The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-16
INTERESTING STATEMENT OF A
REBEL DEsERTER.


Engagement betlVcen ne Fort and tie
Montauk-T6c Damage TO the Fort
The amnesty Proclamation, dc, dc
The following statement Of affairs in
tn II portion Of rebellion situated along
the Ogeechee river, and within the lines
Of Fort McAlhster-under whose guns
the celebrated rebel ram Nashville lay,
but which they were unable 10 save
from distinctions given US by for
mer resident of this city, a true and
loyal man, who, being in Georgia at the
breaking out of the rebellion, was con-
scripted into the rebel service, in which
ne served for some two years and half:
was pursuing the peaceful profess
sion Of a teacher IN Savannah IN the
first days Of secession l was then a
member Of the Republican Blues, a
company which visited New York
some years ago When the idea first
began to be entertained that with
the secession Of the State might come
the necessity of arming in earn
est, the company to which I be-
lOnged offered their services 10
the State. But few reasoning
people dreamed that anything like a
struggle would ensue, and the most 10y
al in the city gave way in moment to
the excitement Of military parade and
warlike display, just as the citizens OF
New ork would on some occasion Of
military gala day J., with. like feel
ings, entered into the excitement of the
moment and volunteered for six
months service But the preparations
on the part Of the Ncr.h TO suppress re-
bellion, while It inhamed the passions
ofthose who desired separation, began
to tell on the feelings Of those who
would gladly have chung, as citizens OF
the South, to the old flag, but with far
greater force on the temporary sojourn-
era there, whose homes were in the free
States, but unfortunately whose lot was
then cast among people with whose
reasonable designs they could have no
sympathy But for the latter there
was now no escape Before the expi-
ration of our voluntary service the con-
scription came into force, and was
compt lied to join the rebel army for
three years or during the war The
first active duty upon which the COM
pany belonged 10 was ordered was to
occupy St Catharine's Island, from
which we moved to Warsaw Island, and
subsequently, to Fort jackson. Here
we remained on duty for twelve months, |
when We were ordered to Fort Meals |
ter, on the Ogeechee river Twelve
months of uninterrupted tranquility
ensued but on tho 18th of November.
1862, we beheld the Union gunboats
our citadel with the evident
design of attacking US Taking up their
position within range, the gunboats
opened upon US, and at once their ter
rible missiles began to tell. Considerable |
damage was inflicted The front para /
pets were almost levelled; the maya 4
zines were several times in danger.
while the officers quarters and the tents |
of the troops were entirely destroyed. /
Our men all the time fought with 4
determination, buoyed up with the |
consciousness that it was only at long 4
range they could be attacked, and when !
the boats retired from the conflict their |
spirits were considerably elated. No !
further demonstration was made against /
us till the 9th Of January following. /
when the Montauk unexpectedly en- |
gagged US In the interval between /
these two attacks the defences had /
been greatly strengthened, the garri- l
son working night and day to that |
end, and when the Montauk opened /
upon US there was little fear entertain
ed as to the result The Montauk did 1
not come to any thing like close quart
ers, and after short engagement at |
long range she left, having inflicted lit
tie or no damage upon our works This /
We looked upon rather as a trial of her
guns and their range than as a regular
gage Of battle And this conjecture
was right; for on the I'd of February
following she again appeared in the4
Ogsechee Just across tie neck of land
Formed by the sinuosities of the river.
and much closer than before. 1t was
apparent that this time she was deter
mined to try her own metal and the
weight of the armament in the fort
The engagement commenced about
eight clock in the morning, and last
ID with great and unremitting spirit till
.hree in the afternoon. Our loss from /
he FIRE of the Montauk was Major J. 3.
9allio, commandant of the fort, killed,
md some eight or nine men wounded.
The Montauk the next morning dis
but returned soon after, and
vas subsequently, seen from time to
line till the 29th Of February, when the
attack was made upon Nashville.
The rebel steamer was then "
ng about three-quarters Of mile
rom the fort, stranded, and she soon
ell under the terrible cannonade of
he gunboat With her destruction
he hopes and spirits Of the garrison
n the fort fell below zero, and nothing
vas thought Of but the length of time
he fort itself could hold out against
IN attack of the terrible gunboats. The
expected attack was made on the Sd
March. Fire was opened on the fort
It half-past seven o clock a N, which
vas responded 10 with all the guns in
he fort the men at the batteries being
slieved at stated intervals during the
lay. Notwithstanding this the men
we're severely tried, and at the close
Vere greatly exhausted. The fire of 1
be gunboats was very destructive. The
amparts were almost levelled Two /
f the guns were dismantled-an eight
nch and a thirty-two FOUNDER. Con
iderable damage was also done to the
Interior The officers and privates
quarters were destroyed, while even the
were greatly injured, and
Fere beginning TO be untenable There
} no doubt speaking advisedly, that
lad the boats continued the attack but
brief time longer, the fort must have
nrrendered for, in fact, the ammunition
q the fort was almost exhausted, while
he men themselves were scarcely able
o relieve each other at the guns. This
vas the end of the attack on Fort Nc
Allister
The amnesty proclamation has re-
eived greater publicity South than is
generally supposed, and in the army it
} not openly but very freely discussed
mong the conscripts, thousands and
thousands of whom would embrace its
onditions if they could but succeed in
the Union lines It has had.
However, a somewhat different effect
Z the shareholders and on the higher
Ulcers, whose hatred to the North it
as, if that were possible, more and
lore embittered; but I, nevertheless.
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