The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-24


rive, and the fight RACES more fercely.
Gen Reno's brigade pressed on to take part
in the conflict the 21st Mass, 5fst n. Y, 51st
Pa. and 9Th n. Y. pushing ont through the
swamp on the left, wading waist deep IN water,
forming on Fosters right towards Roanoke
Sound
Gen. Parke's brigade pressed on. relieving Gen.
Foster-the 4th r. /, sth Conn the lst battal-
ion of the 5th Z. l.. and the 9th n. Y. The last
was regiment Of Zenaves commanded by Col
Hawkins. The soldiers wore baggy trousers
and red caps.
The Contederates had the advantage Of posi-
tion-a very few troops being able to hold the
line between the swainps, but the Union troops
greatly outBumbered them. The time has
come to end the battle
/" / shoald like the privilege of making
charge" said Maj. Kimhall, of the Zouaves.
He fought under Gen. Scott In Mexico and il
cool and brave.
You are the man TO lead it, go i'm
'.Zouayes storm the battery! Forward ~
"Zou Zou Zou." shout the Zouaves
They 70 upon the rug bowling ike wolves.
The 10th Conn eatcf the enthusiasm. ana
with cheer rush on. The 5lst II. Y afd
the 21st Mass cannot stand STILL but join in
the charge. They heed not the yoley that
bursts upon them. 4 few soldiers drop but
the line sweeps oTl--iolls over thoembankment.
With a hurrah they seize the cannon and pour
fleeing up the road casting aside guns KNAPP
sacks and cartridge boxes.
AFTER THE BATTLE
The battle is over. The Union troops press on
and overtake the ConfedeTates, who give them
selves up as prisoners. Three thousand are
captured with 40 heavy cannon.
The Confederate gunboats fee towards Eliz-
abeth City, followed by the Union fleet. The
Confederate vessels are quickly destroyed. In
a very short time the Confederate power had
been crushed-the army lost, the naval vessels
burned, the forts captured.
Among the Confederate wounded was Capt
Wise, son of the General When the war be-
gan he was editor of paper in Richmond and
Captain Of the Richmond Blues" He had
written lard things about Lineoln's hire
lings," as he called the Union troops; had
shown his devotion to the Confederacy by
fighting bravely to the last. He was MORALLY
wounded and died soon after the battle. His
body was tenderly cared for By Gen. Burnside.
How strangely things come round. 1t was
but little while before the breaking out of the
war that Gen. Wise, then Governor of Virginia,
sat unmoved while beautiful girl kneeled be-
fore him pleading for the life of Ler father 1t
was the daughter of Cook, one of John Browns
soldiers.
Tears rolled down her cheeks but no moist
ure gathered in his eyes
w,
and the law must have its course" he said
took up his pen, dipped it in the ink, signed
the death warrant of Cook and John Brown
Then he took out his cigar-case, turned to one
OF his officers" Do you smoke, Colonel? these
are good Havanas."
But now flag of truce comes from Gen.
Wise begging for the body of his son, and Gen.
burnside conrteously complies with the request.
In Portsmouth the bells are tolling and
mournful procession winding through the
streets. The gray haired man looks down upon
the face OF his son, takes the cold hand IN his;
tears roll down his cheeks.
He has died for me! he has died for me !"
he cries IN bitter anguish.
His sou has fallen; disaster has come to the
Confederacy through the ineompetency of the
Secretary of War and the personal pique of
Jefferson Davis. He dictates a protest to the
Confederate Congress, censuring the Secretary
and President.
THE BLACK COFFIN.
There was great connection in Richmond
when the people beheld one morning, in the
street near Jefferson Dayiss house. a black coffin
with rope and a moose at one end coiled upon
it. The police never could discover who placed
1t there, but IT made great sensation, and
Gen. Wise's protest to Congress made so great
commotion that committee was appointed to
investigate affairs and see who was to blame for
the disasters that had come to the Confederacy
in North Carolina aud in the West
II blame attaches to any one it ought to
fail on the Secretary of War and Gen. Huger,"
read the report.
Gen. Huger might have sent TO, 600 men from
Portsmouth through the Dismal Swamp Canal
to Roanoke Island, but did not. So unpopular
was Mr. Benjamin that he had TO resign his
position as Secretary Of War, but Jefferson
Davis appointed him Secretary of State, which
had the effect of weakening the confidence of
the people in the Confederate government.
RELEASING TIE PRISONERS.
Gen Burnside did not wish TO retain the
prisoners he had captured, and SO released
them upon the condition snd oath that they
never again would serve against the United
| States.
[ TO be coatinusd1