davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08


widely known, and it is mentioned as the Sec
ond assault on Fort Wagner
It occurred July is, one wce!: after the first
attack. After tie failure OF the first assault
Cen Gilhncre brought forward ell his re-
sources by land and sea to prosecute the siege
of Charleston.
The reduction of Fort Wagner was the first
great task before him. TIE feet was under
command of Admiral John A. Dahlgce,,.
The attack of July Is was opened by the
navy just before noon. Gen. Gilmore had
meantime succeeded in bringing twelve Of
his heaviest siege guns and eight n1ortars to
bear Cd the fort. With these he attacked
from the land side.
The plan was the usual one, heavy bonl-
bardlnent first, assault afterward. Fort
Wagner was one Of the strongest defensive
works in the country. monument of en-
gineering skill. 1t was built of immense
tiinbers, covered with sand bags, forming
tombprooes twenty feet thick. Both the
timber and the sand were ready at hand for
the Confederate engineers, and good use they
made of their material Fort Wagner vas
so situated that it's fall would involve the
loss to the Confederates Of Fort Sumter and
Sullvan's Island and consequently Charles
ton. Full well it's builders knew this, and
they had prepared it accordingly.
Admiral Dahlgren led the way up to tho
attack, July Is. in his flagship, the Alontauk.
Immediately following was the New Iron.
sides with four other ships and number OF
gunboats. The gunboats were in charge OF
Commander Rhind.
The food tide in the afternoon enabled the
feet to come within 800 yards of the fort,
and they renewed their fire with great v!gor.
Wagner replied at first, bat when the tieet
came near the fort guns were soon silence'l
and did not fire a shot more. One gun in the
fort was dismounted by the Federal fire and
| another burst
Meantime the heavy guns, which. on the
landslide, Gen. Gilmore mad succeeded III
bringing within 500 yards of Wagner, We're
not idle. During the afternoon and until
dusk they kept up a steady, raking fire. but
unon the timber and sandbag bombproofs the
shot and shell made no impression worth
mentioning. The soldiers simply retired
within their bonbproofs and were safe from
harm. ,
They were reserving themselves for the
final assault on their work.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08
BATTLE OF HELENA, ARK.
A Plucky Defense by Land ana
Eafnr

Yet another fight remains to be recorded
for the hattie day of July a. ls6a ms Is cfe
engagement at Helena. Ark. On tne Gay
named seven battles, great and small tooh
place in various parts OF the country, anu
Vicksburg surrendered besides .
The Confederate general. Z. kir3y oH''It'
was at that time in command or tne Trans,
Mississippi Confederate department Id tn's
department Lieut. Cen H. Holmes nao
charge of the district of Arkansas
June IS. 1853 Gen Holmes. then at Littie
Rock. telegraphed Kirby smith at ohreVe
port: II believe we can take Helena fiease
let me do it." Gen. Smith 5eiegraphed Dach
Most certainly do it."
Mai Gen Benjamin NJ. Prentfss was at
tina, time in command of the Cnlon force at
Helena He entered the service at the te
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

consisted of two hrigades. One was led by
Brig Cen George q. Strong. 1t comprised
the Seventh Connecticut, Third New Hamp'
shire, Ninth Maine, Seventy sixth pennsVl
vania and Forty eighth New York reg1
ments At the head OF the other was Col Il.
s. Putnam, with the Seventh New Hamp
shire, Sixth Connecticut, Sixty second ONO
and One Hnndredtb New York. The colored
regiment was assigned to Strong's Brigade
This regiment was the especial protege OF
Governor John A Andrew. the war gov
ernor of Massachusetts. Colored troops were
an almost untrled experiment. When Gov
ernor Andrew received authority to enlist
such regiment he determined to select for
it the best officers of the Massachusetts, vol
unteers.
Capt. Robert G. Shaw was q young
officer in the Second Massachusetts. ny
family one of the most hlghiy connected
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

