Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-01-04

rive, and consultation after consultation was nau
,ssn the corps division and brigade commanders as 10
.h manner of assault which would ensure success Win
the least possible risk of failure and sacrifice OF life
Gan Jeukins anxiousto attack in his front, proposed
TO break the enemy's line Of entertainments there arc
nush vigorously into town. and towards the rear OF the
rowerful forts on the ef While Gen. Longstreet was
also in favor of attacking the fOrAcaons and trusting
70 tho of,tried gasnry of his oOpIfor succe's Toe
l.,tsr however, remembered too well tho 5cenes OF
Gettysburg to be anxious TO repeat an assault winch
promised equal resistance and dsasteruand lhe Oom-
mander-in-Ohief with all his noble qualities OF heao
and heart his sterling courage AID obstinate manner Oh
fighting was cautious even to an extreme In taking
st. attended at once with so much OF uncertainty apa
risk
Nevertheless, delay was dangerous. A captured
courer while On rosie from Grant to Burnside, threw
into our possesson dispatches stating thai two columns
s,. .rcbpr m one on each side Of the river to re-
nfofce the latter and ordering him to hold kno1Vne
- The last moment. More than all, B'agg had been
defeated at Missionary Ridge, and Was falling oAck On
Dalrop. But one resource was accordingly lett US
either TO make prompt effort to capture Knoxville, or
10 charge our base to point North oil Knoxville
on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.
The former was determined on, and sA step prslmi-
nary to the fall Of the city, assault wss ordered on
Fort Sanders or Loudon. This is an immense square
earthwofk on high h to the lett Of the main road
Preparations for the movement we're in progress Tor
nearly wetk. Troops thrown scrOss the river in
two small boats by.night to make demonstrations on
the Federal lines and batteries there, and, after much
difficulty, eleven rife guns were got into position at
point where they fully commanded the work to be at
tackled.
Reconnaissance Of For! Sanders far as practicable
under the circumstance were made, but difference OF
opinion existed as to the depth Of the ditch in front OF
the work. By it was contended that the e1caVa-
ton was very slight by others it was believed that it
would esent an nsuperable obstacle In view of this
variance both Generals Longstreet and Jenkins sug-
gested the e1pediency OF providing the men with fas-
cnes, or bundles of fodder. OATS similar means, that
they might be prepared for any emergency Unfortu-
naely the advice was not needed, and the sequel will
SHOW the result
The brigades assigned to the work of capture were
Humphreys, formerly BArksdale's, Bryans and Wof-
fords all of NcLAWs division. KershaWs brigade re-
NAMED in line, facing the right diagonal of the Fort
ready 10 cooperate with the remainder Of hSuvison
at moments notice. and Anderson of Jenkins diVi-
sion, was to perform similar part on the lsf- Sir
msherS and shsfpshooters occupied position in front
OF the work, SO near that man could not show his
head above the parapet without being shot and the
FIRE they maintained had completely sieLced the few
| guns which II contained.
The troops we're kept under arms during the whole Of
Saturday night the Coolest dreare, drirzlest eight
Of, IN hava haan
exposed. Four o'clock In the morning found them
chilled to the bOne their fingers Amos. frozen to the
areockS and In tie opposite of that buoyant condition
which should ever attend undertaking of desperate
nature like that in which they sbout to engage
About this time, by pre-concertsd arrangement,
eleven rife guns opened from opposite height and
for an hour moro necessarily sheed the interior Of
the Fort and contributed to the Generalization of tho
Yankee defenders. Daylight was scarcely breaking
and through the cold thick mist troops advanced
to the assault. Up-up-up, until within few yards
Of the great froHnng pile the so:ming party silently
advanced-exposed to the irregular and uncertain FIRE
Of the host behind the parapet-then suddenly da:hiug
onward With the baltic cries that have rung out on
so many desperately contested fields the OOnfedfaeS
charged to the ditch at the very base Of the para
pet.
But now what scene Of confusion wire stretched
along tie edge Of the ctasm caught the leg of every
man who did not suspect its presence, and pped him
headlong into the ysWning trap. Others followed, and
others and others-those behind rolling like wave on
those before, until the abyss filled with seeth;ng
boiling, bubbling of men and guns out Of which
issued lnterminged groans shouts yells and ORDERS
with the dscordance Of Paudemonium. Bat there
we're those in that throng who could not be dsmGyed
by any DAGGER however great though wrapped in the
uncertainty oG night-offcers we'll privates-and
remembering the mission on which they were engaged
still pressed on to its accomplishment. Mounting the
shoulders OF their comrades and digging their ugers
into the crumbng EARTH they climbed the opposite side
of the DITCH and then assisting Others little party was
quickly gathered who scaled the parapet and there
stood-he heroes OF the hour. Among these were the
colorbeArerG Of the 18th and 18th Mssissippi-regi
ments whose flags for than quarter of an hour
Haunted proudly over the very heads of the foe. 1t
Col Fser, of the l7t Mississippi Regiment one of the
most gallant spirits Of the occlslOn lost arm the
parapet. Capt. TOmOummng, of Augusta, Ga, Adju-
tant of one of the regiments of Woords brigade not
content with scaling the work. eaped into the parade
ground and attacked the cannoniers. There he was
surrounded and Overpovered, but not forgetting for
moment his GOODNESS, his response to the demand for
surrender was-1 It's satisfaction, sir that give up
my sword in the interior of this Fort"
Other instances of individual herosm were conspcu
GUS Blu! time and space will not permit their mention
Meanwhile, the Federals behind the parapet were
throwing into the ditch gntsd hand grenades and Shells
which exploding there, added to the already fearful
confusion which existed Scores being killed and
mAngled. Every instant cries and groaus Of agony
cended from the dea!h.p and men hssitaed upon the
brink. pause ensued. Discipline was measurably
maintained, but still there brain to direct the
yet willing troops in this terrible emergency move
ment to the right left the TANKS of the fort would
MI