The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-09
STORMING FORT WAGNER
Civil War Action Recalled by the Japan
ese Exploits at Port Arthur. y.

MACON, Mo, Sept. 8.-Maj or c. S. Brock
veteran Of the civ il war, who lives here
and who was chief of the Bureau OF Stats-
tics under President Harrison. retold the
story of the attempt to storm Fort Wagner,
the other day, in order to show that there
we're assaults during the civil war compar-
able with the attacks of the Japanese on
Port Arthur.
The attack on Fort Wagner Morris
Island was typical of the characteristics
OF the American fighting man, he said.
"The fort was made of sand. During the
entire day OF July 10, 1863, the monitors
and ironsides bombarded the fort with 500
pound shells and solid shot.
1.-THE cannonading was terrific. Vast
clouds OF sand would ascend 90 feet in the
air like great geysers. 1t looked as II you
might hide house in the places where the
shells struck.
Toward shutdown the columbiads Of
the enemy ceased to reply. 1t was felt
certain that they had been put out OF action
and many OF the defenders slain
"Ten thousand men were selected to make
the assault at o'clock in the evening-just
dark. Gen. George c. Strong commanded
the attacking column. was a Captain in
ments honored by an assignment to the as
saulting forces.
Loads were ordered withdrawn from
all the guns and bayonets fixed. Jaws
became rigid, and then lips moved. The
soldiers were praying. There were no
smiles; no light hearted jests. l have
read that warriors of some nations were
given to careless banter as they went forth
to battle. | never observed it among our
soldiers.
Sol Robert G.. Shaw led with the Fifty
fourth Massachusetts, and two other negro
regiments. Within 400 yards the enemy
opened up with shrapnel and grape. The
columbiads had not been injured by the
bombardment. Shaw went down, so did
Strong, the leader, and others
"The island seemed to stagger under
the mighty detonatons of the artillery.
The assailants pressed on. Soon we were
in the zone of rifle fire and hand grenades.
Everything about the fort appeared to be
spouting red hot death,
Captains and Lieutenants were swept
out of existence while trying to make their
orders heard above the din that could be
compared to nothing except a white hot hell
turned upside down and sizzling over the
face of the earth. A violent thunder
storm added to the fearful tumut. Bloody
faced, scorched and hideously MANNED
men were reeling wildly to the rear
do men think at such time? ! did.
1t all seemed so unreal. SO unearthly, so
strangely fantastic, that fancied | was in
another world where after due penance
in pandemonium peace would come.
"The regiments that led were shot down,
and we crossed the moat on their dead
bodies, then dug our hands and feet into
the sides Of the fort and worked our way up.
"A handful of us-probably 300 out of
the 1o,oOO-got over the parap,ets and were
a corner, waiting anxiouslv for our com
rades. Terrible as had been the execution
we witnessed, we did not appreciate It's
frightful extent, and supposed enough
of the brave fellows lived to hold what
had been taken.
THE interior of the fort was dark, and
we were in some time before the enemy
discovered us. We had caught the bear
but the bear didn't know it,.
-Our muskets were hastily loaded. Some
made for us, shooting az they came. There
were over 1000 of them, and 1t meant an
Inhalation to stay, so we hurried back the
way we came. and escaped.
Not until next morning did we learn
OF the fearful havoc. The attack didn't
last over an hour and half and In that
brief time there was total OF 2.31s killed,
wounded and missing. There were, So
officers killed, II captured and OIL wounded.
! lost over half of my company.
when ] read of Japs or Cossacks being
repulsed with slaughter. instead of CRITICS.
ing them for falling into trap, my heart
goes out In sympathy to the vanquished,
because know something of the appalling
road over which they travelled In their
fatal struggle.
"On Sept. 3 following we completed a
system If trenches and captured the fort
with but comparatively small effort. The
enemy decamped, because this time enough
boys in blue piled over TO make 1t danger
Gus for him to stay.
"On that occasion | got an Enfield gun
that had belonged to some Johnnie |
have 1t yet and am keeping it as souvenir
for the part it played in making about the
tory
Capt. Brock received his commission as
Ma jor after the July attack on Fort Wagner.