trest to Little Rock. He had led to Helena
over s,0OD msr. Of these, l,50U remained he
bind Oh the field, dead, wounded. dying and
prisoners. prentiss, in his report, mentioned
that be buried iUU dead.
Prentiss garrison was not strong enough
to follow in pursuit of Holmes, and the Con
federates returned quietly to Little Rock.
Ten Prentiss lost go men, In the battle of
Helena the Confederate cavalry was under
command Of Gen. Walker on The extreme
left. Marrnaduke expected support from
Walkers cavalry, but did not receive it. The
attack at that point was feeble.
1t was, In fact, Admiral Porter himself
who notified Glen f'rentlss Of the approach of
Holmes and bis attacking force. Admiral
Porter had received the information from
Confederate deserters in the latter part Of
Juns He forthwith dispatched gunboats up
the river from sirgsbnrg to Helena, with the
information to ten. Prentiss to !ook out for
the approach Of a Cep ederate army. Ad
mirai Porter aisN sen kennhoats to other
points which it was thot mt might also be
uattacksd- Lieut.. Comm; rler Prichett. in
pmd Id Of the Tyler, y instructed under
no Anstaiices to ls6e Helena.
1t sefter Price Ad captured Battery c
tia. - gu ga, can came to the rescue s',a,
point the Ncefates poured down upon
the town p Sh the rayines between the
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08
KEEPING THE SABBATH.

EyerybDiiy went to meeting then |;
sfh.sy fatlatu. 1t was not matter OF
s.hs,lce. urUf clothes. The law required
3s1s.il person to attend religious service
~ least once every fourth Sahbath mn
! der tile penalty of fine, unless satis-
| factory excuse could be given. a Wo-
man once living ON Ciaik's Island, ID
Ptymauth Bay, ahsented herself from
mesting. and depuiati0n was seDi
over from tile mainland demanding hen
reason for no doing. With a pluck
which We cannot but admire, she re-
piled succinctly that it was none OF
their business. Tradition does not say
what punishment was meted OUT To
her.
Punishment for absence from meet
.ng, after trial before justice OF the
peace, was fine graded according to
the Nervousness OF the offense., lt the
offender should refuse to pay tne nhe,
then certain number OF stripes were
to he given him at at the whipping post.
aud stocks stood at the northeast cor
ner OF the Halifax meeting house.
They were there as late as 1870. though
much decayed, and never having been
once used to punish Sabbath breaker !!
These stocks were also called "bil-
boes,n because they were once made III
great quantities at Bilboa, Spain. It is
ss,;T !. .isst the first persoI: to occupy the
stocks III B0stan was the man WI"
made fhean. The court thought he
charged tno much for the making, aud
- punishsneIt fined linn. and SEN
ten ed him to sit in them an nanr.
An offender sat in t.s stacks ,i,s Win u ms ms
hands and feet confined. Wliie in tue
n;liorv ;lL he he stood with head and arms
f|ss.ened | into the lnles IN the board.)
People - tlose days could ., mot charge ,,,,s
what they pleased &, fer 81, + their work, ,h
ra,irious and social life had its center
Is ti,e did meeting house at Halifax,
NJ, tlia fle commerciaili life. By vote was
established i price current for all ar
ticles ana far labor. They never de-
s,artesl from this. Scarcity OF ANYTHING
would nat increase it's price. No ane,
IL Isn had on desired, could have made n
s.earnarn IN pork or grain. Wide
Aweks,
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

water, and bodies Of Confederates fell inside
the fort.
Gen. Stevenson's brigade had been posted
in the rear as a reserve. and the assaulters
looked anxiousiy for it as they began to fall
wounded and dying by the Parapet. The
officer of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts,
writes:
"lhree officers Of the Fifty-fourth still
stand together on the rampant. There are
no men. Why does not that brigade Gomez
wes the despairing cry.
"A few Of the Forty eighth New York ara
near US, fighting over a traverse. We JOIN
them and take part in the fray. The foe are
scarcely muskets length from us. They
ply US with bullets and hand grenades. The
national flag of one Of the regiments is
planted on the bonlbproof which forms one
struggle goes on, Its battered silk and tar.
uisletl gold are trodden deep into The soil
Beside it Col. Putnam falls. At
this moment Capt. } falls heavily against
me, and before my question:: Are you hurt.
Nedp can be answered, crushing blow upon
the breast lays me by bis side"
Tho support that had been expected
the brigade Of Cen Stevenson--tiId not
arrive 1t was waiting for information
that foothold had been gained in Wagner.
The southeast bastion OF the fort was really
gained by the Union troops and held for over
an hour In the terrible fighting that fol-
lowed Gems. Seymour and Strong were both
wounded and carried from the field. Sole
command then devolved on Col. Putnam.
He sent messenger to Gilmore impiorng
the re endorsements to hasten Stevensons
brigade started. But before it reached the
works 1T was met with the information that
Col. Putnam, the last brigade officer. had
been killed. The few troops left alive were
falling back The second assault CT Fort
Wagner Has over.
The column of attack numbered 5000
men. Their loss was $50. more than a
fourth of their whole number The coiored
regiment, the Fifty-fourtb Massachusetts,
went into the fight 65O strong and came out
with 247 of its number lying dead and
wounded below the sand bag embankments
Of Fort Wagner. Fourteen of its twenty
officers were killed and wounded Gen.
Strong died of his wounds. and Coils Put
nam, Shaw and Chatfield were killed.
There were l.UUU Confederates in Fort
Wagner, and they lost i'll killed. wounded
and missing, l74-
Gen Beauregard was in command of the
Confederate forces at Charleston He re-
fused to parole or exchange, dead or alive,
fallen into his hands. Efforts were ma 'e to
obtain the body of Col Robert u Shaw. who
had fallen while fighting upon the Iarapet.
| His family sought this favor without avail.
| To all endeavors. even to find bis grave. the
| Coufederates are said to have answered that
Shaw was buried under his negrosa
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08


