The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-10
INTERESTING STATEMENT OF A REBEL DEsERTER

Fort McAllister and the Ogeechee River
The Destruction or the Nashviilc-The
Enlargement Between the Fort and the
MOntauk-The Damage to the Fort
The Amnesty Procla nation, &c., sc.
The following statement of affairs in that portion Of
rebedom situated along the ogecchee river and within
the lines OF Fort McAister-under whose guns the cee
brated rebel Nashville lay, but which they were
unable from destructon-s given US by former
resident this city and loyal man, who being at
Georgia at The breaking out OF the rebellion, was con
scrptcd into the rebel SERVICE IN which he served Tor
two years and a halt
was pursuing the peaceful procession Of teacher 10
Savannah in the first days Of secession. was then
member Of the Republican Blues company which vist
ed New York some years ago. When the idea hfst
began to be entertained that with the accession Il
the State might come the necessity of armng IN
earnest the company to which I belonged offered
their services to the State. But few reasoning
people dreamed that anything like struggle would Gu
sue, and the most loyal in the city gave way moment
the excitement Of military parade and warke display,
Just as tho citizens Of New York would occasion
OF military gala day. J. with Meetings. entered into
the excitement OF the ~ volunteered for SIX
months service But the preparations the part o. the
North suppress rebellion, while IL infamed the pas
sons OF those who desired separation began to tell on
the feelings OF those who would gladly have chung, as
the South to the old nag, but with far greater
force the temporary soourncrs there, whose homes
free States, but unfortunately whose lot was
then cast among a people with whose reasonable
designs they could have no sympathy. But LOT the
latter there escape. Before the expiration
Of voluntary service the CONSUMPTION came
and was compelled Join the rebel army for three
years during the war The FIRST active duty upon
which the belonged to ordered was TO 0c
cupy st. Catharine's Island from which we moved
to Warsaw Island and subsequently TO Fort Jackson
Here we remained on duty twelve months, when we
wer OrG Ogeecnee
Twelve months OF uninterrupted tranquility ensued but
on the 18TH OF November 1862 we beheld the Union gun
boats approach our citadel With the evident design Of
attacking Taking up their position within range the
stiles negan to tel. Considerable damage inflicted.
The front parapets were almost leveed the magazines
were several LINES in danger, while the officers quarters
and the the troops entirely destroyed Oar
men all the time fought with DETERMINATION buoyed up
with the consciousness thai i; was only at long
| boats retired from the conflict their spirits were
| conside, ably eated. No further demonstration was
the Montauk xpectedy engaged us. In the interval
between these attacks the deences had been greatly
that end and when the Montauk opened upon there
little fear entertained to the result The Montauk
did TO any thing like Close quarters and after
short engagement at long range she left having inflicted
little or damage works. This we looked
rather trial OF her guns and their range than
regular gage Of battle. And this conjecture right
for the % Of February following she again appeared IN
the 0geechee just The neck OF land formed by the
snuostes the river, and much closer than before IL
was apparent that this time she was determined 10 try
fort The engagement commenced about eigh, ocbk in
the mrning, and lasted with great and
unremttng spirit Till three In the afternoon.
Our from tho nre the Mon,auk MAJOR J. b.
Gallo, communicate OF the fort killed, and some eight ~
niue wounded The Montauk the next morning dis
appeared, but returned AFTER and subsequent
seen from time 70 time Till the 29th OF February, when
the attack was made upon the Nashville. The rebel
steamer then lying habout three. quarters O mle
from the tort stranded and she soon Tel under the ter
rble cannonade Of the Eun6oat With her destruction
the hopes and spirits OF the garrison In the fort fell be-
low and nothing thought OF but the length Of
time the fort itself could hold out against an attack 81
the terrible gunboats The expected attack was made
the 80 OF March, Fire opened the fort ~ haf
past clock A. NJ, which was responded to with
the guns ~ tie fort tho men the batteries beng
relieved at stated intervals during the day. Not
withstandng this the severely tried, and a
the close were greatly exhausted Tne are OF The gun
boats very destructive. The ramparts were al
most levcled. Two OF the guns were dsinanted-an
eight-inch and thirty two. FOUNDER. Considerable
damage done the The oiicers' and
privaes' quarters destroyed while even the bemb
proofs were greatly injured aud we're beginning TO be
tenabe There Is no doubt, speaking advisedly. that
had the boats continued the attack but BRIEF time
longer the iof must have surrendered for in fact tue
ammunition in The fort was almost exhausted. whhe the
themselves scarcely abc TO relieve each other
the guns. ihs was the end OF the attack on Fort
The amnesty proclamation has received greater pub
city South than generally supposed, aud n the army
Il Is not openly but very freely discussed among the con-
scripts, thousands and thousands OF whom would
brace it, conditions they could but succeed Ia rcachlg
the Union lines. II has bad however, somewhat di.
ferent effect on the Shareholders aud on the higher
officers whose hatred " the North II has, that were
possible, more aud more emOitterei; Dlt j, never.
theless. deem this demonstration, 10 certain extent
put on, and that " the PROCLAMATION had included
colonies and brgaiier generals u would nj least have re
ceved greater dissemination IN the camps. As IS
openly bantered about. while al heart the men desire
nothing than the opportunity to avail themselves q
IT, The troops stationed along the coast aud
have been for hong supplied with but quarter
tons. and the qualify even a, that very poor, causing
the greatest dissatisfaction There no lasS 81 ammu-
nition. far AZ could ever ascertain, anywhere |
Throughout the South It's, however, "homemade aud
Of inferior quality Inc war, liz causes progress and
probable termination. continually the subject o. ais
10 garrison, IN the camp aud Oh picket and the
prevailing hope that II may be speedily brought to
Close Afser thirty mouths compulsory service 10 the
Confederate armv have no hesitation 10 saying that.
army md people al liberty 20 return TO the
Unon accepting all tie disabilities resulting from
the course the rebellion tour ths " alt have
contact with would gady return 70 tue Old lag.