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

Having determined on the plan OF
attack. / called the officers command
ing the regiments together, and ex-
planned to them specifically the position
each one was to occupy in the assault.
Maj. Shannon, with the 5th Texas
Mounted Volunteers. was TO perform a
circuit around the fort, reach the Mis-
sissippi above and advance down to the
stockade of upright timbers set in the
ground between the levee and the wa
ter's edge and then make an entrance.
Col Hardeman, with the 4th
Texas Mounted Volunteers, was to move
up the Bayou road and as soon as he
heard the firing of Shannon, or of the
enemy, he was to assault the fort at the
waters edge along the stockade and
simultaneously with Shannon to make
an entrance through the stockade and
with Shannon assault the garrison, hand
to hand.
Phillips. Lane and Herbert. with
their regiments, were to envelop the
works, moving up around them to thu
brink of the ditch shooting down the
cannoneers and their supporters from
the ramparts at distance of only 16 or
Is feet.
MAI. Shannon encountered the
rickets of the enemy and a fire was
opened upon him by the artillery OF
the fort.
"He advanced to the stockade, driv-
ing the enemy from il and firing upon
them through their own portfolios He
pushed a part of his men over their
works. the men helping each other over:
the balance of his men moved around
the stockade through the shallow wa
ter into the fort.
Hearing the small-arms of Maj.
Shannon amid the roar of artillery, I
| ordered an advance OF the whole line.
The fight was desperately contended on
every part of the ground.
To Head on the Gunboats.
Col. Hardeman, with the 4th Texas
being unable to control his guide, was
delayed in his attack on the La Fourche
side until nearly daylight, but his
casualties show with what determined
courage that veteran regiment stood its
ground after it came into action.
The attack on the fort was made
before light, at 2 o'clock in the morn
ing, for the purpose of preventing the
gunboats from being in advance. We
were not repulsed until we found after
getting into the Stockade that there was
yet a ditch to cross, running in front of
and parallel with the river. At this
ditch most desperate fight ensued be-
tween the commands of Shannon and
Phillips and the enemy.
"tOur men here used brick-bats
upon the heads Of the enemy. who re-
turned the same. Capt. Killough and
Lieut.. Land and other officers and men
were wounded on their heads with
bricks thrown by the enemy. which had
first been thrown by our men. There
never was more desperate courage dis
played than was shown by our men en-
gagged in this assault The enemy have
been shown an example of desperate
courage which will not be without it's
effect
".We fought from o'clock a. m. un-
til daylight without intermission, and
nd lad
desperation of the assault The garrison
contained between 500 and 600 Fed
erals.
"'At daylight i sent a flag of truce.
asking permission to pick up our
wounded and bury our dead, which was
refused. as l expected. My object in
sending a flag so early was to get away
great number of our men who had
found a little shelter near the enemy's
works and who would undoubtedly be
taken prisoners. AS it was / must have
saved a hundred men by instructing my
flag of truce officer as he approached
the fort to order our troops still there.
away.
eve mourn the fall OF many Of our
bravest and best officers and men,
among them Maj. Shannon. Capt. Rags
dale. Lieuts. Darby and Cole. of the 5th:
Maj. Ridley, of Phillipss regiment, and
Lieut.. Cartwright, Of the 4th, and
others.
Had the fort fallen into our hands,
| am satisfied, with little work on it.
we could have held it against all the
gunboats below Port Hudson.
Its capture and occupation would
doubtless have caused great uneasiness
and Inconvenience to the Federal army
besieging Port Hudson In this view
much risk was justified in its attempted
capture
(To be continued