uand of tha division. Helena had been
strengthened by Notifications after it came
into tue bands of the Union authorities, III
1852 The town is upon low piain' sur
rounded by ranges Of hills. Upon 10"
ridge Immediately west of the town StIon2
redouht. called Fort Curtis. had been tn1it'
Upon the high ridges about the town loui
strong bntterles, named A, B. [ ana u, ts'''
been planted TIE town was thus well dc
Tended by guns ard earthworls lie o'it
lying defenses were in charge OF Gen Haio
mon. Between the batteries and the RIVER
were rife pits,
June 25, 1888, Gen. Holmes started on his
expetiition against Helena He intended to
surprise the garrison and capture 1t and the
town, Clarendon. sixty miles east of Little
Rock was the rendezvous for The forces o!
the attacking party They we're to advance
IN four columns, under Gems Pagan, Price
uarn,aduke and Walter The Confederate
soldiers consisted chiefly of Mlsso'irians,
under their tired leaders, S,armaduse al"
sterling Price. and of Arkansas troops under
Walker. Pagan end alcRae The Confederate
governor OF Arkansas himself, Harris tlana
gan, accompanied the expedition as aide t.
Gen Holmes In the start Gen. Holmes
force repeated the oft told story OF projected
simultaneous movements that failed to be
simultaneous Price and his MisSourians
were -four days late at the rendezvous. OWNS
tc high water Holmes was obliged to walt
for them at Clarendon. Meantime Gen
Prentlss. at Helena. had been apprl;ed OF the
Confederate design. and so all chance Of a
surprise passed away,
Lrluos |.atpf, on the attack. however,
in good style. He reached Helena on the
night OF July 3. He had orders to attack
at daylight. He stationed one ofs his co!
unlns IN the neightmrhood of each OF the
Union batteries. as shown on the accompany
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08
Best Washing Fluids.

Some housekeepers use washing
fluids, and ii the ingredients are harm
less they Tighten the labor, without des-
troying the fabric. The following are
among the best fluids
To five quarts OF water put one pound
of salsoda, half pnund OF unslacked
lime, and ii small lnmp of borax. Boil F.;
when cold pour off and bottle. Use one
teacupfuI for every boiler of clothes. :
Anothor-One-half bar Of hard
s0al,, one ounce each OF saltpetre and
boray dissolved in four quarts of water;
amnIlia. Bottle and use as soap.A
AuntIer-Eqnal parts of tnrpentine
aud amonia. Add TO water.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08
NOTICE.
The Famous Bell Cheney Springs

Will he open to the public on June lst
1883, under the management of that prince of
good fellows. F: Herbert sr -'.uncle Bug
hauling and put very hing in first-ciass order.
"uncle Bug has a pack of fine hounds for the
use Of those inclined to hunt, and has also
ssace track made for testing the speed of the
1essise creole pony as welt as that of the aris-
Iocr;tna race horse. In fact, tuase seeking a
NICE n.st. .health-restor1ng resort, will fiud it
al Be.t-Ghehey and plenty to- eat for both man.
and beast ksy further particulars address
HENRY. L. ERfMsI, Bayou Chicot, la.
n, b.-Ierns mo0srale. may left
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

Charleston harbor, like that of New York,
contains various small islands. During the
war these were covered with Confederate
fortitications. In and about Charleston the
Confetlerates had altogether $40 guns.
Not much was done toward prosecuting
the war vigorously on the coast of South
Carolina until March. 1868. Then land and
naval force, under Gen John q. Foster, was
sent to attack Charleston and Fort Sumter
\ naval attack was made on Fort Sumter
April Z, fStS'
it was next determined that the Union
forces should occupy Morris Island. near the
north end Of which was Fort Wagner. For
This the land and naval force was put under
command of Gen. q. A Gilmore. He ac-
nordingly took possession Of Morris Island up
10 within mile of Fort Wagner and Battery
Gregg, on Cummings Point. These were
very heavily fortified.
r. k.,~o 10
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

