The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-11-06

Hill, on horseback, dashed into our
fort, and in short conference with
Captain Chew explained the perilous
condition Of our army and told Captain
Chew to hold the fort as long as posi-
(, BILE.
The enemy was now upon us and the
fight had begun, when General Hill left
the fort and sped away towards Peters
burg.
Gibbons columns approached in fine
order, and by it's numbers alone, seem
ed about to envelope the works. It
was grand sight, As we CAPPED
their ranks with shot and she'll they
would close up and move grandly on
until they had almost half cncircled
our fort and not more than so PAGES
distant, when they stopped and opened
fire upon us with their repeating Spen-
Ger rifles.
From their circular position the fire
converged upon us and their bullets
hisscd and shrieked and whistled un.
til the brave Mississippians, vet.
erans of a hundred battles, said they
had never witnessed anything to com
pare with it
But we had not been idle. AS soon
as their terrible fire slackened, with
three charges of canister in our 3.inch
rifles and all the guns we had picked
up loaded aud stood up on the inside
OF the fort, we opened with well-di-
rected volley and sent them reeling
back down the hill over the ground
they had passed over in such grand
style such q short time previous.
Their position around Fort Gregg
was well marked by the line Of their
dead.
1t would be impossible to describe
the scene in Fort Gregg at this time.
Our enthusiastic spirits found vent in
such rebel yelling as was never heard
before, for the boy David had emit
ten tho mighty Goliath.
Let me quote briefly from Nc Cabe 8
Life and Campaign Of Robert E.
Lee" page COG:
This whole affair could be distinct
ly seen by both armies, and the re.
pulse Of the Federals was greeted by
loud cheers from the Confederates in
the inner line. Still no aid could be
sent to the brave garrison. Both ar
mics ceased firing at other points and
every eye was fixed on the fight ct
Fort Gregg"
Rallying his forces Gibbon made an
other desperate effort to carry the fort.
But the history Of the FIRST repulse is
also the history Of the second. In the
meantime We were wild with excite
ment iu the fort. Following the lead
Of the Twelfth Mississippi regiment
We all yelled and cheered like madmen
and fought like demons.
LookI A third charge is now on
But Gibbon las changed his tactics.
This time his columns double quick,
and in addition to their muskets, they
have strapped upon their backs small
picks and shovels. They do not stop,
as before, but pitch headlong into the
big ditch in front Of the fort, notwith-
standing the water from the winters
rain is swo to three feet deep in the
bottom. There is such q splashing as
they jump into the ditch, getting out
of range of our fire.
1t was at this moment that Captain
Chew expressed wish for hand gren-
AIDES, and victory would be ours. But
we had none.
Soon their plans developed. They
were digging steps in front of the fort
to scale the top. This, of course, re-
quired some time. We could easily
hear the officers giving orders.
While the steps were being prepared
we were hotly engaged with Gibbon'
sharpshooters, closed almost around
us.
Then We heard the call to arms over
in tho ditch; tn, steps were ready; all
our guns were loaded and ready.
FORWARD, march," the cry rang out
from the ditch. The fire from the
sharpshooters ceased. Upon the tip
toe of expectancy, with guns in hand
and pointed across our breastworks,
every living member of our little gar
rison (many had been killed) was
watching for the heads If the enemy to
appear.
First, we saw the flags, next the
bayonets bobbed in sight and then the
heads Of the Fcderals rising up out Of
the ditch. We poured volley after
vollcy into them. Some escaped our
murderous FIRE, many were killed upon