American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-06-28

Warsaw and Ossabaw Sounds.
OPENING COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE
FLEET.
In approaching Savannah General
Slocum struck the Charleston railroad
near the bridge, and occupied the
river bank as his left flank, where he
had captured two of the enemy river
boats, and had prevented two others
| { gunboats) from coming down the riv-
er to communicate with the city, while
General Howard, by his right flank,
had broken the Gulf raj road at
Fleming's and way stations, and oc-
cupied the railroad itself down to the
Little Ogeechee, near the "Station l"
so that no supplies could reach Sa-
vannah by any of its accustomed
channels We, on the contrary, pos
sessed large herds of cattle, which we
had brought along or gathered in
the country, and our wagons still
contained a reasonable amount of
breadstuffs and other necessaries,
and the fine rice crops of the Savan-
nah and Ogeechee rivers, furnished
to our men and animals a large
amount of rice and rice straw We
also held the country to the south and
west of the Ogeechee as foraging
ground. Still, communication with
the fleet was of vital Importance, and
| directed General Fitzpatrick to cross
the Ogeechee by pontoon bridge to
reconnoiter Fort McAllister, and to
proceed to St. Catharine's Sound, In
the direction of Sunbery or Kilkenny
Bluff, and open communication with
the fleet. General Howard had pre-
vionsly, by my direction, sent one
of his best scouts down the Ogeechee
in a canoe for like purpose. But
more than this was necessary. We
wanted the vessels and their con
tents and the Ogeechee river, a
navigable stream, close to the rear
of our camps, was the proper ave-
nue. of supply
THE CAPTURE OF FORT ALLISTER.
The enemy had burned the road bridge
across the Ogeechee, just below the mouth
of the Canoochee, known as " Kings
Bridge" This was constructed in an in
cred BILE short time in the most substan-
tial manner, by the 5Sth Indiana, Col.
Borel, under the direction of Capt Reese,
of the Engineer Corps. The command
of Brig. Cen Hazen crossed the bridge
to the west bank of the Ogeechee and
marched down, with orders to carry by
assault Fort McAllister, "a strong enclosed
redoubt, manned by two companies of ar
tillery and three Of infantry, in all about
two hundred men, and mounting % guns
en- bdrbette, and one mortar. Gen. Hazen
reached the vicinity Of Fort McAllister
about one P. NJ, deployed his division
about the place with both flanks resting
upon the river, posted his skirmishers
judiciously behind the trunks of trees
whose branches had been used for d6at-
! It's, and about p. NJ, assaulted the place
with nine regiments at three points all
of them successfully. | witnessed the as
sault from rice mill on the opposite bank
of the river, and can bear testimony to
the handsome manner in which it was ac-
complished.
Up to this time we have not commu-
nicated with our feet From the signal
station at the rice mill our officers had
looked for two or three days over the rice
fields and salt marsh in the direction of
the Subaw sound, but could see nothing
IF it. But while watching the prepara-
| tions for the assault on Fort McA lister,
we discovered in the distance what seem
ed to be the smoke ok Of steamer,
which became more and more distinct,
until, about the very moment Of the as
sault, she was plainly visible below the
fort, and our signal was answered. As
soon as | saw our colors fairly planted
upon the walls of McAllister in company
with General Howard, | went in a small
boat down to the fort and met General
Hazen, who had not yet communicated
with the gunboat below, as it was shut
out to him by a point Of timber. Deter
mined to communicate that night, | got
another small boat and a crew and pulled
down the river till | found the tug Dan
delion, Captain Williamson, United States
Navy, who informed me that Capt. Dun
can, who had been sent by Gen. Howard,
had succeeded in reaching Admiral Dahl
green and Gen. Foster, and that he was
expecting them hourly in Ossabaw Sound.
Alter making communications to those
officers, aud short communication to the
War Department | returned to Fort Me-
Allister that night, and before daylight
was overtaken by Major Strong, of Gen.
Fosters staff, advising me that General
Foster had arrived in the Ogeechee, near
Fort McAllister, and was very anxious to
meet me ON board his boat. | according
ly returned with him and met Gen. Foster
on board the steamer Nemaha; and after
consultation determined to proceed with
him down the sound in hopes to meet Ad-
mIral Dahlgren. But we did not meet
hun until we reached Warsaw Sound about
noon. | there went on board the Admi-
rails flag ship, the Harvest Moon. After
having arranged with q n. Foster to send
us from Hilton Head some siege ordi-
nance and some boats, suitable for navi-
ha ,;,a- J,,,