The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-12

ley, and drove the enemy some distance TO,
wards his worka Hawkins loss that morning
was about 80 killed and wounded. NJ Il & !
Andrews division having stopped the evenI
ing previous at Halls, to destroy the railroad,
came up and took position on the left of Haw-
ers extended from the Stockton road to bay OF
Minnetta, . distance Of about two miles. Bis
advanced line commenced digging rifle pits
that night, within thousand yards of Fort
Blakeley. During the day and much of the
night the rebels kept up vigorous fire from
their artillery and sharpshooters. 10. 3.
Blakeley Is situated opposite the confluence
of the Tensas river 1t has few buildings
and q Jail but its importance was derived from
it's being near the terminus of tho Montgomery
and Mobile Railroad and its landing. The
ground susceptible of occupancy has front on
the river of about mile in extent, and rises "a
sort of bluff, having the river swamp on the
north and the swamp of Bay Minetta on the
south. The high ground widens, however, as
we 60 from the river, It is quite rolling, and
thickly wooded with beech, pines, magnolias,
and other varieties Of trees. Its deep rayines
render it indeed rather an attractive spot, and
well adapted for defensive purposes. The soil
in the vicinity is q red loan. Proceeding di-
rectly east from the landing three-quarters of .
mile, we come upon the highest ground which
Is about 200 feet above the water level, and to
the centre of the rebel Notifications. These
consist Of continuous line of breastworks,
running about parallel with the river, two
miIes IN extent. and supported with nine strong
about equal intervals apart and were wen
armed with artillery, there being on the whole
Z line some forty guns, among them two or three
32-pounders. There were also some excellent
rifed guns of smaller calibre. A7ipch column
bad was also in position. and an embrasure
partly cut for 1t, and another 7-inch columbia1
was found a.. near , Tedonbt 10 process Of being
Along the whole front the ground is broken
/ by ravines; some running parallel, others per-
cpendicplar TO the works and the whole sur
face for distance Of 600 yards to the front
being covered with fallen trees, and two lines,
and In some places three, of abattis, also ex-
tending along the front of the works; it can be
Imagined how difficult 1t would be to charge
over it. The rebel earthworks, though not
the best, were strong, and were believed by
the garrison to be insurmountable. In front
of the main fort, also were detached rifle pits.
The enemy also had advantage of gunboats,
which did q good deal of execution, firing
/. from his left, It may. be here mentioned also
that the enemy had planted torpedoes exten-
sively In the ground in his front-a system of
warfare unjustiaable. And in the use of bis ar
tflery day and night In the bOldneSs of his
sharpshooters, in making sorties also neatly
every night, and each night changing the hour
of attack, he showed enterprise rather uncom-
mon in the besieged party. His operations
: were unquestionably calculated to weary. and
Obstruct if not deter his adversary. ~, ..J :. "a
The ground on which our forces frs! took
position, was quite favorable to the troops on
account of the wooded ravines and an abun-
dance Of excellent water. Having taken posi-
ton as close as practicable on the ID inst. they
continued to advance every day, strongly In
trenching IS they proceeded. a., ~ - $50.
On the evening Of the 4th, Veatchs division
of the 18th corps having come up from Span
ish Fort, took position on Andrews left, ena-
bling him TO shorten bis line, and on the fol-
lowing day, or thereabouts, Garrard's division
Of the 10th corps, came in on Veatch's left.
The whole force were operating under General
Steele. '''' ---' -.'' - : ~.
The FIRST piece of artillery used on our side
was q ter FOUNDER rife Of Hotchkiss' I'd Con-
necticut, Andrews division. which opened
with effect at daylight on the morning of the
9Th at about 800 yards. Batteries having been
made on Andrews' front, two more of Hotch-
kiss guns opened on the 9Th and soon sent
two balls through the rebel headquarters tent,
compelling sudden removal of tent and cOlors.
On the 9TH three 12-pounders of the 18th Mas
sachusetts battery, (Lieut. R0se, comnnsndine)
of Andrewe' division. opened from his front
and were replied to severely with heavier guns
from the euemy. The artillery mentioned,
however, sustained itself admirably, the guns
receiving no injury, but doing considerable
damage to the enemy. 5if ~ .l,.:a''T II -
10 Our men did an incredible amount of dig
ging. The two brigades of Andrews Division
constructed rife pits and approaches to the ex-
tent OF 8, 81 yards; some of the parallels being
eight feet wide; this besides four batteries
which they made. Hawkins division also,
besides their lines OF rifle pits made fine bat
Or m mr.
with good effect from his right on the gun.
boats on the 9Th inst. Up to the 9th instant
Andrews division had made the strong lines of
ride pits connected with regular and secure al.
proaches the front one being within 600 Yards
Of the rebel main works, and having q mont
three quarters of Q mile 10 extent beginning
two hundred yards to the right of the Stockton
road. .-f.- r.5f 81 4, :. .,.-l.s.- a..l 81 3
o, rHB AsaAULF. a.a .,. 10. .1
81, At quarter to six O'Clock on Sunday after
noon, the 9th instant, Andrews division com
meuced the assault on the ,enemys works.
Only half an hours notice had been given.
The ordefs to the troops were ITO go as far -
they could" At the time mentioned the move.
: rnent commenced in front of the I'd (Spiceleys)
brigade. The 9th Illinois infantry moved in
ADVANCE deplOyed - administers. The gallant
? commanding officer Of that regiment, Lieut..
Z Col. Victor Vnquain, gave the order For
e
the parapet, and With loud cheer moved for.
Z ward in double-quick over the difficult surface
alluded to and In the face of o fierce fire. This
cheer was TO be the signal for the movement
on the left by the Sd (Moores) brigade, and
instantly the SD Ohio infantry, Lieut. Colonel
Baldwin commanding. rushed forward impetu-
ously with shout The rebel sharpshooters,
hitherto concealed, now seemed to rse up in
swarms to fall back behind their breastwOrks.
Some, however, behind the good covering
which the ground afforded, pausedto fire.
5r Following the 9th Illinois, the 10th Illinois,
69th Indiana and Path Indiana of the I'd bri-
gade, moved forward in line ct double quick.
The Sd brigade (Moores) consisting of the Saith
Iowa 37th ILL.,, Hath Ohio, and goth lows,
charging in line of battle, followed the SD
Ohio. In faco Of rapid fire from all of the en-
emys artillery, and the musketry along his
breastwOrks, fierce and terrible our devoted
men pressed on with dauntless valor. The
movement was now general along the whole
line, from the extreme left Of Garrards divis-
ion to the right of Hawkins. The SD Ohio
had to pause five minutes on crest within 50
yards of the guns of the redoubt on which
they were charging, to remove the abattis and
to those who knew not the cause It seemed
thew were check ed Init soon fhav offootod n