The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-05-29
bank near the height of common

oank near the ne1gnG OF cOInHloi
parapet. There were also severa
flushes in different parts Of the town
and all the works communicated will
each other by covered ways. On th'
twenty.third of May 1871, the mair
body of the American army encampet
in a wood within half mile o
Ninety-Six; and on that night, threw
up two fushes within one hundred
and fifty yards of the star fort. Th'
next morning the enemy made
sally, and being supported by the ar
tillery and musketry from the parape
of the star redoubt, drove the besieg
esr from them. The next night twt
strong block batteries were erected a
the distance Of three hundred anc
fifty yards, which were opened in th'
morning. Another battery twent!
feet high, erected within two hundred
and twenty yards, was finished in 8
few days; and soon afterwards, an
other Of the same height was erectee
within one hundred yards Of the mair
fort. Approaches were gradually
carried on against the redoubt on th'
left. Colonel Koziusko, a young gen
tleman Of distinction from Poland
superintended the operations eff th'
besiegers, and by his assiddity, though
the ground was hard and the situation
unfavorable, third parallel withir
thirty yards Of the ditch was com
pleted on May 18th; and rifle but
terry, upwards of thirty feet high
erected at the same distance. Or
the seventeenth the abbatis wa:
turned, and two trenches and u mine
were extended SO as to be within sis
feet Of the ditch. Few sieges afford
greater instances Of perseverance anc
intrepidity, than were exhibited OIL
this occasion by the besiegers and be-
sieged. 'RiAemen were employed on
both sides, who Immediately levelled
at every person who appeared in
sight and very seldom missed their
Object. Various success attended the
conflicts between the several covering
parties of the workmen, and those
who. repeatedly sailed from the
garrison. ,E--. z r Il
On the third Of June, twelve days
after the commencement Of this
siege, a feet arrived at c'harlestown
from Ireland having on board the
third, nineteenth, aud thirtieth regi;
ment Of bis Britahnic majesty, a de-
tathnent from the guards, and q
considerable body of recruits, the
whole commanded by Lieutenant.
Colonel Gould. Earl CORVALLIS had
given permission to the commanders
OF the British forces IN South Carolina,
to detain these reinforce nents if they
conceived that the service Of his Bri
tannic majesty required it; otherwise
they were 10 be sent forward to join
his lordship. On the 7th of June
1881, Lord Rawdon marched from
Charlestown, with these newly ar,
rived troops, for the relief OF the
garrison at Ninety-Six. Great were
the difficulties they had to encounter
in rapidly marching under the rage
'of!a burning sun through the whole
extent,of South Carolina; but much
greater was their astonishmenL at
being informed, that their services in
the field were necessary to oppose
the yet unsubdued rebels in the prov,
ince. They had BEN amused with
hopes that nothing.remai:' cd for then,
to do, but to sit down as settlers on
the forfeited lands Of a conquered
country. .-.. .....
The American army had advanced
their approaches very near. that criti'
cal point. after which further resis.
tanee on the part of the garrison
would have been termerity. At this
interesting moment intelligence was
received, that Lord Rawdon was near
at hand with a reinforcement of about
two thousand men. An American
lady, who had lately married an officer
then in the British garrison OF Ninety
Six, had beer bribed by large sum
Of money to convey a letter to Lieu
tenant-Colonel Cruger with the wei
come news of their approach. At.
tempts had been made to retard their
march, but without the desired effect.
Their vicinity made it necessary
either to raise the siege, or attem1:
the reduction Of the place by a coup
de main. The last was agreed upon
and the necessary dispositions made
on the 18th of June. Lieutenant
Colonel Lee, with his legion infantry
and Captain Kirkwood's light infant
ry, made the attack ON tho right
Lieutepant.Colonel Campbell, with
the first Maryland and first Virginia
regiments, were to have stormed the
star redoubt, the ditch Of which was
eight or nine foct deep the parapet
eleven or twelve feet high, and raised
with saud.bags near three feet more
The torlorn hopes were led on by
Lieutenants Duval and Sheldon, and
were followed ny a party with hooks
and entrenching tools to pull down
the sand.bags and reduce the parapet
Had this been effected. the besieged
could not have annoyed the assailants
without exposing themselves to the
American marksmen. The artillery
soon made sufficient breaches on the
fortified redoubt on the right, for the
infantry under the command of Licn-
tenant-Colonel Lee to assault the
garrison. 1t twas therefore abandoned
and they took possession without loss
On the left tho utmost exertions ol
resolution and fortitude wero dis
played, but failed of success. The
parties led by Duval and Sheldon
entered tho ditch, and, though CALLED
by an incessapt fire. made every effort
to got down the sand-bags. Both
these gallant officers we're. wounded