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

prissd and astounded, assuming that
tremendous force was upon them, ye
fought with desperation, and, refusin
to surrender, many of them were kille,
while Others effected fight to tho rea
as best they could, and Fort steadma,
was ours, ere the Gavin.
IN THE ENtsMY's LINES.
The bold and sudden attack Of til,
Louisianians had produced genera
alarm in the enemy's lines, and, in til,
gray dawn, neither in Fort Steadmar
nor anywhere near, was Federal to b.
seen. But alarm rockets were lighting
up the heavens, and the distant hum Of
large bodies of troops concentrating was
distinctly heard; and yet no support
came to the victorious Louisianians,
who had captured several pieces of ar.
tiliery, several huadred prisoners, in.
Guiding Gen. mclaughlin, and Fort
Steadman-all they had been ordered to
do. Five OF the Louisiana sharpshoot.
ers, led by Sergeant G. w. Acker, a
we'll known merchant of this city--(we
regret being unable to give the names
of the other FOUR entered the Federal
lines in rear of Fort Steadman.
Here in few moments they heard
the measured tread Of large body Of
troops marching down upon their left,
but invisible in the limperfect light, at a
venture "the fye' bred in the direction
Of the advancing column. It is not
known whether any execution was done
or not. But the column, evidently
alarmed, promptly palted and again all
was quiet.
THEE END.
But the end had come. Daylight was
now deepening and it was no longer
possible to conceal the fact that the at
lacking force was but handful of des
perate men, while qhe enemy were con-
centrating tremendous force to move
upon them. The supporting columns
failed to support. 1t is claimed that
they lost their guides. But, be that as
it may, the Louisianians, who had car
ried out successfully their part of the
programme, when daylight broke were
without support.
1t is estimated shat the handful of
Louisianians who captured Fort Stead
man and held it until daylight, were
confronted by an immediate force of
fully six thousand Federals! But their
supports were coming up slowly. Their
position and numbers were fully re-
vealed. Fort Steadman was situated
in tho centre and hollow Of an immense
crescent studded with redoubts and on
the front and both tanks of the devoted
handful of Louisianians, the Federals
now opened terrific and concentrated
fire Of grape and canister. Indeed, the
heroic men who restreated out of that
fearful ring Of fire and death declare it
the most terrific cal,onade they ever en-
dured.
1t was indeed living gulf of fame.
1t had been the plan after the capture
of Fort Stedman to move upon the ad-
jacent redoubts, but the feeble force of
the Confederates no longer supported
by the veil of darkness rendered it alb
solutely necessary to abandon the
scheme and retire upon their own lines,
which however was not done, the
Louisianians holdihg resolutely their
captured ground under terrific fire
they could not RETURN, until the order to
retreat was received from Gen. Gordon.
How any of them survived the fire that
was concentrated ppon them is little
short of a miracle.
LOUIS1ANIANS DID THEIR WHOLE DUTY.
AS the Lonisianians were retiring,
disappointed and :. doggedly, within
their own lines, Gen. Evans passed
them. When Colonel Waggamln said
TO him: "Gen. Evass, have the Louis
anians done their duty ?" promptly and
with marked emphasis Gen. Evans re-
olied: eyes, sir; they have done their
whole duty
THE RESULT.
In the attack upon Fort Steadman
len. Gordon says 1--WE captured nine
pieces of artillery, eleven mortars, 600
IT 700 prisoners, among whom was Gen.
Mclaughlin, commanding on that por-
ion of Federal lines; Gen. Gordon fur j
her says that this was done with the
oss of but one man. Now, the truth is
hat Of the Loulslanians, eighty two
cad the charge on and captured Fort
'teadman, and OF tho eighty-two, forty
wo, or more than fifty per cent, were
Tiled and wounded.
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