The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-25
YANk EE .ACCOU Nj.

Before the troops were all landed,
small fires of drift w1od were cracking
everywhere, coffee was boiling, and
oysters roasting. BY the middle OF the
afternoon, every lntantryman was on
shore, and from basklng on the beach
we were reused to the serious busines,
of our presence on that Coast Regi
mentS were gathered out of the chaos,
rolls were called and the work began.
The fort seemed close at hand, though
really four miles away; but We were III
such full view, and made 50 much mar
tial With reglmental colors and the gilt
ter Of FURNISHED muskets barrels In the
sunlight, that We wondered at silence of
the enemy aud his apparent lndltfer-
ence to cur proceedings
The beach was perhaps two hundred
yards wide, then came about two hun
dred more of the salt marshy pool, be
yond which were the tall pines of the
forest, with its underground of tangled
vines and thorny bushes. With az
for, we finally put the column of Gener
al Paine Division IN march towards
the tort-skirmishers in advance. About
u mile Of progress brought lis To the
head of the salt pool, and to the hour
Of sunset as well. Here we turned
away from the sea and marched to the
hit, into the darkness OF the forest
and the coming night. 1t was a low
torest, full OF the alternate grassy ham
mocks and wet places of marsh, with
tangled mass vines and bushes. Our
column front became strung out to q
single file, winding with difficulty am )ne
trees and thlckets, turning away from
the deeper pools and fallen logs. 1t
was hard to keep trace of the leader or
TO hold On to the points of the com pass,
but we struggled on in the darkness,
/ till, exhausted with the hard tramp,
i dripping with perspl aIlon, and torn
\ with thorLs, we at last felt the sand
growing firmer and dryer under our
4 leet. 1le line of struggling men, too,
/ be gan TO close up somewhat more com
pactly. At last a gleam of open water
i through the trees, and the line soon
compact ID itself into halt We were
on the bank OF the Cape Fear River.
At the point where We struck it
three miles above Fort Flsher-lt was
about mile across from sea to river.
Our line was made as straight as the
swampiness of the ground permitted
aud faced toward Wilmington. \ mile
farther down, the division under Gen
eral Ames was facing toward the tolt
and entrcnching At the order to Ell
trench, we fell to with coffee-cups fol
shovels, and very soon had mass OF
the soft sand put into semblance OF an
earthwork But at midnight our LET,
was thrown somewhat farther back,
!, where higher part of the river bank
gave more defensible position; aud
here an allowance of shovels landed
wisely by some how-to-do-lt quarter
master-was dealt out, and the new
line of earthworks soon became really
formidable. Logs were gathered anc
, staked into position for revetment
! and the sand was soon banked again 3
: it A buzz OF industry all along th'
line, lasting through the whole night
AMI by morning we had a line too
Formidable and too well protected b,
abattis to bs rashIy attacked Batterie
J of artillery were landed In the morning
: aud during the forenoon were got Int
I position on the new lines.
Next morning ii feli 10 my lOl 10 nav
A charge Of the picket Line. My in,truc
f tions from General Terry We're to TAX
charge Of the pickets FROM the ocean OIL
, the right over 10 the rlver-baDk, theme
S down the river bank to the picket lin
Of General Ames' division, and, in ca
! of an advance By that division, TO ill u
t the gap in the river picket line.
No sign of any enemy IN the Whining
' ton front nothing but the beauty Q
the thorn bushes, the brightness of lh
r sunshine, and the peaceful chlrrup q
r birds. But from below came the grad
q ually increasing thunder OF the grca
. naval guns opening their iron shove
d once more upon the doomed fort
e Turning down the rlver-bauk, | passe
), across the end Of the new entrench
! ments with the garrison OF colorc
O troops, and on down the narrowln
e peninsula The river bank was 81
i feet or more above the water, and IN
II soil almost wholly white sea sanc
!, Stroling down the sandy road, coul
i see the masts of the naval fleet, III
: uotched ridge OF Fort Fisher, aud the
d the hulls OF vessels aud squat tuIrc