The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-03-16
BATTERY WAGNER.
Judge Twiggs's Description of the Memoir
able Fight
From the savannaA Ne,vs. March 2.
able Fight.

81 wigs W Vic OonAS
atthe Guards Hall last night, upon
the Assault upon Battery Wagner,
was thoroughly enjoyed by large au-
dienee, which was frequently aroused
to enthusiasm by the eloquent fights
and glowing word pictures OF the
speaker.
Judge Twiggs was introduced by
Judge Falligant, who was IN more
than usual happy mood, and whose
remarks were loudly applauded. Gen.
p. McGlashan, first vice president Of
the Confederate Veterans Associa-
iton, presided at the meeting.
Judge Twiggs began his address
with description Of the defences
around Charleston, and the position
Of the opposing frees, the Federal
forces besieging Charleston, the har-
Dor of which was defended by Forts
Sumter, Moultrie, Gregg, Battery
Wagner and other Notifications. The
battery was very strong earthwork,
located on the upper end Of Morris
Island, the work having been con-
structed under the direction OF the
best engineers of the Confederacy.
There was considerable preliminary
fighting leading up to the main attack.
The Federals had constructed batter
les under the direction Of Gen. Gil
more on the other end Of Morris Island
and were preparing to make things de-
cidedly uncomfortable for the Confed-
crates. An attack on the fort on July
II was repulsed with severe loss to the
Federals. Col. Charles 81. Olmstead
and the Savannah troops participated
in the defence on that occasion.
Gen. w. E. Taliaferro, Of Virginia,
whose death was recorded in yester-
days Morning Ne,rs, was in command
sof the fort, and Judge Twiggs spoke
feelingly of his old commander. He
was assistant inspector general on the
staff, Of which Lieut.. Henry G. Gun
ningham and DR.. Joseph Clay Haber-
sham, of Savannah, we're also mem
Ders.
Besides the batteries which Gen.
Gilmore had constructed on the island,
the enemy had number Of monitors
and gunboats in the river, which daily
shelled the fort, and made things as
unpleasant as possible for the Confed-
crates. The garrison was composed Of
less than ], 300 men from North Caro-
lima, South Carolina and Georgia.
Opposing them were the enemy with
over 1000 men (; forty-two large siege
guns in their four land batteries, and
q number Of 8, 10, 12and 15-inch guns
on their monitors.
The day was one which he will never
forget, Judge Twiggs said. Early in
the morning he breakfastea With Dr.
Harper, Of Augusta, one Of the sur
geons, their breakfast consisting Of
hard crackers and butter, the latter
being considered a treat. Their meal
was interrupted by Parrott shell,
which buried itself in the earth out
side the door and then exploded,
throwing up a large amount Of earth
and filing the. pail containing the
butter with sand. Itwas the begin
ming Of the bombardment. They
foresaw that the fort was to be assail-
ed by the entire land and naval force
Of the enemy. The whole seventy
guns of the enemy opened, and for
eleven hours the air was filed with
shot and shell of every description.
The Confederates replied as best they
could, but their armament was far
inferior to that Of the enemy, and
many Of their guns were soon disabled.
The infantry resorted to the bomb
proofs, the roofs Of which were almost
torn away by the constant explosions
of the sheels which fell within che
fort. The wooden buildings in the
fort, which had been used for officers
quarters and medical supplies, were
torn into splinters. It was hot July
day. and the men in the bomb-pro0fs
we're most uncomfortable. Gaillard's
battalion, from Charleston, preferred
to remain on the outside, sheltered
under the wall Of the parapet.
The blazing July sun was obscured
by the clouds Of smoke from the burst
ing shells. The fort shock like a ship
in the grasp Of storm. All the
heavy guns on the sea face of the fort
were soon disabled, and but for the
bomb-proofs and the parapets the gar
rison would soon have been annihila-
ted. The halliards were cut by the
shot and the garrison flag fell. A
s.oro of mon ran for IL at once. Four