Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-06-16

pede the miners was made by throwing
hand crenades and shells over the para
net into the trench and mouth of the
shaft. In order TO save the lives OF the
Louisianians stationed in the doomed
work all but mere handful were
drawn back to a second line OF works
built in rear Of the fort.
The hour Tor the explosion had been
fixed at o'clock p. III. Grant mar
shaled long columns Of infantry be-
hind the works nearest the scene,
ready for advance the moment the
breach was sprung. The general, with
his subordinate commanders, stood TO-
Sther at the naval guns, the highest
position between the lines. At the ap-
pointed hour the din Of 80 Federal
cannon, accompanied by the rattle OF
10000 muskets, ceased on the instant.
Only a few of the tens Of thousands
watching and waiting knew what was
to come.
Suddenly the earth trembled. and
the crown of the fort, with the out
work adjoining, seemed gently lifted
from the foundation. Great assures
appeared in the rising mass, which
gradually settled back, with the eX-
ception of the very center, where
column Of fine earth, mingled with
smoke and fire and solid objects, great
and small, rose high in the air. AS
suddenly as they had ceased firing the
cannon and muskets opened with re-
newed fury. Intense excitement fol-
lowed the explosion, Grants waiting
columns being no less surprised than
their foe.
But there were a hundred bluecoats
close to the crater who were not sur
prised. They comprised volunteers
from the Twenty-third Indiana and
Forty-ffth Illinois, who, trained in
their part, dashed into the smoking
crater. Not a hand was raised to pre-
vent the stormers from entering the
breach, but the instant they scaled the
debris which barricaded their advance
beyond toward the heart Of the citadel
they met storm of bullets and shells
from the Confederates in the rear Of
the fort. The moment hand or head
was exposed above the crest it was
riddled with balls. Finally two lines
were formed on the slope Of the debris,
and while the rear line loaded muskets
the men in front fired at random over
the crest.
But the Confederates soon recover
ed from their surprise and were mas
tiers of the situation. They climbed
the other side of the slope and tossed
lighted shells and hand grenades into
the ranks of the stormers. That was
an hour for the fiercest human pas
sions. To the assailants the prize was
within their grasp, and they reached
for it at any cost. The Confederates.
stung by the discovery that they had
been outwitted, were equally savage
in their determination to destroy their
foe.
The muskets Of the Federals firing
over the crest became too hot to hold,
and they were exchanged for fresh
ones. Shells and hand grenades were
brought up to give the enemy as good
as he sent. A volunteer from the First
United States regulars-William Laz-
arus-tossed twenty Of these missiles
over the crest and was himself killed
by one thrown from the other side.
Desperate as was the situation for
the Federals fighting from the debris,
they succeeded at last in checking the
enemy's fire. Elevating the heels Of
their muskets, they fired bullets down
the other slope upon the Confederates,
and these, with the hand grenades and
shells tossed over, proved too much for
the Louisianians. Meanwhile the Fed
eral engineers hauled some heavy tim
Der out Of the debris and built case
mate at the base Of the slope, which
was proof against the enemy's fire. AT
the same time a parapet was thrown
up back Of the casemate where the
Federals who had dashed into the era
ter found shelter from the grenades
and shells.
But the valor of the stormers was
wasted. The crater was too narrow
for more than a few men, and these
few could not hold it against the big
odds. During the night the troops
were withdrawn, and the miners set
to work to lay new galleries Of powder
under the parts of the fort that still
defied them. A second explosion took
place July 1 which opened a large
breach, but there was no attempt to
charge into the crater. In the first ex-
plosion only a few Confederates were
lost, and these were miners at work
underneath the fort. One of the min
ers who came out alive was q negro.
He said he felt as though he had been
lifted about three miles. He landed
unhurt in the Federal lines and served
General Logan to the end of the siege.
On the day of the Fort Hill affair
the Confederates exploded two Of their
countcrmines, engulfng the rollers OF
ho L. Tho rnirn