The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-02-01

| ranged a protection for the gunners and
began the firing.
With almost every discharge the
Confederates, who were lying right I'M
der the guns on the other side of the
embankment, would utter their oaths
at the patriotism Of the Damned
Yankees who were Suffocating them
with smoke and deafening them with
the din of the cannon. The entire sa-
lutte, however. was fired, which doubt
less gave the impression to the enemy
, that we had an ample supply Of am
munition left and plenty of strength to
use it.
1T may well be questioned if the
Confederate troops ever met such a de-
termined resistance. coupled with so
much out-and-out bluff as that which
confronted them at Donaldsonville.
A Brave Boy.
1T was some time during that 4th of
July that the officer who succeeded
Maj. Bullen as commandment of the fort
expressed in the presence of some of
our 18th boys a desire for certain in
formation that in vain he had sought to
obtain.
lone of the youngest of the number
offered to make the attempt to secure
it. The commander in reply chaffed
the volunteer a bit owing, perhaps to
his extreme youthful appearance
What can you do?' was the question
Of the commander. Anything you say,
was the quick reply. wish then,
said the officer, you would find where
Gen. Green is and what he is going to
dc 1 will replied the boy.
The commander scarcely expected
that such foolhardy attempt would be
made. and dismissed the matter from
his mind. The next morning very early
q h MI vic fhn
tent with the information that Green
was in certain farm house. giving the
location, and that he was intending to
attack the fort at l o'clock that day.
The officer laughed. The young soldier
remarked: Would it not be we'll for you
to get ready?'
THE officer studied for a moment the
face of the boy, and became thoughtful.
Shortly after the foregoing converse
ton matters were put in readiness for
an attack and at / o'clock every avail
able man was i'm position. Hardly had
that been done when Green. who doubt
less had reasoned that at that hour the
garrison would be easily surprised, sud-
denly appeared and began the attack.
To his establishment and dismay he found
that our men were fully prepared. as
IL expecting the attack, and so success
fully met it that he fell back to consider
what next to do.
1.-The facts were these: That 10th boy
of whom we have spoken soon after his
conversation with the commanding Off
Ger, and after dark passed through our
picket lines and by a piece of good
luck as he says. though evidently by
sheer daring, discovered the farm house
where were stopping Gen. Green and
his staff.
He hung about and by creeping un-
der fences. climbing trees and by other
devices and adventures that seem al
act fv1or 1ryID -. -
believe. obtained the desired Informal
ton and actually overheard the words
of Gen. Green while he was planning
the attack for the next day, and among
other things heard him say. L will ell
ter that fort if I have to cut my way
with an AK Green probably when
using those words had in mind the cut
ting of the upright timbers that formed
the stockade that greatly had bothered
his men in the previous assault. After
getting this information our young vol
unteer returned. passing through the
reaching the fort some time before day
light.
eve would be glad to give the name
of that youthful hero, now Of course
well on in years. but he has emphat-
icaily requested the historian to with
hold for the present Its publication"
Death Of Mai. Bullen.
Among the reinfOrcements hastily
sent to Donaldsonville was a detach-
ment from the 1St La, a regiment made
up of the longshoremen of the levees-
1t is said that the regiment was in the
Confederate service when the city was
taken. The majority of the members
were Of the toughest class and some of
them were under the influence of liquor
at the time that they arrived at Fort
Butler. Maj. Bullen angered one OF
them. named Francis Scott, who watch
on him from behind. which proved
fatal. Scott was arrested and sent in
irons to New Orleans, where he was
tried and executed.
A Confederate Account.
Brig. Gen. Thos. Green made a full
report to Gen. Dick Taylor Of his assault
upon the fort, and it is high testimony to
the gallantry of the defenders and the
desperation of the assault. He also con-
fesses to the shabby trick by which he
rescued his men by a misuse Of flag
OF truce. His report is as follows:
During the 9th l rested our jaded
troops and horses, getting all the in
formation which could be procured re-
lating to the situation of the fort, its
force, defenses, ETC., etc.
IT sent Stones regiment to the east
of the bayou tia Fourche) and ordered
him to advance towards Donaldsonville
on the bank and attract the attention
Of the enemy. and. If possible, attack
him on that side. With the balance OF
the command I advanced during the
night of the 9th to within mile and
q half OF the fort, where dismountod
my command.