The National tribune., 1897-07-15
BoMBARDIHc REBEL sTRoHcHoLDs.

| with thick forest. At the southern extremity
was Stono Inlet separating Folly and Kia
wa Islands North of Folly, and between
it and Morris Island, is Light House Inlet.
| On the western side, toward Folly River
are marshes covered with heavy sea-grass.
The value of the island in a military point
OF view was as camping ground and base
of supplies for troops operating against the
forts defending Charleston Harbor.
Morris Island, directly north of it, com.
manded the harbor. Here, on Cumming
Point, its northern extremity, were the form
liable earthworks called Forts Wagner and
Gregg, the latter being an enlargement Of
the original Cummings Point battery. There
were two divisions of Gen. Gillmore's army
on Folly Island, under Gems. Vogdes and
Gordon. Gen. K. 8. Fosters Brigade, to
which the 10th N. Y, 18th Ind, and 169th
N. Y. belonged, was assigned to Vogde's
Division, Tenth Corps. All the troops on
| the island were employed either as grand
| guard or on fatigue work in the trenches.
The troops suffered severely from sickness
on account of climate and bad water.
Gen. Gilmore having completed his bat
teries and mounted his heavy guns, opened
fire on Fort Sumter, Aug II, 1863, over the
heads of Forts Wagner and Gregg The
ironclad ships of the navy co-operated.
Fosters Brigade was ordered out at o'clock
in the morning to move over to Morris
Island as q reserve force.
The heaviest artillery ever used for breach
ing Notifications was brought to bear upon
Fort Sumter. Forts Wagner and Gregg
were silenced by the fire of the navy and
some of our batteries. When the lombard
ment had fairly begun it was grand spec
tace.
From our position the fire Of the feet
could be distinctly seen and the shells
traced. Before night many ugly holes had
been made and on the 24th Of August Gen.
Gilmore sent a dispatch to the War Depart
ment that Fort Sumter was practically de-
molished. This statement afterwards proved
premature, for though it was in con-
sequence of this bombardment shapeless
mass of ruins, yet the rebels, out of the
debris, were able to make the fort az i'm preg-
nable AZ ever and as effective guard of the
harbor channel. A
Gen. Gilmore now with characteristic
energy and skill turned his efforts to reduc-
ing the forts at the head of Morris Island
His plan was novel and ingenious. The
broad portion of the island, upon which the
forts were situated, could only be approached
along Q narrow strip of sand ridge, not
more than 90 yards in width. The men ex-
cavating the Zig-Zag trenches were exposed
to the fire Of the forts, also to that from
James and Sullivan's Islands. Contrary to
the rules of all engineering science at that
day, the General pushed his parallels along
until he had prepared passage around the
corner of Fort Wagner, by which he could
move storming party along the sea face of
the fort. This was aided by the incessant
artillery firing during the day, and strong
calcium light at night, throwing such q
glare upon the fort that our pickets, rifle
mon, sharpshooters and artillerists could
prevent the enemy from repairing the dam
age done during the day, while we were en-
vel0ped in darkness.
On Sept. 26 Fosters Brigade, with Col. ].
c. Drake, 112th N. Y, in temporary command,
was ordered to Morris Island as grand guard
in the trenches. That night and the next
day we're to be completed the preparations
preliminary to storming aud blowing mp the
fort by the mine underneath. It was dark
all around the parallels and where the re-
serve was posted, but glare like burning
village at night illumined the whole north
ern extreme of the island. From every di-
rectiOn huge missiles Of destruction were
flying through the air. Great guns made
the ground tremble. The hugo monsters so
rent the air that those in front of them,
though separated by several parallels, in
voluntarily gasped for breath.
Passing along the winding passages
through the sand, by several mortar bat
teries and rifepits, where some sharpshoot-
ers lay by the extreme guard and along
the line where the colored troops and con-
traband negroes were busily engaged digging
and throwing up and out sand, until you
came to the end of the flying sap, looking
little to the left, and one could see within q
few yards. apparently, the huge and now
shapeless mass of Fort Wagner. There was
no sign of life there. A shell would go rush.
ing overhead and explode over the fort,
lighting up for moment this ruin. Then |
again darkness and silence. Passing out |
again, and looking towards James Island, |
BRED sound Of heavy gun, then see ball |
with fiery tail mounting upward very de-
iberately. Then, having reached its altl-
Jude, curving downward. "Now covert"
Every man would seek the bomb-proofs
With peculiar rushing sound these great
'hells would explode, scattering iron missiles
N every direction.
For several days the parallels approached
completion. Our pickets were SO near as TO
converse with the rebel pickets, but woe to
The man who showed his head above the
There were on the average
i've or six casualties daily during the progress
If the siege work. The men constantly
,ame upon torpedoes the rebels had buried
Most of these were removed without ex-
,loding.
One evening two of my men on guard
to look over the parapet of Fort
Wagner, and, seeing no one, returned, declar-
ny the fort was eta.euated. The next morn
ne. while preparations were making for
assault from the ocean front, few men of
he guard went up to the fort. entered. and
While they were looking around the maga-
line, eight rebel soldiers came out to them
md surrendered. They had been left there
With orders to spike the cannon and blow
Up the magazine. They pointed out tor
,edo at the entrance Of the magazine, so
placed as to explode when our men entered.
They reported that the work of evacuation
lad been going on for three nights in both
Forts Wagner and Gregg. These facts being
do L. tx,4 Al