Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-02-05

was no firing, and the line was well up to
the fort before its defenders were ready To
assail it SO well had the sharpshooters,
who now advanced with the main line,
done their work. On account of the open
order of the attack, very few shots Of the
enemy took effect
There was an ordinary enlargement of
tree tops, pointing outward, which looked
formidable, but proved only slight I'M
pediment and just within them was
line of torpedoes, extending along my en-
tire front. Many of these were exploded
by the tread, tearing mems feet from their
legs, and legs from their bodies, and this
was the chief damage sustained. Then
came the ditch Gn the bottom of which
was Il line of palisades orstakes) and after
this the parapet The tide was ont, leav-
ing a clear unobstructed beach along the
Ogeechee, and the opposite flank was near
ly as weak. My whole flank, however,
moved on, each man with n well defined
purpose. The obstacles checked it very
slightly, since they were not fastened to
each other and few men were able to
pull away II tree, or separate the stakes,
through which half a regiment could then
pass. a few discharges from the enemy 5.
guns swept the bitches, doing some dam.
age but the troops We're never checked
mt any point, and they soon carried the en-
tire work But the fight was not ended,
the garrison made no surrender, but
fought till it was literally overcome man
by man. The point entered by myself
happened to be Just where Capt. Clinch,
commanding the field battery defending
the land side, had taken up his position.
He had refused to surrender and, after re
Ceiving Il gIlnshOt and Il byonet thrust,
was put out of the fight by II blow from
the butt of a musket, which method OF
settling things our men always preferred
to the baYonet, as it did not Kill.
The men were now wild with JOY, and
were everywhere firing their pieces III the
air from bombproofs, traVerses, and mag
azneS. ! was expecting every moment
that some one of the magazines would eX-
plode ; but happily we escaped
We captured 1915 men and officers, Killed
and wounded 80, and took u large guns
of various calbres, II light battery, 60
tons of ammunition, and large supply OF
stores.
The garrison was made up of young
gentlemen from savannah, who had at all
times as then, displayed the highestquall-
ties of soldiers. They were marched to
near my headquarters and when dinner
was served-at the house of Mr.. Middle
ton, where said headquarters were estaD-
lished--I invited the commander OF the
fort Col. Anderson, to join us. rms ne
did, and met Gen. Sherman, who had
taken Il small boat with a portion OF his
staff and rowed down the OIeechee to my
quarters. With the ample stores we cap
tured was lot of very fine sherry, TO
which Col. Anderson very kindly called
my attention, as he was fearful, he said,
that it would fail into unappreciatlNe
hands.
This was secured and it was an agreeable
feature at my table at this dinner, and at
a dozen or twenty afterwards, which en-
iOycd each day with a large party OF OH
GERS Of rank. On this occasion Gen. Sher-
man was quickly engaged in sort of
rasping but goodnatured talk with the
tI.4ts
his own servant waiting at the table,
asked him with some annoyance what he
was doing there, and was told that he was
then engaged to serve me. For the first
time Anderson seemed to appreciate the
new relation between them, but the ser
want was fully conscious OF 1t all the
time
Pretty soon sherman, with few men,
started further down the river and, at
about midnight, returned, having found
the fleet and appointed the next morning
for arranging for the delivery of stores.
lie accepted my invitation to share my
blankets upon the floor, and we were soon
trying to sleep; but there are occasions
when not much time can be spared for
sleeping. With daylight came the hustle
of work. Admiral Dahlgren, command
ing the fleet, soon came up, our relations
with our stores were soon established,
and the campaign to the sea was success
ully ended
The defense of McAllster has always
been Just cause of pride with the South
ern people, but its capture, as II tactical
operation, never melited the notice ii re
ceived, since my force was ten to the enc
my's one, with an equal force in reserve
and we had merely to walk over their
works, which we literally did, my losses
being but "A killed, and 10 wounded.
The whole world, however, 50 to speak,
was looking on, to see what had become
OF sherman, and this gave the affair great
uoluricty. Besides, it wa, one of many
vital links in the chain of those great
events which assured success and the
whole army and Tic country were glad
dcucd uy It, ". b. HAZEN.
Brigadier and BreveJ Mini ten, |. :. y.