Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-06-19

bombartlment. Paul Hamilton Hnyno,
tho South Carolina poet, wrote, az tho
amount of shot and shell rainod in an iron
deluge upon and about, 1t (Wagner) could,
like the seeds of Catlmus, have sprouted
into armed mon, there would have beeii
no needs of northern 'drnftings, but South
Carolina and, in fnct, tho ontire Confed-
eracy would have boon Immediately ovor-
run by such countless hordes as must have
put to shame the armies Of GeDghis Khan
or Xerxes."
Throughout tho whole day, the 18th, tho
Union batteries upon Folly island, across
tho channel, md tho gunbouts, poured
their missiles upon the work, at times fir.
ing 20 shots per minute. Yet tho amlmu-
milton was wasted. Only about 80 of tho
defenders were hit, and tho fort WAS SO
nbly planned by tho clover engineer, Lang
don Chovcs, that it received no damage
worth noticing Chevcs had been killed
in tho bombardmont Of July 10 by Union
she'll 1t Is snid that Fort Wagner IL his
monument, for Il plum of it Is ono OF two
used AS models at tho West Point academy.
After describing tho Union column of
assault Mr.. Hayno continues (Southc
Bivouau): "ThC sim had almost reached
tho horizon when these regiments, glittcr
ing in blue and gold, the last rays Of tho
luminary flashing In ominuus brightness
from tho bayonots, swords and cpanluts,
wcro formed OH tho beach TO tho rear Of
tho batteries in columns Of eight com
panies closed at half distance, tho Sixth
Connecticut to lead and attack tho south
east salient anglo Of the fort, tho Forty
eighth New York to pass along tho SCH
front and facing inward to attack there,
the other regiments OF tho brigade to
charge tho south front, extending inward
toward the marshes on tho left, while to
the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts cclored
volunteers, 1000 strong, splondidly drill
| cd and nccoutered, tho honor was given
Of position In advance of NIL. :"
.'They wero to distinguish themselves
In tho ambitious and romantic rolo of en-
fonts pcrtlus. Colonel Robert G. Shaw
commanded these mon, and doubtless his
pride and confidence were high as he DO.
hold
"Down tho long and duslsy line
Teeth glonm and eyebnlls shine"
'As sunset faded and twilight dcepcned
into night tho Federal bombartlmont on
land and sea suddenly md completely
ceased A great calm ensued, but 1t was
quiet portentous and terrible. 1t seemed
MS IL tho heart of nature stood still, nwe0
by prescionce of tho impending and foar
full catastrophe. Gradually tho smoke Of
tho cannonade, swathod about tho fort
for hours, SO far lifted TINT tho enemy
were seen debouohing from their first pnr-
allel and advancing over tho narrow ap-
proach between 1t and tho fort. Then
from the bombproof and sand hills tho
garrison quickly gathered along tho ram
parts. Fieldpieces were ranged, the ar
tillerists double shotted their guns, and
"Each gunner moveless by his piece, with rig.
id aspect, stands,
The ready lanyards firmly graspcd in bold, un-
trembling hands;
So moveless in their marble calm, their stern
heroic guise,
They look like forms Of stntued stone with
burning human eyes.
"On rushed the Fodernls Mt double
quick, saluted by simultaneous outbreak
Of hot shot, An implaoable, concentrated
fire from Sumter, Gregg and james island.
"Conspicuous in tho van, on came tho
misguided and unfortunate Colonel Shaw,
his long hair waving behind him as no led
his sable enfants loerclus. A portion fol-
lowed him over the ditch and planted their
flag on the ramparts. where tho colonel
was shot and instantly killed. Tho
others, however, could not endure tho
sight of that gaping ditch or tho revolving
sensation of winged metal, vioiously near.