The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-01
PORT HUDSON,
Terrible Days When the Besieg-
ing Ranks We're Trimmed by
Disease and Hostile Bullets.

Disease and Hostile Bullets.
ROBERT WEIGH, co. d, 165TH N. Y, 203
ToMPKINs AVE, BROOKLYN, N. Y.
l was very much interested in reading
the communication from Col. Ingraham,
hin your issue Of Feb. 13, as it is the first
article / have read from the inside of
Port Hudson during the siege. His refer
ence to the forlorn hope of 1,00O men is
true in every respect, and it is a disgrace
to our country not to carry out what was
promised by Gen. Banks in General Or
ders No. 40. That order was read to each
regiment, and the men that did volunteer
took their lives in their hands when they
promised to yindicate the flag of their
country. Three officers and 40 men re-
sponded from my regiment. After three
weeks of preparation the storming party
received orders to move, but before the
hour of attack came, the starving, be
leaguered garrison surrendered.
When the army under command of Gen.
Banks left Baton Rouge on the morning
Of May q, 1863, all knapsacks and sur
plus baggage were left behind; the men
had only the clothes they stood in, with
overcoats, rubber blankets, haycrsacks,
and canteens, besides their equipments, no
tents of any kind, and for 80 days neither
officers nor men had change of clothing.
The fight at Plain Stores on the after
noon Of the 21st l remember well, as it
was the first attempt to close in and
around Port Hudson.
Extracts from my diary:
May 22.-"The army camping in the
woods.
May 23.-"We closed in and surround
ed the works. Our division, under Gen.
L. w. Sherman, of three brigades and 10
pieces of artillery, was placed on the left,
the left flank resting on the river.
May 24.-"Our line advanced and oc-
cupied the camps deserted by the enemy
land we got more than we bargained for),
they having retreated inside of their forti-
fications. Day and night the lombard
ment from Farragut's fleet kept up. AT
night we could see the shells fly through
the air, make graceful curve, hear them
strike AMI explode. Mortar batteries were
placed along our lines at short distances
during the siege and mostly used at night
to keep the besieged wide awake and to
tire them out. 1t was Il grand sight while
on picket to witness the display during the
night bombardment.
May 27.-"Early this morning while on
picket we were informed that there was
to be an assault ON the works; a. m. We
advanced our line of pickets and acted as
skirmishers; lively time we had until
p. M, when We were called in to join our
regiment, which was designated to lead
the brigade in the assault. As we ad-
vanced through the woods, coming to a
clearing we found trees for several hun
dred feet felled in all manner of directions.
AS we emerged from the woods the enemy
opened on us with infantry and artillery.
We managed to get through the fallen
timber, but hardly man had a decent
pair of pants on him.
"Our Colonel formed us into division
front on color division. This was done
under constant fire. AS soon as formed
the men were ordered to lie down in their
positions waiting for the rest of the bril-
gade to come up. They.did not get up to
our line, so the Colonel ordered the charge.
When about $50 yards from the works
the enemy gave us grape and canister at
short range. l never saw anything like it;
our men were moved down; the firing
was terrific. We had no support from the
rest of the brigade. Our Colonel, Major
and line officers wounded, the men by
natural instinct deplOyed as skirmishers,
taking to whatever protection they could.
I'VE finally fell back the best we could.
Such sight: the dead and wounded lay
thick, the wounded grooming and calling
for water (of which We had little to give.
calling upon US not to desert them. The
firing from the enemy slackened. Six of
us made an effort to bring in the body of
the Colonel. We finally reached him and
brought him in carefully over the fallen
timber. The enemy came out from their
works to take as many as they could
prisoners. What was left Of the regiment
reformed in the woods, under Capt. Agnus
NOW Gen. Felix Agnus, proprietor of the
Baltimore American). Later in the after,
noon the enemy came out in force from
their works and attempted to break
through our lines, but were finally driven
back. The whole army was repulsed with
| terrible slaughter: everything in our lines
| was confusion and turmoil. Our over
| coats, blankets and haversacks had been
| left in the woods before making the
| charge; night coming on, the men were
unable to find them.
May 2S.-"A flag Of truce was sent out
early to bring in the wounded and bury
| the dead. Our regimental losses yester-
day in killed and wounded were seven Off
GERS, 50 non-commissioned officers and
men, IL missing (wounded. taken prison
| ers. as we found ont afterwardS); Gen
Sherman, Division Commander. and seven
staff officers wounded.
May 29.-"Rained hard. half our men
had no overcoats or blankets, and suffered
| for want Of protection.
May 31.-"ReinfOrcements of 5000
men, with heavy artillery, came up"
Constant duty day and night soon be.
gan to tell on the men; the defamation was
heavy; rations were doled out in small
guam, es: diarrhea and ague soon filed
the hospitals. The sick and wounded
were sent to Baton Rouge and New
Orleans by steamboats,. to relieve the
camp hospitals established at Springfield
Landing. Our camps were so close to the
enemy they could at any time shell us out
of them. but they had none too much am
munition.
| During the early part of June engineers
laid out trenches for gradual approaches
towards the enemv's works. This work
was done principally at night. The
pickets would be advanced to cover the
negroes at work. I remember one very
dark night, June 8, 2 a. m. q was in
charge Of three picket posts). when or
ders came to advance the picket. A large
force of negroes, with picks and shovels
were guided by engineers, using cotton laid
on the ground to guide the diggers. In.
structions were given net to work toe
close together. All went well for while
Soon the picks and shovels began to clash
thereby informing the enemy, who opened
! heavily from their batteries. thus ending
/ that nights work. In the day time cotton
bales were rolled forward and trenches
| 4 h.,h ty,1 Hhnv,