The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-11-21
IN FRONT OF FORT FISHER.
The Assault OF the Sixth Corps on the 25th Of
March. 1856.

March, 1865.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I have
searched the histories Of the war in vain for
q correct and extended account of the assault
on the pcket-line in front Of Fort Fisher March
25, 1865. This affair was so soon overshadowed
by the assault on the works of Petersburg and
the battles of Fair Oaks Farmville and Sailors
Creek, which precipitated the surrender of Gen.
Lee and his army at APPROXIMATION, that but
bare reference only is made by the historians
of this most important and gallant affair,
which cost the old fighting Sixth Corps dearly
in officers, If not in numbers of enlisted men,
some 800 being killed and wounded.
The Sixth Corps lay just west of the cele-
brated Weldon Railroad, its lines extending ont
toward the enemy to a point Mt one of the largest
works anywhere on Grants lines, Fort Fisher;
then southwest aud south to connect with the
Second Corps. Fort Fishers guns could reach
the Southside Railroad in tho rebel lines.
Many hard days work was spent on this
fort by the Sixth Corps veterans and they were
proud of it, The ground in its immediate
front to the north was an open field, skirted on
the east by timber. From the embrasures Of
the guns on the north side Of this fort the
heavily intrenched outer Confederate picket
limo could be seen, along which squads of gray
backs would BIO passing back and forth in safety.
On the morning of the 25th Of March we
were aroused in camp by sharp musketry-
firing, which soon developed cannonading
on our right This was Mt about o'clock,
when we were sleeping the soundest. Every
body grasped his arms and rushed into line
almost en- dcshablle. l know that after
being dismissed, after standing in line few
moments as the firing was so far away from
our 'front.' perceived that / had gotten my
trousers on "'hind side before" But l had
my cartridge box and my musket loaded,
ready for the fray. Possibly may have felt
like going back ward if the enemy had struck
xv;t In oil rot eff
boys of the Ninth Corps that morning. They
lost Fort He'll, but finally recovered it, and
scooped in couple of thousand muddy john
MES
The Sixth Corps after getting breakfast,
ut once formed in line of battle, but did
not advance. Soon after noon, however. Gen.
Wright determined not to DO left out OF any
movement, and he ordered the corps out of the
earthworks, and formed them in line of battle,
brigade front in front Of Fort Fisher. In
this open field evidently, the enemy did not
suppose charge would be made on them, and
30 they did not mass any great force Mt that
point. But all at once-Hydes Brigade lead
ing-the Second Division suddenly advanced
over the open plain in full sight of the enemy,
and, after receiving CALLING fire, sprang over
tho enemy's works. driving them into their
main breastwoTks, q short distance to the rear.
These works were we'll protected by abatis,
and could not be captured In daylight. Tho
forts, too, of the enemy were on this line, and
they at once opened fearful cannonade driv-
ing back certain numbers of our boys who had
pushed on too far. The outer works were held,
even though the cannon of the enemy swept
over and among the men with great precision.
Col Holt, of the 49th N. Y, was mortaly
wounded in the charge, and Col. A. M. Dwight,
of the 122d N. Y, was beheaded by a cannon
shot from the enemy at point-blank range,
and CALLING infantry fire was opened on the
nf ba Fd / hali ntfr
right Bnt still the boys in blue hung on.
We had gained an important advantage and
much ground In front of Fort WEIGH 10 little
TO the left of Fort Fisher, and along our line
to the Weldon Railroad ON our right. A dcs.
perato assault was made on the Third Division
In these woods near the Squirrel Level road,
but our line still hung TO their vantage ground.
Near dark the enemy gave up the attempt TO
retake their lost picket line, and our corps re-
turned 20 camp.
The next morning was detailed for picket,
and at once went on duty on the old rebel line.
Ali day long we worked hard turning the
works 10 face the other way, and by dark were
| quite safely intrenciied in our new and adj
vanced line. We could look right into the
camps of the enemy. In front of these woods
our line iutted out great distance into the
enemys country. and about midnight this adj
vanccd position was strongly reinforced.
But notwithstanding the reinforcement to
| this portion Of the llne, the enemy made n
desperate charge there and carried our new
works rs far rs they projected out, and IL was
with difficulty that our line was held on either
side of the broken position until reinforeements
| came from camp. In fact, the whole corps
| camc out again and formed In our rear as sup
| ports With the aid Of the sharpshooters the
| pickes were able 10 return 20 their position on
| straight line, which formed after the adj
| vanced point had been crushed in. The enemy
10 IN uiv N hs f.,zt
until near noon, when We were relieved and
| went into camp.
| And here / must relate an instance OF pre-
sumption, comedy aud bravery. / lay in large
| pit on knoll, In the rear Of which but a short
| distance was q thieket OF small dry trees. The
| bullets from the enemy would plunge into this
| thicket and make terrible noise all during
our fight. We would put our caps upon our
| bayonets above the pit for the enemy's sharp
| shooters to fire at, aud thus expose their posi-
| tons A cap would soon be perforated, aud
the balls would go crashing and bowling
through this dry thicket, soaring US consider.
ably, so that We would lilo pretty low in the
| pit.
After tho firing had partially subsidized, on
| our side Of the thieket emerged In full uni
| form, sash, sword white gloves etc, the Colo
| mel Of tho LIST Me-, who said no was officer of
| the line, aud that we would soon DO re-
| lieved by his men coming up 10 US. He walk
/ eu 10 our PIT In IuiI view OF the enemy as un-
concerned as If he had been In Bangor, and
| inquired where the next pit was on our left
| We pointed il out to him, and advised him TO
| 20 back around the picket 10 get TO it, as they
were shooting very carelessy over there" in
| dicating the Johnnes. Iie paid no attention
| TO my caution, and stalked along proudly
straight toward tho pit. i felt certain that no
would be hit, and felt surprised that he had
escaped when standing up back of our pit. So
! l again called out Colonel, they shoot -
| careless; go backi" Still he marched on, but
| he had only taken step or two when shower
OF balls flew all around hkn, and crashed with
terrible report in the brush. At this the
Colonel stiiily sheered off toward the bushes,
remarking with genuine New England ac-
cent. shooting !" 1t was enough To make
one smile TO see the Colonel stilly sheer OFF into
the bushes, never dncking his head or hnching
as the bullets whizzed around him.
The value Of this advantage gained over the
Confederates was appreciated in few days.
| When Gen. Wright came to look for place to
assault the enemy that portion Of the enc
mys lines in front of Fort Welch was selected,
as Gen. Wright had been able to get close
enough TO SEQ where he could drive his corps,
like u wedge, through the enemy's breastworks.
This he did on tho morning of April 2, his
corps being massed on the very ground that
had been taken from tho enemy on the 25th of
March. In this fight, too, some of our regi-