Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-17


| front, when presently rifle shot from one side
would be answered, others would Join in aud
| the firing become general some Of the artillery
| firing round or two; q few minutes later
everything would be quiet again. peep over
the works would only chow a bank Of red dirt
on a rising ground behind which a flag hung
from high staff, but few signs Of life could be
seen. Half way between, a short distance apart,
we're little rows Of dirt showing the location
OF the two lines of rifle pits but any one forget
ting the situation and exposing himself would
speedily be reminded that things were not ~
peaceful as they seemed.
The men u the pits were relieved ct regular
| intervals, and while there the man knew he
nun look out for himself ant that q few PAGES
ahead was q wide-awake enemy.
Our camps in the rear weren somewhat an
noyed by the shells from a couple Of long-range
guns thrown at random. One Of our horses was
wounded one day at the picket rope and we
heard Of a teamster or two hurt, while several
times shells exploded near our tents, keeping
Us stirred up.
| WARM TIME AT THE OTHER PORT.
While we were in front Of Blakely the forces
at the other fort we're having a warm time.
Candy had established lines not more than 600
yards from the rebel works. and every day he
mounted new batteries and hammered away un-
ceas1ngly. and the rebels returned blow for
blow. Their Notifications were strong, they
held their ground and made several sorties
once capturing 100 yards or more of our rife
pits with their occupants, but Of course they
could only hold it few minutes.
On the Sd of April our men had succeeded in
planting six heavy guns within 800 yards of the
fort, but the enemy fought on bravely and
caused considerable loss on our side. Until
the evening of the 9Th the firing was
continuous, and then Candy gave orders for
bombardment from oil our guns and gun
boats, to be followed by an attack by the
infantry if a favorable opportunity offered.
Sixteen mortars. twenty heavy guns and thirty
field pieces from the land and some hundred
Founders from the navy soon compelled the
Runners in the fort to retire to their bomb
proofs. Under cover Of this fire an attempt
was made to discover some weak place in their
line and two of our regiments charged on the
rife pits, and although the Texans opposed
them stoutly they were outnumbered and fell
back in confusion to the fort closely followed
by our men. who entered with them.
A SUCCESSFUL ATTACK.
1t was dark by this time, and the cheers of
our men showing they had foothold, they
were at once reinforced, and amid the confu-
sion the rebel general decided to evacuate and
with most Of his men he boarded some boats
and fell back to Mobile, leaving there the fol-
lowing morning. Forty-two guns, a large sup
the hands of the Union troops The next day
the forces in front of Bak1ly were joined by
the greater part of the men Nom Fort Spanish.
All day troops were arriving and preparations
were being made for an assault. The new
corners were placed in position to support an
attack and behind every piece of rising ground
not already occupied was a battery with the
guns ready to run up when needed. By
O'Clock the infantry of our division began to
pass through our works into the rifle pits and
in an hour instead of few hundred men there
were several thousands in our front ready for
the assault.
1t was Sunday, but there was little in our
surroundings to remind US of it. The hour set
was o'clock. At 4 the artillery opened, the
newly arrived batteries well those which
were entrenched, and it must have been I'M
comfortably warm behind the rebel works. For
time they replied vigorously, but their fire
soon ceased and they waited for the attack
which they knew would come. In front of
their works was deep and broad ditch, wires
were arranged foot above the ground to trip
up charging line, sharpened stakes and few
torpedoes were planted and it was a difficult
place to cross even if it had not been swept by
the guns of the fort. Under cover of our can
nonadlng careful inspection was made to see
If some passage could not be found through the
numerous distractions, but all parts seemed
equally difficult and perilous and at $50 the
word was given to go.
When our infantry left the shelter of the rife
pits our batteries ceased firing and the rebels at
once opened with both infantry and artillery
Although the distance was short it was over a
quarter of I'm hour before the works were
reached. and to those of us who were watching
it seemed much longer. All along the line it
was mrch the same. After pulling up stakes,
ns W. "l' soieiipiins 'nfouSh uitches
me- .a 50 ane "o anu IN lne Iace OF
- ~ Ii VI i,, ai,u nouhteo
- ~ ,l q, 'aI iepei nag IN lne CEN
'e' VI 'no P"i"uo s'ouio h'o oeeh repi"ceo.
TIE STARS AND STRIPES.
Our loss in the assault was lib killed and 51a
wounded. We captured nearly son nr;sorors
III, - IN a. -:. m
nion was az INC s"i ii'on. Aneir "orks were
strong anu aney hau iost less IMAM 5oo during
,ne siege. Inc general In command had made
MS escape on tug boat, but the road to
Mobiie vas open ana the last rebel stronghold
III me south"est was ours. Inc prisoners we're
taken 10 the rear ana surrounded by our troops,
and II was curious to see the good feeling that
prevailed between captured and captors. Our
Dfigade was formed INTO square around lot
ana we mixed freely with them, gave them
about the events OF the last few days. regi-
ment from missouri found itself guarding a
rebei regiment from the same part OF the state,
ana 70 near them talk one would suppose 1t was
a friendly gathering OF old nelghbors and would
never think that a few hours before they had been
shooting at each other. j did not hear one un-
pleasant word from either side, but the talk
was all about home matters.
,on,,y WAC oo,,,
~