The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-04

FORT FISHER.
pet and swept around In rear Of the row
of trayerscs This compelled the garrison
to como out of their citadels and fight In
open ground or bo captured In them.
For q time tho Confedcratcs met this
flank attack from behind an old breast
work that extended along the interior
plano of the Enclosure. Colonel Lamb,
who was alivo to ovcry opportunity to dis
pute Terry's advance. now went along the
batteries south toward the point and di-
rectcd n heavy fire to be thrown into the
northwest portion Of the work, where the
danger was so threatening. On his way
he ordered every available man forward to
the first traverse ahead Of Tcrry's men,
and on his return ho found that traverse
still held by his stubborn soldiers, although
the slaughter among them had been ap-
palling The fire from the feet had scooped
out graves In tho sand, and bis dead were
lying in them as they fell, half buried by
the showers Of dust thpwn out by tho
bursting shells. Great timbers, gun car
riagcs, and even cannon, broken by tho
huge missiles from the fleet, were lying in
heaps, and on and around them were tho
dead who had yanly tried to defend them.
The advance of .Terry's men had been
arrested, aud Colonel Lamb summoned oil
his force 20 the front traverse, with the dc
termination Ia charge upon tho assailants
and drive them out. Signals were sent to
the gunncrs I'm the fort 10 withhold their
fire up tho position held by Terry during
this oountcrchnrgo The distance between
tho combatunts was not above q hundred
feet and calling on men and officers to
follow Lamb lcaped tho breastworks, with
tho order. Charge bayonctsl Forward
Double quick Marchl'' Instantly
Union buAct entered his right hip, and he
sank On tho works Tcrry's mon poured
heavy volley of bullets into the Confcdor
ates, and the latter fell back behind cover.
Colonel Lamb was taken 20 bomb
proof and the command given 10 Major
James Reilly, who ngrecd to continue tho
struggle as long rs be had man left. But
this effort Of the Coniederatcs depleted
their ranks on the traycrses, and now
| Union force under Colonel Abbott, on the
left of Amcs brigndcs, captured somo Of the
travcrscs between Ancs position and the
sea Tho land force was now held az bay
only around the sally port In another
hour the sally port had been carried, loav-
ing nothing 70 oppose Tcrry's advance
Continued defense being useless without
rc cniorccmcnts, rear guard was formed
from Tie sound men Of the garrison, and
fhe sick and wounded woro sent ON ahead
with their leaders, Whiting ana Lamb
The Confederate rear guard mn'le the best
fight they could, only yielding inch Ivy
inch ond II wis 10 o'clock, or seven hours
aitor the fight bcgnn, whom tho last traverse
and battery were in Tcriys hand
The Victory VAS complete, but 10 had
been gained NJ heavy cost Tho thr-
brigade commanders of Ants' division
had been stricken down on he works
From beginning 10 erd The situation on
both sidrs was desperate la tho extreme.
The men pcnt up !n tho fort wVro a. tho
mercy uf ihc Gana ON Tho vessels. which
practically surrounded tho work and
! those cDgaggd IN stornipg faced the blaz.
! ing rifles and cannon on the walls. Only
n courage that was peerless could sustain
n battle scvon hours under thvsu oondl.
tions. GEORGE J.. kt.aER