The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-01-18

| Vdnced 10 the front, and from behind
stumps and logs kept up an incessant
hre upon any of the enemy who showed
themselves above the parapet. Capt.
Arthur De Whit Co. F, was wounded
In the arm while in charge of the ad-
vance guard or storming party Lieut..
Charles L. Van Slyck, Co. Z, was killed
| during the early part of the engage
ment. while nobly cheering on his men.
The bodies of many of our dead were
found within a short distance of the
rebel earthworks, while none retreated
until the command was given to that
effect"
Lieut-Col Frank H. Peck, 18th
Conn:
AT o'clock on the morning of the
9th our brigade advanced in line
through the woods, driving in the enc
lny's skirmishers and reaching the
clearing in front shortly after s. We
were received, as we emerged, with
volleys from artillery and infantry. i
received orders from Gen. Dwight. tenn.
perarily in command Of our brigade, to
advance to the front and left and ST.
lence the artillery, which was firing
grade and canister into our lines.
1--WE moved by the flank, under a
heavy fire. past four pieces, and took
up suitable position. Three compa-
niles were sent forward as skirmishers.
and soon came upon the skirmishers Of
the enemy, whom they drove before
them. A detachment was sent from
inside the works, which attempted to
turn our flank.
"Our left being entirely unsupported,
sent one company, which succeeded
by sharp fighting in repelling the at
tack. The entire regiment was finally
engaged, and by noon had succeeded
in driving the enemy inside the para
pet, and in a short time afterward had
silenced four pieces Of artillery. two of
which, being field pieces, were with
drawn, the other two amounted en- bar
bette), the two wings Of the regiment,
relieved each other in guarding till late
in the day. Our line did not halt until
it reached the parapet, and at one time
the extreme right had succeeded In
scaling the work, but for want of har-
monious support of other corps were
the position. The day closed with an
armiStice, when we were relieved by
another regiment and rejoined our bril-
gade upon the right of the center"
The Work Of the Fleet.
The fleet had been lying in the river
ever since Farragut passed two of his
vessels above Port Hudson. The Hart
ford, Commodore Palmer's flagship, lay
at anchor around the bend above the
place, and with her were the Albatross,
Sachem, Estrella and Arizona. Below
mond, Genesee, Essex and the mortar
f1otilla. These kept the river closely
guarded with picket boats thrown out
at night to intercept any communica-
ton with the garrison. They had kept
up a steady fire, and during the attack
they assisted it by a hot bombardment
from all their guns which could be
brought to bear. This only contributed
to the success by some annoyance to the
garrison from the rain of shells.
Across the river Col. Benedict, of the
1921 n. Y. with his regiment and 10th
position to interfere with any raid from
the land side or the garrison.
Lamentable I'm Every Way.
Except to gain advanced positions
the assault had been lamentable fail
ure in every way. Whether the place
could have been taken by a well CO.
ordinated assault is doubtful, but it GER
tainly could not be taken by such dis
jointed operations, where Weitzel was
fought to finish by 9 o'clock or there
ahouts and Sherman's attack did not
begin until 2:30. After this had failed
very distinctly, Augur's men were put
in. This astonishing lack of co-opera-
| ton enabled the whole garrison to be
massed successfully at the different
| points of attack, and in addition to the
| formidable obstacles which the troops
| had to assail they were met in every
instance by more men behind the works
| than they had in the column Of assault.
Except Weitzels attack the assaults
| were made in a way to invite failure.
| 1t was simply the height of military
| faulty to move solid columns across
an open space to attack men behind
| works. In all this there was no dis
credit upon the subordinate command
ers and the soldiers. They fought with
amazing pluck and persistence, and the
| best evidence of this is their astonish
| ing loss both of men and officers. Where
Gen. Grant, out of his army, had lost
only 942 in his first assault on Vicks-
burg, May 10, Banks lost out Of his
1900 an aggregate of 1895 men. Grant
has been bitterly accused of being
wasteful of his mems lives, but this
shows how much more careful he was
| than Banks. The only redeeming
thought in the matter is high pride in
the American soldier, who will at any
time and under any circumstances as
sault, without regard to consequences
to himself, any position which he is di-
| rected against.
/ tTo be continued.)
| The 24th Ill.