Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-09-10


diers as ever marshaled to battle. This
remnant of Lotisanans. like the bal.
ance of the Confederate army, were mis-.
erably clothed, half starved and worn
down with the fatigue of marching and
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, was
summoned to attend a division council of
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 or
two others were present. The question
laid before the council was the feasiblli-
ty of executing Gen. Lees order tomake
.sn attack on the Federal line. Gen.
Evans made full and clear, statement
OF the commander in chiefs plans and
Of the difficulties to be met as well as
the possibilities of success.
The council then adjourned to Old
Cemetery Hill, q 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.
SECOND COUNCIL OF WAR.
No orders were received and hence no
movement was made that night. But
on the night of the twent-tifth, three
days later, as Colonel Waggaman was
returning as midnight from the trenches
to his quarters he met a courier from Gen.
Evans with orders to repair Immediately
to the latter's quarters to attend q second
council. Owing to the lateness of the
hour at which he received the order and
the circuitous route to be travelled, when
the commander of the Louisiana brig
AIDES arrived at Gen. Evans headquar-
tiers the councilh had broken up but Gen.
Evans was awaiting Col. Waggaman's
arrival and advancing to meet him said,
"Col. Wagsaman, 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 IN
LOADED ARMS. The attack. will be made
at 3 o'clock in the morning. You will
repair to Gracie's salient where the diff
terent columns will rendevouz."
THE ATTACK.
The night was very dark and, accord
ing to orders q general fire was kept up
on the picket lines, under which strong
body of Louisiana sharpshooters was
sent out to remove the observations in
front of our position so that the attack
ing columns might be impeded in sweep
ing upon the Fort.
The signal for the attack to begin
three shots fired in rapid. succession
was given little after three o'clock.
But one of the Confederate columns ar
irving q little late marched amongst the
Loulslanians and cutting them in two,
caused temporary confusion, when Gen.
Gordon said in a suppressed voice, "Col.
Waggaman, why don't you attack ~
Vexed at an inquiry which intimated
hardness on his part, the gallant leader
Of the Louisianians sprung to the head
of his column, which, Instantly emerg-
ing from the entertainments, moved rap
idly but steadily toward Fort Steadman.
1t was still very dark, but the mur-
muir of a considerable body of men,
quietly as they moved, was heard by
the enemy, who were quite near, and
Immediately terrific but aimless ar
tillery fire was opened from the fort and
along the enemy's lines. The fire though
Intellectual, had yet revealed the at
tack, silence was no longer necessary,
and the troops rushed forward with
desperate ardor
In the intervals of darkness, between
the flashes of the enemy's cannon, the
stormers had no guide, and Col. Wagga-
man, throwing the lapel of the cape of
his overcoat, hemmed with white fan
mel, over his shoulders, shouted to his
brave boys to follow the white cloak
The Confederates Were now within
fifteen or twenty PAGES of Fort Stead
-. IL