The National tribune., 1903-05-28
WITH THE -. 40, dr.
-, ,,,,WESTERN ARMY
he east end
tCpptlnued from Hrst pags.)

cannon, which was posted at the east enc
of the bridge.
Col. Atkins destroyed the trestlework
but Gen. Mower decided that more time
! "vould be required to destroy the bridg,
He destroyed IS miles of railroad ant
returned on Dec. q, having marched 81
miles.
The Fourteenth Corps occupied an i'm
portant position in the line of environ
ment. Gen. Carlin's Division occupied
their right, connecting with Gen. Leg
gett, Gen. Morgan's Division was on the
left of Carlin and Gen. Baird's Division
was posted to guard the rear and in re
serve. Gems. Carlin and Morgan had fOunt
places in their front which they deemed
open to successful assault. They had
made every preparation necessary for the
attempt. ..,,
The Twentieth Corps, which reached
from the Fourteenth Corps, near the Sa
vannah & Augusta Railroad, around east
ward to the Savannah River, occupied the
most important position in the line. Gen
Geary with his division was on the left
reaching to the river Gen. Jackson with
his division was in the center, while Gen
Ward was on the right, connecting with
tie Fourteenth Corps. ~ ..a .5,iuS
CAPTURE OF THE REsoLUTE.
The enemy held the Savannah River
with ironclad gunboats, dispatch boats
etc, which were constantly plying up and
down the river. A detachment of for.
ayers with some cavalry attacked. brought
to, and captured near the foot of Argyle
Island the dispatch boat Ida, which was
conveying Col. Clinch, Of Gen. Hardee's
staff, with dispatches for gunboats above
l.. .fp,.4 fol sod fsr.
and burned. 1t was now deemed advisable
to occupy two of the large islands in the
river. Col 'Hawley, Sd Wis, was ferried
over to Argyle Island. Capt. Vinegar
with his 1st N. Y Light Battery l.
four three-inch rifled guns, was posted al
Tweedside to command the channel be.
tween Argyle Island and the Georgia
shore. In due time two gunboats and the
tender ResOlutc were discovered coming
down the river. Col. Hawlcy Immediately
deployed two companies to intercept them
if possible. and pick off their gunners
When these vessels came within range OF
Capt. Winegar's guns he opened fire upon
them. They undertook to beat hasty
retreat. While turning about, the gun
boats ran into the Kcsolnte and disabled
her machinery. She Rad also received two
shots from Capt. Winegar's battery. The
officers and crew of the Resolute attempt,
ed to make their escape in their small
boats, but Col. Hawley prevented this.
One volley from his men wounding the
Executive Officer, caused an immediate
surrender of the boat and crew, consist
ing Of six, phieers and 19 men,. The vessel
with arms ammunition and stores, was
turned Ovqye,to. the Quartermaster's De-
lpartment.,s Qpl. Carman's Brigade. First
Division, H6Wteenth Corps, of which Col.
n 10y irno r. rf oil
sent over rtpI Argyle Island and later over
into South Carolina. taking q section of
Vinegar 's6battery. Col. Carman, selected
defensibiesl position from which he de-
monstra tedr toward rCfydesdale Greek and
the Union sfIauseway.
Oppositdf the left of Gen. Geary's Di-
vision -wasotfe upper end of .Hutchinson's IS
Island, lhrge island in the Savannah
River. extending down to the lower end of
the city Of Savannah. This island has
about 9G0nSerfs in rice Plantations. Many
negroes resided on the island. Some of
these pcoife came over in canoes to see
rhe' Uni0n' troops: Capt Moses Veale,s of
Gen aeart staff. crossed over to the
island In one Of these canoes, and, guided
by q negro, made a reconnaissance Of the
eiiefny's position on the river front and
returned safely. His report resulted in
the occupation Of. the upper end OF the ISL
and by two regiments Of Geary's Division
In front Of Gen. Geary's Division three
forts were thrown UP. in which heavy guns
We're to be placed. This work was mostly
done in the night time The enemy had
three strong works in front of Gen.
Geary well armed with artillery. Their
guns were served quite regularly, throw
ing sseme 800 shots per day. In making
the assault along this part, Of the line the
formidable obstruction was the Ogeechee
and Savannah Canals,, of which the enemy
had full control This canal was imme-
diately in front Of their line, and was
about % feet wide and six feet deep. The
plan was to throw bridges over the canal,
upon which the troops could cross. The
baiks. or flooring joists, of the pontoon
bridges were to be used to span the canal,
while the floors were to be made Of cane
fAsciiies 'of suitable length and strength.
Two hundred large straw fHscines were
also made to fill up the ditch in front of
the enemy's works. ryh' F,fV'I"i f'''''' .'eS
All these arrangements had been made
by the evening OF Dec. 20, and three 30
FOUNDER Parrott guns had been mounted
in Fort No. i, while Forts Nos. 2 and 8
were to be finished that night. A num-
Der Of casualties occurred. during the prog
ress OF this work.
On Dec. 10, at 10 a. M, Gen Wihianis
held a conference with his division and
brigade commanders to discuss and agree
upon plans for storming the enemy's
works when the siege guns were in place.
Gen. Sherman had fixed Dec q as the
day for the assault, but, as before stated,
on ACCENT of his absence on a visit TO
Gen. Foster to arrange plans for n move
ment in South Carolina against the
Charleston Railroad and the Union Cause
way, the assault was postponed.
,.oc = eTO be continued.) 'r