Price and Marnladuize were in the center,
with Walker on the left aud Fagan on the
right Prentiss nad been looking for the ct
tack for some days All the night OF July 3
he kept bis troops under arms.
Marmaduke and Pagan attacked al day
light, according to the programme, Pagan
with much vigor. His men carried the
outer works in front of Battery d On the
Union left. The, they attacked that work
ierceIy. But the other batteries were
trained upon Fagan's lneu With cross fire
that withered them like deadly blast, and
the brigade fell back with n loss of 400 men
Prices Missourians came into action an
hour later than Pagan. and attacked Battery
c with all their force They carried the
outer works and even Battery e itself Price
then ordered his men to cross to the right
and attack Battery d in the rear,
But Just in the critical moment bis orders
we're not obeyed. There was great confu,
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

A special from Houma, La, in the
Picaynne has the following: "OnS D
the most pathetic stories of the storm
comes from Bayou La Cain, On Grand
Gallon. A Woman and three little
children were in the house alone, the
husband being away. The water rose
rapidly, and at last they were COM
PEELED to find safety ON the rnuf of the
hensp. This was blown away, bnt they
still clnng TO it and ut last found iodg-
ment inans oak tree. There they re-
manned for two days before they were
rescued. In the meantime two of the
children died 1T exposure. hunger and
thirst. Six lives In all were lost in this
locality"
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08
THE ASSAULT.

The feet kept up its pounding until dark.
Then the naval force ceased firing: Soon
they heard the rattle of snusketry from the
direction of the land, and they knew that
Glllmore's assaulting column was at work.
Then occurred the historic episode which
has made famous the Fifty-fourth Massachu-
setts colored regiment and its colonel, Rob
ert g. Shaw The assaulting force was
unde, command Of Gen. Z Seymour. II
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08
FORT WAGNER.
The Historic Second Assault on Its
Works, July IS, 1868.

Charleston harbor in general contigura-
ton resembles that of New York. The city
is on long, narrow tongue Of land, between
Two rivers--the Cooper on the north, the
Ashley on the south Vessels entering the
harJor approach between two islands-Sulh
vans island on the north. Morris Island OF
the south. The passage between these two
may very well be compared to the NaIro"s
al New York. On Morris Island, somewhat
southeast Of the narrowest part of the chan
mel, was Fort Wagner, u Confederate defense
of Charleston, the possession Of which was
esnncia}]y aimed at bv the Union force.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

July III zen. 0A
assault on the Con-
federate works at
Fort Wagner. Part
Of the assau!tlng
column reached the
parapet, bnt their
supports not COM
ing up they were
forced to retreat,
with a loss of 40.
That attack is
known in war his
tory es the first
assault on Fort
" agner. The next
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08
Louisiana state Fair

And Shreveport Exposition third annual State
Fair t,kes PLACE at Shreveport. La, November
9TH to 10th inclusive. s25.O00 in premiums and
purses will be awarded. Liberal premiums for
parish exhibits. The only fully equipped 1ilr
grounds in the State. Interesting programmes
each day. Some Of the fins st race horses Ill the
United States have already been entered For
premiums lists and general information ad-
dress NJ L. SCOFELL.
Shreveport, La. Secretary.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

ginning Of the war
from Illinois, as a
btlgadier general.
He resigned from
the army in the
faIs Of ls63.
zen. Prentiss had
with him at Helena
4,0O9 men, com
prising q brigade
Of cavalry and one
division Of the
Thirteenth army
corps. Brig. Gen
Salon1on was tenn
uorar;iy in com
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

Congressman Matson, of Inaiana. has
declined to accept the silver service
which was presented him by the ea-
nloyes of the Government Printing
Office on the gronnd th0t it is not prop
ser fer him to accept any reward for the
performance OF duty imposed on
him as a member Of Congress. and
That hat II wanla set bad example,
Times Demucrats
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

men in the state,
and in war an Of
ticer with a brlll-
liant record. Gov
ernor A n d T. = "
wrote to Sila VS.
father, Francis q
Shaw, of Staten
Island. n. Y. ask
ing permission to
appoint kobert Il.
colone! OF the negro
regiment. 1t was
en-. and the
young colonel took
command. I " 0
~ a.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

sion among his men
at this time. Be-
fore it cleared
a " a y Saloillon's
Union troops had
attacked Battery L
with great vigor
and recaptured it
For oyer four
hours there was
hot fighting on the
Union left Then
Holmes abandoned a
the idea of captIr-
ing Helena. and
~al1~, En- eo
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08
ROBERT 6. SHAW.

