Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-05-05


back, struck Capt Flusser in the breast,
at that moment exploding, and tearing
him literally to pieces. Death as mat
ter Of course, was instanter, and the
brave and daring officer lay a mass OF
shapeless flesh and bones where, but
few seconds previous, he had so nobly
commanded his ship One or two men
who stood by him were more or less in
iured by pieces Of the shell, but none
others killed
The death of the commander acted
like panic upon the officers and crew
of the Miami and the ship at once left
the scene of action. Thus the rebel ram
had her own way on the water for the
time being, our navy boats having either
been sunk or driven OF
Gen. Vessels in order to keep this mon
ster from firing into the town, planted
some 200 FOUNDER Parrots on the beach,
of which thus far she has kept out Of
range.
In the meantime the land forces Of
Ransom returned on Monday, and by
flag of truce sent word to the Union
general that he must surrender the
town in half an hour, giving thus long
to make up his mind. Gen. Vessels
answer was that he needed only half
a second; and if they wanted Plymouth
they must come and take 1T.
The second attack was made by the
enemy on all of onr forts surrounding
the town almost simultaneously, and In
every assault he was driven back with
terrific slaughter. But the rebels seem
ed determined and renewed attempts
were made and checked each one still
attended with the most dreadful car
mage From this time until half past
ten o'clock, on Wednesday morning, the
fighting was almost uninterrupted. On
Tuesday orders were issued for the evac-
uation of Fort Vessels, better known az
the Eighty-fifth regiment redoubt, stu
ated short distance from Mill Greek,
Capt. 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 an inces-
SAINT firing on the enemy, every shot tel
ling with fearful effect Upon the re
ception of the order the survivors of the
garrison awaited the coming Of night,
ard under its protecting shade silently
withdrew to the town, having first, how
ever, disabled the guns of the fort
The Union forces concentrated, on the
evacuation of Fort Vessels in Fort
Williams, Comfort and a redoubt facing
the Roanoke river, below Mill Greek,
and kept up the fire necessarily The
forces of General Vessels, thus being
massed and able to handle their artillery
more effectively, kept up a regular and
| CALLING fire on the rebels. The enemy
used thirty FOUNDER Parrot guns and
other artillery of about similar calibre.
At O'Clock on the Goth inst, most
impetuouS assault was made by the reb-
els on Fort Williams. Our brave boys
nobly stood by their guns and repulsed
every attempt of the enemy to enter the
fortifcacion, In splendid order did the
rebel column advance to the assault
General Vessels allowed him time K
come within easy range of his guns, anC
then gave the order to fire. Every dis
charge moved down the rebel troops by
! platoons. Still the gaps were Instantly
| filled up and the attack renewed. In
this manner the enemy received several
severe shocks, and, after last and still
more impetuous charge, which likewise
! resulted disastrously to him he with
drew, evidently to repair damage and
make ready for another attack.
General Vessels capitulated at half
past 10 on the morning of the Goth inst,
/ Wednesday, an hour and half after
the repulse at Fort Williams. At the
| hour above mentioned the Union 1ag
was hauled down on Forts Williams
and Comfort as well as on the Mill
| Creek redoubt. The rebels had been
heavily reinforced during Tuesday night,
and the overwhelming forces hurled
against our weak and already shattered
| column was too much to endure. and,
being out of ammunition and cut of
from further supply, General Vessels
could do no less than surrender, or have
all his command annihilated.
| The rebel column consisted of no less
than five brigades of troops, each bri
gade numbering about three Thousand
men. These were under the chief com
mand Of Major General Hoke, assisted b,
| Generals Ransom and Barton The ma
Jority of these troops were from the far
South, as the North Carolinians are not
trusted very far while fighting on their
| own soil.
Our losses are estimated at about one
hundred in killed and wounded
The enemy gained likewise upward.
of thirty pieces of artillery, of all cali
bres, including one two hundred and one
one hundred FOUNDER PARROTS, about
| three hundred horses and large amount
of commissary stores.
HE ALBgMARLB. - The rebel ram
which caused the surrender of Plymouth