The National tribune., 1906-01-18

''On the 25th the enemy was COM
PEELED to abandon his first line Of works.
Gen. WeitZers Brigade, which had COW
cred our rear in the march from Alex
andria, joined US on the 26th, and on
the morning of the 9th a general as
sault was made upon the Notifications.
The artillery opened fire between 5 and
O'Clock, which was continued with
animation during the day.
"At 10 o'clock a. IN. WeitZel's Brigade,
with the division of Gen. Grover, reduced
to about two brigades, and the division
of Gen. Emory, temporarily reduced by
: detachments TO about brigade. under
command OF Col. Paine. with two regi-
ments Of negro troops, made an assault
upon the right of the enemy's works,
crossing Sandy Creek and driving him
through the wood into his fOrtifications.
The fight lasted on this line until 4
o'cloGk: and was very severely contested.
On the left the infantry did not come
up uhtil later In the day, but at o'clock
an assault was opened upon the works
on the center and left of center by the
divisions under Maj.-Gen. Augur and
Brig. Gen Sherman. The enemy was
:driyen into his works, and our troops
moved up to the fortifications, holding
the opposite sides of the parapet with
the enemy. On the right our troops
still 9ccupy this position. On the left,
after dark, the main body, being ex-
posed To a flank fire. withdrew to a belt
of wood, the skirmishers remaining
close upon the fortifcations.
The works are defended by gar
rison much larger than generally rep
resented. There appears to be no want
OF ammunition or provisions on the part
of the enemy. The fortifications are
very strong and surrounded by most
intricate tract of country. diversified by
-avincs, woods, plains. and cliffs, which
II is almost impossible to comprehend
without careful and extended recon
noissances.
six regiments. under command o1
col. Chickering, We're detailed at Alex
andria to guard the train from tha,
point and from Opelousas. These
troops will be here tomorrow and
strengthen our force some 5000 men
My effective force on the day of the as
sault was about $4,000; that Of tho
enemy, within the works, 10 regiment:
CT between 500 and 500 each--in al
about 5000 men-with mounted in
fantry outside the works in our real
(2.200), consisting Of the 9th and It'll
regiments OF Arkansas troops
&. In the assault of the 9th the be
havior of the officers and men was mos
gallant and left nothing to be desired
Our limited acquaintance with tn
ground and the character of the works
which were almost hidden from our OBJ
alone prevented the capture Of tn
post"
Beside this we have only the report
of Col. Thomas C. Kingsley, 26th Conn.
Lieut. Col. Joseph Selden, of the sam
regiment; Capt. Francis S. Keese. com
manding 12Sth y. Y: Maj. James f
Richardson, 3Sth Mass. and Lieut.. Co
Frank III. Peck, OF the 18th Conn. Fo
much of the real history OF the en-
gagement we are indebted to Co
Richard b. Irwin's admirable Histor
of the Nineteenth Corps. Lieut.-Co
Irwin was then Assistant Adjutant- Gen
eral Of the Corps and the Department
of the Gulf.
Very Difficult Country.
The entire lack of concert i'm the a,
tack was In a measure due 10 The ex
ceedingly difficult character OF TIL
country. Like that around Vicksbur
the terraiHe was rough in the extreme
the plateau being cut in every direc
tion by deep. steep-sided ravin.s whic
the rains of countless ages hal erode
Through the stiff clay. The ..des @
these rayines were so perpendicular n
20 be almost WaII-IiEe and .he gorge