Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-11-08

and a deep ditch. Drowning all were the
parapcts of Fort Harrison. In the lines
adjacent to the fort there were batteries
trained upon the approaches. and the enc
mf's gunboats on the james were also
within range
Stannard's line moved forward in col
umns of division, preceded by the Skin
mishcrs whose Spencers maintained
slant fusilade, until it reached the base OF
the hill, all the time exposed to a plung-
ing fire of artillery and musketry. briei
halt for breath and another dash, and this
time at double quick up the steep slope and
the stars and stripes were planted on one OF
the trayerses of the fort. General Burn
ham was killed by musket ball the mo-
Ilent he leaped the parapet ut the head OF
his line Colonel Donahue commander
of the skirmishers, stepped into Burn
hams place as leaGer and was also shot
down General Stannard rode boldly at
the head of the Third brigade, seeming to
bear charmed life that day, but three Of
his staff officers fell beside him. Colonel
Stevens, leading the First brigade, was
shot down at the head of his men, and
when the charge was ended not an officer
remained above the rank of lieutenant colo
mel excepting General Stannard More
than SO commissioned officers and 500 men
had fallen. The work was found to be
open on the reverse side and exposed to re
capture from the enemy's reserve lines.
To guard against that the skirmishers,
with their death dealing Spencers, formed
line around it and kept the enemy at
bay while the elated yictors Of the charge
built a new parapet across the open space
. "a u lffI
upon STANDARDS holding the fort so gal
lantly won, for Hickman S division, which
followed Stannard "A short distance, then
marched of to the right to assault Fort
Gilmer, had no success at all. While the
storming columns were swarming over the
parapet at Fort Harrison, a body of men
was seen through the battle smoke enter
ing Fort Gilmer from the north amid much
confusion. General Ord, the commander
of the whole expedition, was with Stan
nard, and supposing that the newcomers
at Fort Gilmer to be Heckmans division,
he paid no further attention 10 that work,
but led small party of Stannard's men
toward the river TO attack the bridge de
lenses and cut of the enemy from across
the James Ord was wounded before reach
ing the river, and Stannard recalled the
men who had accompanied him. FINDING
himself disabled, Ord sent for Hickman to
take command, thus delaying the attack
on Fort Gilmer Heckmans men, how
ever, led by Colonel Ripley, gallantly
storined and carried the intrenchments
north of Fort Harrison, taking a fortified
battery in the face of canister fire and
turning the guns on the enemy.
Meanwhile Paine's and Fosters divi
sions of the Tenth corps, including Biz
ney's brigade of colored troops, reached the
field and soon afterward stormed Fort
Gilmer. The most desperate work was
performed by the colored troops Four
companies Of the Seventh regiment, led by
Captain Julius A.'Wciss, charged in Skin
mishing line and leaped upon the trenches,
where every man was shot down, TO the
number of 235. Colonel Diapers colored
brigade of Paine's division also made "a