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


which We take the following
General Bragg in his official report does
gross injustice TO the garrison wheh ne
says: "The army column. preceded py
single regiment, approached along tne
river and entered the work on that hank
almost unopposed.'
General Terry says in his report that Nv
sharp shooters, with Spencer fepeat'hs
carbines. were sent forward TO within 20
yards of the work and dug pits foi their
shelter. and ''as soon as TINS mo'eHeht
commenced the parapet Of the fort was
manned and the enemy's IRE. potn OF
musketry and artillery. opened" The as
saulting column consisted not or regi-
ment. but OF Curtiss Brigade, supported
closely BY two other brigades. total OF
not less than 5000 troops.
The enemy were unable to enter py 'ne
river road, and some OF the most oes-
perate fighting done In the work was II,
the space between the left bastion ana
the river shore.
Notwithstanding the capture or por-
tion OF the work and several hundred OF
the garrison. the COnfederates were sun
rnlaunted and seemed determined TO re-
cover the captured salient and gun cham-
bers.
We had taken one OF these in the
charge led by Whiting. and since we had
opened on their flank we had shot down
their standard-bearers and the Federal
battle flags had disappeared from our
ramparts: we had become assailants, ana
the enemy were on the defensive. and 1
felt confident we would soon drive them
out of the fort Just as the tide of battle
seemed TO have turned in our favor the
remorseless fleet came to the rescue OF
the faltering Fededrals. Suddenly the
bombardment, which had been confihed to
the sea face during the assaults, turned
again on our land front, and with deadly
precision. The ironcads ana 1rlSates
drove in our two Napoleons. killing ana
wounding nearly oil the men AT these
guns. which had been doing effective ser
vice az the entrance TO the sally port
They swept the recaptured gun chamber
of its defenders. and their IL and l5-inch
shells rolled down into the interior OF
the work, carrying death and obstruction
in their pathways. They drove from the
parapets In front of the enemy all OF my
men except those so near That 10 nave
fred on them would have been slaughter
to their own troops.
UhND-TO-HAND FIGHT.
Nor was this all We had now to con-
tend with column advancing around
tlr. rear OF the left bastion by the river
into the interior plane or the loft' IL
moved slowly and cautiously, apparently
in column Of companies. and Gin close
order. | met it with an effective lnian-
try fire, my men using the remains OF
an old work Is a breastwork and taxing
advantage OF every object that Would
offer cover, for We were now greatly out
numbered. The fire was 50 unexpected
and 50 destructive. combined with the
shells from Battery Buchanan. on the
massed columns Of the Federals, that
they halted when 4 quick advance would
have overwhelmed US Giving orders 10
dispute stubbOrnly any advance, | went
rapidly down the seaface and turned the
two mound guns and two ColumDiards
on this column IN the fort. tniOrtu-
nately. these were the only ones available.
| brought back with me 10 the front every
man. except a single detachment Tor
each gun On my return | found the
fighting still continuing over the same
traverse FOR the possession Of the gun
chamber, despite the fire Of the feet.
As the men would fall others would
take their places. 1t was a soldiers fight
at that point. for there could be no or
gan2ation. the officers oil both sides
were loading and firing with their men.
If there was ever a longer or more des-
perate hand-to-hand fight during the war,
! have never heard OF it. The Fede-
raj column inside had not advanced a
foot, and seemed demOTalized by the
fire OF the artillery and the determined
resistance OF the garrison. More than q
hundred OF my men had come with me-
and | threw them In front with those
already engaged. Going to the South
Carolinians, who were in u position 10
flank the enemy, i appealed TO them 10
rally and help save the fort | went to
nd c.
poleans brought out and manned and
opened on the enemy. ! went along the
galleries ana begged the sick ana slightly
wounded 10 come out and make one su-
preme EFFORT 10 dislodge the enemy. As |
passed through portions Of the work, the
scene was indescribably horrible. Great
cannon broken in two. their carriages
wrecked. and among their ruins the mu-
uiated bodies of my dead ana dying
comrades. sun no tidngs from Bragg.
The enemy's advance had ceased en-
tirely; protected by the feet. they stI
held the parapet and gun chambers on
the left. but their massed columns re-
fused 10 move. while those in their rear.
near the river commenced trenching
against any assault from us. | believed
a determined assault with the bayonet
would drive them out. ] had sent word
10 our gunners not to fire on our men IL
we became closely engaged with the enc.
my. The head OF their column vas not
over 4Vo teet nom the portion OF our
breastwork, where I stood. and could
see 'helr faces distinctly while my men
were falling on either side OF me.
ORDER TO CHARGE.
passed quickly down the rear OF the
line ana asked officers and men if they
would follow ne; they all RESPONDED
fearleSSly that they would returned
10 my position. and giving the order.
charge bayonets'" sprang upon the
breastwork. waved my sword and as
gave the command Forward double
quick, march, fell on my knees. a rifle
Dan having entered my hip. The brave
Lieutenant Daniel II. Perry fell MORALLY
wounded at my side. We were mot by
a heavy voliey. aimed too high TO be
very ehective. but our column wavereJ
ana fell back behind the breastwork. \
soldier raised me up and | turned the
command over 10 Captain Num- who was
| near me. and told him TO keep the enemy
! In check, and that as soon as my wound
was bandaged I would return. Before
! reaching the hospital | was so weak
| from the loss OF blood that | realized
mat j could never lead my men again.
| In the hospital ! met Genera! Whit
ing suffering uncomplaningly from his
| wounds. He told me that Bragg had
| ignored his presence In the fort and had
| not noticed his messages
Perceivne the lire OF the garrison had
| slackened. ] sent my adiutant. John y.
! Kelly, for Major James Reilly, next in
| command major Stevenson, who died
shortly after in prison, being too i'll for
| duty. Reilly came and promised me
that he would continue the fight as long
as 1t was possible, and nobly did he keep
his promise | again sent message to
| Bragg begging him to come 10 the res
| cue. Shortly after my fall the Federa's
made an advance. and capturing several
/ IL l.. 4. L