Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-20

4
wound rescue us. and II Bragg had or
dered Hoke 10 assault with his division
| late that afternoon we would have re-
| covered the works. ] have positive IN
| formation that so determined was on,
| resistance that General Terry sent worn
TO General Ames, commanding the three
brigades aseaulting us. 10 make one more
| effort, and II unsuccessful 10 retire. Zen
eral Abbot, who commanded a brigade,
and who lived in North Carolina after
the war. told Captain Brady that at one
time during our fight only one colored
brigade held Bragg's army In check,
| and they were so demoralized that 1o
! veteran troops could have captured them.
| But an all wise Providence decreed that
! our gallant garrison should be over
| whelmed.
REFUSED TO SURRENDER.
In less than an hour after / refused
10 surrender fourth brigade three were
already In the forD entered the sally
port and swept the defenders from the
| remainder of the land face. Major
Reilly had General Whiting and myself
hurriedly removed on stretchers to Bat
| terry Buchanan. where he proposed 10
| cover his retreat
when we left the hospital the men
were fighting over the adjoining
traverse. and the spent balls fell like
hail-stones around us. The remnant OF
the garrison then fell back in an orderly
retreat along the sea face. the rear guard
| keeping the enemy engaged as they ad-
yanced slowly and cautiously In the dark
ness as far as the mound battery. where
| they halted. Some Of the men. cut OH
from the main body. had to retreat as
best they could over the river marsh,
while some few unarmed artillerists bare
" eluded the enemy by following the
| seashore.
When we reached Battery Buchanan
there was a mile of level beach between
! us and our pursuers. swept by two
l1-inch guns and a 2i-pounder, and In
close proximity to the battery a COM
modious wharf. where transports could
have come in safety at night TO carry
US off.
The enemy threw out a heavy
! skrmish line and sent their Fourth
Brigade to Battery Buchanan. where II
arrived about 10 O'Clock +. NJ. and re-
ceived the surrender OF the garrison from
Major James II. Hill and Lieutenant
! George ID. Parker Some fifteen min'
utes before the surrender. while lying
! on q stretcher near General Whiting. out
side of the battery. witnessing the
grand pyrotechnic display OF the Meet
over the capture Of Fort Fisher. l was
occosted by General a. III. Colquitt, who
| had been ordered to the fort 10 take com
mand had a few minutes hurried
conversation with him. Informed him oil
| the assault. OF the early loss OF a por-
| ton OF the works and garrison, and that
when fell IL had for a time demoraliZed
| the men. but that the enemy was
equally demoralZed by our unexpected
resistance. and | assured him II Bragg
would even then attack. a fresh bri.
gade landed at Battery Buchanan could
| retake the work. II was suggested that
the General should take me with HIM
as ! was probably fatally wounded; but
/ refused to leave. wishing TO share the
fate OF my garrison. and desiring
that my precious wife. anxously await
| ing tidings across the river. should nj
i be alarmed spoke lightly OF my wound
/ | asked him TO carry General Whiting
TO u place OF safety. as he came volun'
teer TO the fort.
ONE MORE DISTRESSING SCENE.
one more distressing scene remains q
| be chronicle1. The next morning after
sunrise frightful explosion occurred
My large reserve magazine. which my ord
nance officer. Captain J. G. Little, in
formed me contained some 1900 pounds
OF powder, blew up. killing and wound
ing more than hundred OF the enemy
and some Of my own wounded Officers
and men. II was an artincial mound
covered with luXuriant turf. a most IN
wiling bivouac for wearied soldiers. Upon
# were resting Colonel Alden's 169th New
York regiment. and in its galleries were
some OF ny suffering soldiers Two sailors
from the fleet. sturified with liquor. look
ing for plumber, were seen 10 enter th'
structure with lights, and few moment:
t-le
graph-wires between bOmb-proof nell
this magazine across the river TO Bat
terry Lamb, gave rise 10 the impression
that the Confederates had caused the eN
plosion but an official investigation trace
1t to these drunken soldiers.
So stoutly Gid our works resist th'
5000 shot and shell thrown against then
IN the TWO bombardments that not
MAGAZINE or bomb-proof was injured
and after the land armament with pail
sades and torpedoes had been destroyed
10 assault could have succeeded IN th'
presence Of Braggs force, had 1t beer
under 4 competent officer Had ther'
been no fleet to assist the army AT For
Fisher the Federal infantry could no
have assaulted il until its land defenc-'
had been destroyed BY gradual ap
proaches.
For the first time in the history o
seges the land defences OF the wori
were destroyed. not By any act OF IN
beseging party. which looked Oh IN safety
but by The concentrated fire. direct an'
entilading. Of an immense heet poure'
! upon them for threeSdays and two nignt
without intelmiss!on. until the guns wer
| dismOuntcd, tOIpedo-wires CUT pallsade
preached 80 that they afforded cover 10
the assailants, and the slopes OF tn
work rendered practicable Tor assault.
had half OF a mile OF land face an'
one mile of sea face TO defend with l~
men. for that IS all / had from irst u
last in the last battle. ] have In my pos
session papers 10 prove this statement
| know every company present and II
strength. This number included the Killed
wounded and sick. IL the Federal re
ports claim that our killed wounded
and prisoners showed more 1t is becaus
they counted as part OF the garrisoi
those captured outside Of the works Wh
were never IN Fort Fisher. To captur
Fort Fisher the enemy lost by their Owl
statement / AS Killed, wounded. ana ms,
Ing. Nineteen hundred Confederate, VIII
forty-four heavy guns, contending asaihs
lJuOJ men on shore and tJO neaVy BUN
afoat. killin,; and wounding almost a
many Of the enemy as there were soiu'ei
in the fort, and not surrenderihs shu
the last shot was expended!
With the fall at Fort FISHER ana III
capture OF it's garrison the services q
the gallant Thirty sixth North Carolh
Regiment were not ended IL was Re
served for Leutenant-Colonel John l.
Taylor. ana detachment OF this reg
ment who were absent On leave when III
fort was taken, 10 cover themselves VII
glory as Il part OF the famous Red III
fantry" at the battle Of Bentonville
After the evacuation OF Forts Caswe
and Campbell. on reaching Fort Andei
son. Colonel Simonton was ordered to Jol
his brigade, and all the troops wer