Douglass were in the ranks AS it marched
through Boston On its way TO the front
cheer after cheer rent the air from crowds
of friendly citizens
This was May 2S, 1868, and that was the
last sight Boston ever had of Robert q.
Shaw July 10, he lay dead beside the para
pet of Fort Wagner beneath a heap of his
own coored soldiers and to this day no
mortal knows exactly where be is buried.
The colored troops led the advance, occu'
pied the post Of honor and of daHGer Gen.
Strong himself was Massachusetts man.
An officer Of the Fiftyfourth writes of Col.
Shaw:
He walked slowly mp and down the line.
clad in a short jacket. His silver eagles
shone upon his shoulders, AND the fair tar
which hung below his cap gave him the
seeming of boy. His carriage was
calm and noble; pale check and lips con
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08
OPELOUSAS
Female Institute.
Opelousas, st. Landry Par. La.

'g.EsEs INSTITUTION will resume Gu,
nmedlate supervision Of Mrs. NJ. NJ. Hayes
'uts. The scolastic year consists Of forty
weeks,
TERMS OF TUITION.
Preparatory Department, per months 50
Music with use Of piano Z" on
Boarding, including washing, lights
and fucl. per month -....--.--.....-1 16 GO
Embroidery, wax flowers painting,
drawing. each, extra. 10 90
Incidental fee ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 90
DISCIPLINE.
The government of this school is strict 6tt
parental, no hard tasks or restrictions are I'm
nosCd but every student mas! comply with the
"ues, and must prepare up TO the measure OF
Aer ability, the lessons assigned.
our course of study and mode Of instruction
ire designed to train the mind to the habits of
correct thinking and thorough investigation.
No student will 5e allowed to enter higher
classes without thorough preparation. Parents
md guardians may rest assured that the Hau~
ners. health and morals of their children ana
wards shall receive due attention.
No deduction for absence, nnlesS In case o.
protracted illness. The location OF this town Ia
ieaItliuI and easy OF access The boarding
Department is under the immediate charge OF
Mrs Hayes. i;aarders will provide themselves
Hltl o.; TX 3ts ara towels.
For pa t!Culars, 1,r2Ss
M2s. n. NJ. HAYES.
.uly Z or;nc1oa
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

strained alone bore
witness to his sense
of responsibility.
Prove yourselves
men, be said to
those who were to
die with him in one
short hour. 1t was
soon to be- the
proutlest boast of
the survivors that
they charged with
Shaw at Wagner >"
T b 9 assaulting
coiumn MS started
from behind sand
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

hills upon the beach and advanced to the
fort along strip of land wide enough at its
naIroneSt for POO men to walk abreast.
The force within the fort was unlercsti
mated by the Union commander Testimony
since obtained is to the effect that the union
signals between the army ana the fleet were
seen and read by the Confederates, who were
therefore, prepared for every move OF the
Union general They bad thrown large
number of re-enforcemeuts into Wagner and
strengthened their defenses.
Tho Confeslerates remained silent within
the fort till the advancing column charged
I'D tc the works Then suddenly they opened
terrific fire of grape, canister and mus
Retry.
Strong's brigade charged first, bravely and
we'll They crossed the water under the EN-
bankment, and endeavored to hold their
ground. The second brigade, with Col. Put
nam at its head, came to their support
There was desperate fighting at the parapeC.
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08

TIE COnfederates
met the advancing
assaulters at the
top it h hand
g1'erades that did
deadly execution.
Assaultel's and de-
tenders grarpled
for a time in a
sickelling hand to
hand fight, with
pistols, guns and
bayoncts and hand
grenades. Bodies
Of Union soldiers
fell outside the
work. into the
St. Landry democrat., 1888-09-08
THE AMERICAN FIELD.
Never Behind:
Always Ahead on All Events In
terestinG to sport s1len!
IT LEADS IN EVERYTHING PERTAINING
TO THE TRAP. THE FIELD, TIE FOR
EST, THE STREAM AND KENNEL.

1t is pre-e!ninently the LEADING SroRTsNAN's
JOURNAL OF AMERICA. No lover OF Ftelo
sports snou d be without the AMERICAN
FIELD, Subscription So a year: >2,l3 1oi
six months clubs of three or more, - each Il