The daily gazette., 1877-08-24
FoRT WAGNER.
Its Bloodless Cdpt,re Aferd Siege that Had
f.. Cost MdnU LiUes T.


fI-f Cbst Many Lives T.|
q The night attack in boats on Battery
Gregg having failed, it became evident
that Wagner must be stormed, if taken
at all, and this was resolved upon. The
time fixed for the assault was Monday
morning the 7th Of September. Opera
tions were pushed against the enemy as
vigorously as possible. The garrison
was harrassed day and night. To pre-
vent them repairing damages at night
a powerful calcium light was turned up
on the ramparts, which made them as
light as day; thus binding the enemy
while it enabled our men to see what was
going on. Our sharpshooters were 80
numerous, and SO close to the fort, that
the enemy was kept from his guns. Onr
trenches were widsned and deepened to
hold the troops for the assault, and the
light mortars were taken forward and
mounted on the advanced parallels. The
final bombardment was opened on the
fort on the morning Of the 5th of Sep
tember, and continued more than forty
hours without cessation, At the same
time The iron-clad frigate New Ironsides
moved up within thousand yards and
opened upon 1t with her heavy broad
sides. The air was filled with shells
bursting in and over the fort, which
drove every living thing from sight The
garrison was compelled TO seek shelter
beneath their impenetrable bomb
proofs. The island and the sea fairly
tremb!ed under the. e.dishcarge of artillery.
At night the spectacle was grand, for
the heavens ieemed alive with the fiery
projectles as they few to their destina-
tion. During The last thirty-six hours of
the bombardmcnt the admitted loss of
A ON m hYrn nd w tp-
five, in spite Of all their means of protec-
tion.
The night was an anxious one to all
who were to participate in the work OF
the morrow Many important but un-
| pleasant offices have to be performed be-
fore one is prepared to enter the "emi-
nent deadly breach" and there is but
little time allowed for them. The troops
were aroused soon after midnight, and
by the honr designated were under arms
on the beach. The men carried a can.
teen of water each, and few crackers
in their haversaeks. Two hunpred mer
| carried shovels in addition to their arm!
1 and equipments. The regiments repor
at the place of rendeZ vous, and the col
umn is soon formed. Although a mile
and half from the enemy everything
I was done in the quietest manner; Tht
command was given in that low tone o.
VOICE U0dU MARKS Une approach oI uduBeT
The morning was bright with moonlight
there was hardly breath of air stirring
and the quieted sea broke in gentle mur
murs on the sandy shore. In view o.
what was to come a marked solemnlty
Impressed everything. While waiting
to move forward an underlined rumol
then reached us that u deserter haC
come in and stated that the fort had beer
evacuated but as it could not be traced
to any reliable source it was considered
a camp story. At two o'clock we movet
up to what was thought to be blood.
mornings werk. AT the Beacon Hous
halt was ordered, After waiting SOM
time we were Joined by General Terry
who announced that the fort mad beel
evacuated between nine and ten tn
night before, and that we were marching
to bloodless victory. The enemy re
tired by way of Cummings Point il
boats, few of them only falling into tn
hands of our boat infantry. Captain
Walker, of the New York Volunteer En-
: glneers, pulled up some OF the pallisadi n
, around the fort about ten o'clock, mos
: likely while the evacuation was goinl
on. The frs man to enter the WORK wa
sergeant of the Thirty-ninth Illinois
= who is said to have volunteered to go i
= alone to see If the enemy had gone. Upo
his return few troops entered and too
undlsputed possession.