Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-09-06

teen Thousand as brave and hardy sol
diers as ever marshaled to battle. Thi
remnant of LOuisianians, like the bal
ance of the Confederate army, were mis-
erably clothed, half starved and worl
down with the fatigue of marching an,
fighting; but their spirits were unbro
ken and they had no thought of aban
doning the desperate and almost hope
less cause of their country.
FIRST COUNCIL. OF WAR.
On the 22d of March Col. Waggaman
commanding these two brigades, wa.
summoned to attend a division council O
war by Gen. Evans, then commanding
Gen. Gordon's old division, Gordon hav
ing been promoted to the command Of
the Second Corps. At this council Gen.
erals Walker, Griffin, Terry, and one OF
two others were present. The question
laid before the council was the feasiblli.
ty of executing Gen. Lees order tomake
an attack on the Federal line. Gen.
Evans made a full and Gear statement
of the commander in chiefs plans aud
of the difficulties to be met, as well as
the possibilities Of success.
The council then adjourned to Old
Cemetery Hill, a short distance from
Petersburg, and commanding the enc
my's lines. Here, concealed among the
tombs, the ground was examined with
glasses, the point of attack selected and
designated. General Evans then gave
to each of his Generals full and specific
orders, and the concil broke up with the
undertaking that, if the order to attack
was not given by ten o'clock that night
it would be owing to the fact General
Lee had abandoned the scheme or post
poned its execution.
No orders were received and hence no
movement was made that night But
Oh the night of the twent-fifth, three
days later, as Colonel Wagsaman was
returning at midnight from the trenches
to his quarters he met a courier from Gen.
Evans with orders to repair Immediately
to the latters quarters to attend a second
council. Owing to the lateness of the
hour at which he received the order and
the crcuitous route to be travelled, when
the commander of the Louisiana brig
AIDES arrived at Gen. Evans headquar-
tiers the council had broken up; but Gen.
Evans was awaiting Col. Waggaman's
arrival and advancing to meet him said,
"Col. Waggaman, nothing has been
changed in the programme of the other
day, EXCEPT THAT ON ACCOUNT OF THE
BRAVERY OF YOUR TROOPS YOU WILL BE
HEAD OF COLUMN AND CHARGE WITH UN-
LOADED ARMS. The attack will be made
at 3 o'clock in the morning. You will
repair to Gracies salient where the diff
ferent columns will rendevouz."
THE ATTACK.
The night was very dark and, accord
ing to orders general fire was kept up
on the picket lines, under which a strong
body of Louisiana sharpshooters was
sent out to remove the observations in
'front.' OF our position so that the attack
ng columns might be impeded in sweep
ne upon the Fort.
The signal for the attack to begin
'hree shots fired in rapid succession
vas given little after three O'Clock.
3ut one of the Confederate columns ar
wing little late marched amongst the
and cutting them in two,
aused temporary confusion, when Gen.
fordon said in suppressed voice, "Col.
why don't you attack ?"
'exed at an inquiry which intimated
ardiness on bis part, the gallant leader
f the Louisianians sprung to the head
f his column, which, instantly emerg-
lg from the entertainments, moved rap
lily but steadily toward Fort Steadman.
1t was still very dark, but the muir
lur of considerable body of men,
uetly as they moved, was heard by
le enemy, who were quite near, and
a terrific but aimless ar
llery fire was opened from the fort and
long the enemy's lines. The fire though
letfectual, had yet revealed the at
lck, silence was no longer necessary,
ld the troops rushed forward with {
8sperate ardor.
In the intervals of darkness, between t
10 flashes of the enemy's cannon, the t
ormers had no guide, and Col, Wagga-
an, throwing the lapel of the cape of t
s overcoat, hemmed with white fan
Il, over his shoulders, shouted to his S
ave boys to follow the white cloak t
The Confederates were now within