The National tribune., 1885-10-22

of fleaainr the assault. Possibly it was mistake.
Thcss troops had had little experience. They
yersAbrayc, and marched resolutely. Possibly
nonacf the regiments would have accomplished
more than did they; but when great deeds are
TO be DONE men of nerve, discipline and en-
durance are needed.
~ THE ADVANCE.
Night has come, daylight is fading from the
west when, at signal, the Union batteries and
monitors suddenly become silent. The smoke
which has hung over land and sea slowly drifts
away The Confederate sentines send word
that the Union troops are advancing. Inc
Confederates spring TO their feet and rusn TO
the breastworks. The artillerymen ram nome
the charges of grape and canister, douDie snot-
ting the guns. Three companies OF the Charles
ton battalion man the right; in the center
stand the soldiers of the 5lst \. C.; two COM
panies hold the left over by the marshes.
All is silent for moment. The column is
within a quarter of mile of the fort when the
storm bursts forth. Solid shot, she'll, grape,
shrapnel canister and mimic balls scream
through the air. Battery Gregg, far in the
rear, sends its shot over Wagner. Sumter
flames and the batteries on James Island fire
eastward across the marshes upon the advane-
ing troops
"Double-quick /" is the order Of Col. Shaw,
and his regiment goes upon the run over the
They reach the deep ditch, stand for moment
on lis briuk Their resolute commander does
not hesitate but leaps into it.
Forward" he shouts, and the larger part
follow him. Mounting the parapet, planting
the flag gallantly upon the ramparts,
Serg't Carney, color-5earer, is wounded, but
clinCs to the flag Col. Shaw falls headlong
into the ditch The ground is strewn with his
brave men. Their leader gone, they lose their
heads rush TO the rear panic-strlcken, charg-
ing through the 9Th Ne. and 10Th Pa, breaking
their ranks, creating confusion IN those regl-
meuts.
Unfaun nted by the terrific fire the 9th Conn.
charge upon the southeast section of the fort,
cross the ditch, climb the parapet and force
their way into the works.
Putnam's Brigade sweeps on. the 9TH N. ID.
leaps into the ditch, climbs the parapet. ana
fights with desperation. The other regiments one
byene join in struggle but the fearful slaugh-
Ger tIfns their ranks. The attack almost sue
ceeds, hut fails at the supreme moment. The
soldiers by the sea fall back in the darkness
leaving the 9th Conn. within the works at the
southwestern angle. The converging fire OF the
Confederates on the narrow approach prevents
q rally. The darkness decpens. The smoke is
dense. 1t is not easy to distinguish friend from
foe and it is impossible to renew the assault.
No support has come to the 9th Conn. Grape
and musketry sweep the ground over which
it advanced The 3lst Ga. has been sent III hot
haste TO Wagner. With the two companies OF
the Charleston battalion they charge upon the
men from Connecticut, who. finding their re-
treat cut of, surrender. The assault has been
disastrous to the Union troops. Gen. Strong is
morally wounded. Coils. Chatfeld, Putnam
and Shaw are left dead upon the field.
The Sabbath sun rises upon the sickening
scene looking down upon heaps of dying and
dead. lying in the ditch, upon the parapet,
and among the sandhills, the wounded moan
ing for water or praying that death may come
to relieve them of their suferingS. Alter 3
battle those who survey the scene see that war
is terrible; that it crushes and destroys; tnat
sympathy, compassion, the humanities are
crushed out Of the heart. Especially do we see
how vain and low and poor is mere military
glory.
But not for glory had those brave mon gone
down; mot for a name in history had they
- marched over the sands swept by the terrible
karrn but that this Government of the people,
with ali its attendant blessings, might not per-
ish. For that and that alone had they given
their5Iyes Eight hundred were buried where
they,sfeil, the Confederates scooping shallow
graves upon the beach. The winds blew the
sand away the waves rolled in upon the bleach
ing skeletons. Sad and mournful the story.
Nearly quarter OF century mas passed
since that tragic scene; the animosities and
passions of the hour have passed away. l am
writing history. The picture would not be
true one were / to leave ont one scene. nag
of truce advanced in the morning from the
Union lines with request for the bodies of
Col. Putnam and Col. Shaw. The body of Col.
Putnam, beautiful in death, was readily gwen;
but not so that of Col. Shaw. who commanded
the Massachusetts colored regiment.
I've viii bury him with his nigsers." was
the reply.
Perhaps we need not wonder. 1t was the
spirit OF slavery, naughty and brutal. The re-
fusai was intended to insult his memory, but 1t
6igniised and made it glorious. When the war
began be was young man possessed OF abun-
dant wealth. He loyed'everything that was
noble and good. He loved justice and liberty.
His synpathies were with the poor and lowiy
and oppressed. When the Government called
for colcred troops he came forward to cast In
his lot with them. His soldiers loved him as
children father Brayeiy he led them through
the terrible storm to die with them In the
ditch az Wagner Nor can there be any doubt
that 1t was the place which he himself would
havechosen for burial.
INCOMING years, whenever the story OF Wag-
ner is told, whatever Of glory will attach to it
will not be the defense, neither the charge, but
the highest glory and honor will surround the
name Of Col. Shaw, friend of the poor and
lowly.zq
To be conhauedl