The National tribune., 1903-05-21
WITH THE
WESTERN ARMY
Continued from first page.)

ter of grave Importance. Foraging for
corn, potatoes, hogs, cattle, etc, was
| now out of the question. We were be-
yond the region where these things We're
abundant. Cotton and rice were the prod
| ucts of this section of Georgia.
1t was quite obvious that Savannah
could not be taken by sudden assault.
The defenses We're too strong and diff
cult of approach for that; besides, they
were defended by Gen. Hardee, most
competent and valiant soldier, with gar
rison of at least $1,000 trained soldiers.
Gen. Sherman knew that there was
large feet of naval vessels and trans
ports near at hand; the only question was
to communicate with the feet.
Before starting on the march he had
communicated with Gen. Grant in regard
to supplies, and was informed that the
feet would be sent to Ossabaw Sound.
The Ogeechee River empties into this
| SOrnd, and is navigable to steamers to
Kings Bridge, which was now held by
the Union forces. But Fort McAllister,
with its heavy battlements and frownins
cannon, garrisoned by the enemy, guarded
the mouth of the river, and was prepared
| to defend it.
On Dec 10, Gen. Sherman decided that
Fort McAllister must he captured, and
iss;led orders accordingly.
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF FORT MALLS
TER.
Fort McAllister was the extreme left of
| the extensive works designed for the de-
fense of the city of Savannah.
| 1t was situated Gil the right bank of the
4 Ogeechee River, and defended the en-
trance to that stream from Ossabaw
Sound into which it entered. This river
is navigab.e to Kings Bridge, near the
crossing of the railroad from the west.
| The capture of this fort would give i'm
mediate connection between Gen. Sher-
mans army and the naval fleet, with its
transports loaded with supplies.
| While the Confederate forces held this
fort, such communication could not be had
except by way Of Saint Catharine's Sound,
! some distance to the west. The capture
of the fort, too, would be an important
blow toward the capture of Savannah.
On Dec. II, after a careful study of
tile whole problem, Gen. Sherman decided
to capture the fort by assault. He issued
orders to Gen. Fitzpatrick, who had passed
his cavalry division from the left to the
the Ogeechee and CanOochee Rivers and
move down to point near the fort, make
reconnaissance there, and then move
westward to Saint Catharine's Sound and,
if possible. communicate with the fleet.
| Gen. Sherman also issued orders to
Gen. Hazen to move his division across
! the Ogeechee by way of Kings Bridge,
and move down to and capture Fort Nc
Allister. This movement was begun at
daylight on the morning OF Dec. 13. Gen.
| KIpatrick's line of march was to the
right of Gen. HaZen, and protected his
flank against any Confederate troops that
might be in that quarter.
KILPATRIcK's RECoNNoIssANCE.
| Gen. Fitzpatrick made his reconnois-
saEce promptly, and was anxious to as
sau!t the fort with his division, but. act
ing upon his orders. he moved to the west
to reconnoiter Saint Catharine's Sound
and communicate with the fleet, which he
did early in the day.
Gen. Hazrn had a march of 13 miles
from the bridge to the fort. This he ac-
compiished by II o'clock. When within a
| mile of the fort q picket of the enemy was
captured, and here a line of torpedoes
| was found across the road. Some time
was spent in removing these death-deal-
ing missiles. A reserve of eight regi-
mentS was stationed here. composed of the
following troops: From the First Brigade,
the 55th ILL.,, commanded by Capt Charles
A. Address; the 127th ILL.,, commanded by
| Capt. Charles Schryver, and the 5Ith
Ohio. commanded by Capt. Robert w.
Smith. From the Second Brigade, the
37th Ohio, commanded by Lieut.-COl.
LOUIS Won bleSSinSu, tne oou OhiO, coHi-
manded by Capt. Robert Curran. and the
SD Ind, commanded by Lieut-Col. George
II. Scott; and from the Third Brigade the
99th Ind. commanded by Lieut.-Col John
NJ. Berkey, and the 18th Mich, COM
manded by Lieut.-Col. Frederick S.
Hutchinson.
PREPARING FOR THE ASSAULT.
The First Brigade. Col Theodore Jones
commanding. was given the right of the
line. The 10th ILL.,, commanded by Lieut.
Col. John Z. Maddox; the 30th Ohio.
commanded by Capt. Brooks, and the 9th
Mo-, commanded by Lieut.-Col Van Deu-
sen, composed his force. Col. Jones was
directed to make detour to the right
and strike the river below the fort. His
movement was made under fire from the
fort through q deep marsh. and was most
difficult and dangerous; but he established
his line about GOO yards from the fort and
threw forward skirmishers.
The Second Brigade, Col. Weller S.
Jones commanding, was assigned the left
of the line. His force consisted of the
111th. ILL.,. commanded by Col. James S.
Martin: the 54th Ohio, commanded by
Maj. George +. Kile, and the 47th Ohio,
commanded by Col. Aug. C. Parry.
These troops were moved to 4 point
above the fort. with the left resting on the
river. Col. Jones also threw out skir-
mishers.
The center of the line was assigned to
the Third Brigade. commanded by Col.
John NJ. Oliver. His command consisted
of the 10th Ohio commanded by Lieut.
Col. Henry l.. Phillips: the 4Sth ILL.,.
commanded by Maj. Edwin Adams, and
the Goth H.. commanded by Lieut.-Col.
Owen Stewart. These troops We're moved
forward to point about 700 yards west
of the fort.
1t required considerable time for the
long skrmish line to reach points near
enough to the fort to give an effective fire
against the artillerymen. who were con-
stantly serving the guns.
The fort was protected TO the rear by
parapet, deep bitches, palisades, n line
of torpedOes, and extensive abatis. For
tunately for the Union forces, the para
pet on the land side of the fort was low
The artillery, % guns. were all fired in
barbet. The consequence was that the
gunners, while loading and serving their
pieces, were exposed to the fire of our
skirmishers, who, availing themselves of
trees, logs, stumps and every means of
cover, kept up an incessanr fire.
While. these preparations were going
forward, Gen: Sherman and Gen. How
ard, with u number of staff officers, Were
earnest spectators at the rice mill on the
Cheever plantation, on the river. three
miles above the fort. Here Gen. Howard
had established q signal station, and had
Capt. De Grass place two Of his 20