The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-20

marched Turning to my companions,
l said: Boys, look yonder; it's all
up with us now" Certain death or
capture indeed seemed inevitable, and
we each realized it, The invincible
Tut, however, swore that he would
not be taken alive, and seemed in
exorable in this determination, al
though we assured him that any re-
sistance we might then make would
be unavailing against such a body of
men, numbering thirty or forty rifles,
and would end in our butchery by an
eXasperated foe. Tut persisted, how
ever, and, Indignantly scorning the
idea of surrender, without further par
ley discharged his rifle full at the APP
preaching enemy. This, of course, set
tied the question, as nothing was then
left to us but to stand by our reck-
less and intrepid comrade, which we
did for all we were worth. With ell
bow touching elbow, and our heads
alone visible above the sand bank, we
kept up a steady fire upon the line of
blue rapidly nearing us. At the first
volley they halted, returned the fire,
and then with huzzas came for us on
the full run.
The situation was appalling, but
we continued to pour our fire
into them. Occupying position
prone on the sand, and our vision OBJ
secured by the smoke of the guns, we
did not see the effect of our shots,
and did not know until afterwards in
formed by Col. Olmstead, who watch
ed the scene closely with his field
glass, that several of the enemy were
carried off by their comrades. What
was it, then, that shook the island from
center to circumference? Turning our
heads in the direction of the sound,
we witnessed a sight which sent the
blood tingling in our veins. The en-
tire face of Wagner was enveloped in
rolling clouds of smoke, lit up with
crimson flame from bastion to bastion
by the guns of the fort.
Siege Gums Opened Fire.
The heaviest batteries of siege
guns on this entire face of
Wagner were suddenly opened upon
the approaching federal infantry.
mate, who was commanding in the
absence of Gen. Taliaferro, had come
to the rescue. The artillery fire, con-
Quoted by that accomplished and gall
liant soldier, Lieut.. Col. j. c. Simpkins
of South Carolina and chief of artil-
lery, was directed with wonderful pre-
cision, and the shells passing over our
heads and bursting beyond us uncom-
fortably close, in the very face of the
enemy. scattered them like chaff before
the wind. But something. we had not
counted on followed. The Yankee fort
Immediately opened their batteries of
heavy guns upon Wagner, and one of
the most terrific artillery duels / ever
witnessed during the war was thus
precipitated between the respective
forts, and all stirred up by our little
band. The scene was grand and awe
inspiring both sides shelling furiously
over our heads al each other or
course all the infantry on both sides
We're driven from the parapets by this
terrific artillery IRE,
II was pain that this dem
onstration on the part OF Col
Olmstead was made 10 safely cover our
retreat, ana we rapidly raced for our
works through the heavy sand and
under the rays OF the hottest sun /
ever felt We arrived safely, com
pietely winded and exhausted once
IN The fort We separated, and silently
crept 20 our respective quarters col
olmsfead soon made hls appearance.
and placed the writer under arrest