Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-10-26

Fort Fisher. Ames had put III Gener-
sr Curtis brigade first and followed W
with the brigades OF Colonel Louis Bel
and Colonel EP~ennypacker. This col
umn drove Ia Confederate gurtison
headed by General Whiting and Colo
incl William Lamb from about
quarter of h land fnc "A charge
of the Federal naval brigade along the
sand beach had just q rcpuised.
The Federal commando or n land as
ss.uit on Fort Fisher, General \. II.
Terry, had detached General Paine's
division to hold a ipe across the PENN
snia upon which Fort Fisher stood in
order 10 prevent a Confederate attack
in the rear by troops from Wilmington,
4 While the garrison had been devotinE
Its IRE TO the repuise OF the naval bri-
gade Oh the sea face Anes ~DrigGdes
stcrmed the land face, and before dark
the opposing ranks occupied coutigu-
Gus portions OF the same parapet-
1t now became a soldiers fight in
every sense Of the word, because there
was but little chance OF unity OF action
either with the Confederate or Federal
troops. The trayerses, ranged all along
the main parapet and extending thirty
feet to the rear, with their shot proof
sides and numerous passages, Were so
many little forts, and the capture of
sny II of them by .Ames men simply
drove the defenders back 10 another
one. The Confederates. having the in
terror and knowing the ground. Were
L ohio 10 -hanl a,.afstnu -nffr .Nf sll +-r,N
chambers and ire across the space
where b ASSISTANTS must advance.
But the entering wedge had been driv-
en by Curtis brigade. The portion Of
the works held by him WAS Il protec-
ton 10 q thanking column which form
ed on the interior OF the main parapet
and swept around IN rear of the row Of
t~raverses. This compelled the garri-
son 10 come out Of their citadeis and
fight In open ground or be captured IN
them.
For q time the Confederates met this
flank attack from behind an old breast
work that extended along the interior
plane OF the Enclosure. Colonel Lamb,
who was alive TO every opportunity TO
dispute Apes' advance, 10 went
along the batteries sSath toward the
point and directed q heavy fire 10 be
thrown into the northwest portion of
the work, where the danger was so
threatening. On his way he ordered
every available man forward to the
f~rstttraverse ahead Of Ames' men, and
on his return he found that traverse
still held by his stubborn soldiers, al
though the slaughter among them had
been appalling. The IRE from the feet
had seocped put graves In the sand,
and his dead Were lying in them as
they fell, half buried by the showers of
dust thrown out by the bursting shells.
Great timbers. gun carriages Ii even
cannon, broken by the huge missiles
from the feet, were lying tn heaps,
and en- and around them Were the
dead who had yatniy tried to defend
them.
The advance of Ames' men had been
arrested. and Colonel Lamb summoned
all his force to the front traverse. with
the determination to charge Upon the
assaiiants and drive them out. Signals
were sent to the gunDers in the fort to
withhold their ire on the position held
by the Federals during this counter
Charge. The distance between the com
batants was not above a hundred feet,
and, calling IN men and officers to fol
low, Lamb teaped the breastworks,
with the order: Charge b~ayoDetsi For
ward Double quick! Afarch" Instant
IL a Federal bullet entered his right
hip, and he sank on the works. Ames'
xA~r -rsst1rlAl n EhAa - ynttnsy ~ LhfrtlofS
into the Confederates. and the latter
feil back behind cover.
Colonel Lamb was taken to a bomb
proof, and the command WIS given TO
Major James BELLY. Tenth North Car
DINA artillery. who agreed to continue
the struggle so long as be bad a man
eft General Whiting bad previously
been disabled by q mortal wound.
Colonel Lamb at q telegrapbed to
his chief. General Bragg, at Whining
ton, for assistance, and Major Reilly,
taking up the fight where II had halted
through the w%ounding of the comnaD.
dant. succeeded by a brave rally In
driving out the Federal faniSing col
umn that bad got inside the works.
But this effort OF the Confeierates de
pIeted their numbers engaged on the
tfayenses, and an advance OF q new
force, under Colonel Abbott of General
Paine's division, On the left OF Ames'
sbetgades, which until now had con
tended alone. captured some of the
traserses between this point and the
q
The C~onfeierates still looked to thsir
wounded leaders, Whiting and Lamb,
for inspiration. and at s O'clock word
was carried to them that The ammuni,
uon WIS Esssng ont. the cartsidge
boxes Of the dead having been emptied
90 supply the me on the works Both
Lamb and Whiting replied that help
would come from Bragg and the work
must not be surrendered. In an hour
word was brought that the sally port
had been carried By the ASSISTANTS, and
there was NO line 10 pos Terryis ad-
vance. IL was now dark. and the prog
fNas OF the assault was necessarily
slow. The combetants were so close
as to fire into one another ar arm
length. AL Of the Confederate wound.
: =s .e.aesed & Battery Buchanan,
near the sivsr and farther down to
Oard the point Confederate pssean
Needing kacopti0n.