
easy range of his guns, and then gave the
order to fire. Every discharge moved
down the rebel troops by platoons. Still
the gaps we're instantly filed up and the
attack renewed. In this manner the enc.
my received several severe shocks, and afte,
last and still more impetuous charge,
which likewise resulted disastrously to him
hs Withdrew, evidently to repair damage
and make ready for another attack.
GENERAL VESSELS cApIruLArED
at half past ten on the morning of the Goth
ult., "wednesday, an hour and half after
the repulsc at Fort Williams. At the hour
above mentioned the Union flag was hauled
down on Forts William and Comfort, a:
we'll as on Mill Greek redoubt. The rebels
bad been heavily reinforced during Tuesday
night, and the overwhelming forces hurled
against our weak aud already shattered col
umn was too much to endure, and being
out of ammunition and cut off frcm fur.
ther supply, General Vessels could do nc
less than surrender, or have all his com.
nand annibilated. The garrison of For,
Gray no doubt fought nobly to the last
but, being cut off from the main command,
without hope Of deliverance, had to sue.
cumb also. We have no advices from this
post, but common sense teaches us that the
fort could not hold out very long.
THE REBEL COLUMN
consisted of no less than FIVE brigades OF
troops, each brigade numbering no less than
three thousand men. These were under
the chief ommand of Major General Hoke,
assisted by Generals Ransom and Barton.
The majority Of these troops were from the
far South, as the North Carolinians are no,
trusted very far, while fighting on their
own SOIL
ia .F's3 30 OUR LOSSES. ~.
are estimated at about one hundred in killed
and wounded. Captain Chaplin was killed
at Fort Wessls, and Captain Horace j
Hodges, Depot Quartermaster, while in the
act of communicating with the gunboai
Miami, in a canoe which he carried in q
wagon from Plymouth to Conesby Creek,
in order to elude the rebel i.on clad, was
upset and drowned.
| >, IBE REBEL LOSSES
are, beyond the slightest doubt, immensely
heavy, When j. is considered that every
fort around Plymouth was stofmed from
three to seven times, and each assault
repulsed With great slaughter, besides pour
|iog broadside after broadside into the rebel
ranks from the Miami and SoutE6eld, the