The National tribune., 1904-09-29

battery on the hill with q half battery
Of light 12s belonging to the Sd n. Z.
L. A. A few rounds Of canister sent the
pursuing party quickly to cover, and my
Harrison, for better defense during the
During this movement Col. Donohoe.
10th N. H.. commanding brigade, and
Lieut.-Col. Nichols. 1iSth N. T., were both
severely wounded-and here I have the
honor to ask that these officers may re-
ceive promotion for highly meritorious con-
duct.
CASUALTIES.
My casualties during the days opera
tions were heavy in proportion to the
strength of the command. My field return
for 18th of September gave 3, 115 men for
duty. One regiment 18th Md had been
left in camp, reducing this number by 26O
men. Of these I lost as follows Commits
stoned officers-killed, 8; wounded, SO. En-
listed men-killed, "a; wounded. 466.
Total, 90 killed and SOP wounded. Three
hundred and thirty men were also re-
ported missing, but as the enemy had
made no captures from my command, and
the command became somewhat mixed up
during and Immediately succeeding the as
sault, l think this number will be ma
terially reduced, If not quite Cancelled.
Lists. by name, of the killed and wound
ed have been duly forwarded to the proper
authority.
A strong picket consisting of about one
half my command was thrown out imme-
diately after sunset, and the remainder of
the division occupied the line extending
across the rear of Battery Harrison un-
til about 0 p. m, when was relieved By
the Third Division (colored troops), com
manded by Brig.-Gen. Paine, and, under
orders from Brig. Gen. Hickman, COM
manding corps MAI Gen. Ord having
been obliged to leave the field in conse-
position facing the river. with my right
resting on Battery Harrison, and outside
that work, and my left refused. No at
tempt was made by the enemy during the
night to dislodge me from this position,
and at about a. m. of the 3Oth I was di-
rected to resume my former position in
side the battery. relieving in turn Brig
Gen. Paine, of the Third Division Moth
ing of importance occurred during the fore
noon. The enemy were evidently heavily
REINFORCED and appeared to be maneuver-
ing for favorable position from which to
make an assault. The enemy's gunboats
continued TO shell our position from guns
throwing 9-inch shell, with. however. but
slight damage When, at about midday. I
perceived the enemy's prepare tions for an
assault on my right. / hastily moved the
larger portion of my First Brigade from
the left to the extreme right of my posi-
ton. which was my weakest point
THE REBELS Try TO RETAKE THE FORT
During the night previous the Third Di-
vision had made good progress in strength
ening the position. A strong rif1e-pit, with
log traverses, had been thrown up on the
left and along the center, but the right
had no such protection. My command
from the time that they entered the work
in the morning had been busily engaged
in Strengthening and extending this line
OF defense, which, when completed, would
make Battery Harrison an inclosed work
Before this portion of the line could be
completed the enemy, at about 1890
o'clock, noon, threw himself in three lines
upon my right, at the same time opening
with two full batteries of field guns upon
my center and left. l reserved my fire
until they had emerged from the chaparral
through which they advanced, when l
opened most effective fire of musketry.
At the same time | replied to his artillery
with the half battery mentioned in report
OF operations for the 10Th, but with small
effect. This battery had, under direction
of the Chief of Artillery, been placed un-
der different command from that of the
previous day. and the officer now in COM
mand reported to me almost Immediately
after the action commenced that he was
out of ammunition. Such carelessness on
the part of q commissioned officer is ex-
tremely reprehensible. and l regret to say
that circumstances which occurred an hour
later have rendered it impossible for me
to report the designa ton of the battery OF
teh name Of the officer. directed that the
guns should be withdrawn by hand, il
being impossible to bring horses into the
work, ard sent a staff officer TO corps
headquarters for full battery and a capa.
BILE officer. Brevet Maj.-Gen. Weitzel, who
had now assumed command of the corps
promised me every assistance. The
enemy's furious onset had been in the
meantime repulsed with musketry alone
driving him to cover, and leaving an i'm
mense number Of dead and wounded in
front Of my right. He. however, quickly
reformed. and with his accustomed vel
tried the same position a second time
Finding that my ammunition was getting
low. l had a few moments before sent q
staff officer with an order to bring ND a
wagon from my ordnance train. The
wagon came just at the right time, durina
the second assault, and driven ,fp to the
sallyport of the fort by Capt John
Brydon, 18th N. T.. Acting Ordnance
Officer Of the division. and kept there un
til the action was concluded.
1t was in full view and but a short
musket range from the enemy. yet Capt
Rrydon CALAMITY held his mules three OF
which were shot while he was thus oc-