The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-01-25

| HlOTIliHS, anu the HIST copies were ready
for issuance at 1880 p. m. This was a
late hour. because the communications
| between the different parts of the line
were still quite bad, and it was long
past midnight before the orders were
in the hands of the commanders who
were to execute them. Therefore the
rest of the night had to be spent in
feverish preparation. The orders read
| as follows:
| "A general assault upon the works of
| the enemy at Port Hudson will be made
tomorrow morning, 14th instant. The
| following directions will be observed,
and the following information is given
for the benefit of those principally con-
/ cerned:
Gen. Grover, with his command, in
| Guiding two regiments of Col Dudley's
| Brigade, under Col. Dudley, will make
vigorous and determined assault at
| the point in front of Col. Dudleys Dres-
ent position already indicated to him.
1.-The artillery cross-fire in front OF
this point of attack will commence at
8 a. M, and, excepting such as may
have been placed under his direction:
will cease only on intimation from Gen.
Grover to these headquarters that he
desires it to cease.
1.-The attacks by skirmishers will COM
,, mence at $3.50 a. M. or as soon there.
after as Gen. Grover may find best.
"a detachment of the 1st La. Engi-
neers, under Capt Jones, has been di-
rected to report to Gen. Grover, with
intrenching tools and sandbags, to take
position, unless otherwise ordered by
him, near the 12-pounder rifle battery.
Gen. Augur WILL in pursuance of or
ders already given, detail two regl-
| ments of Col. Dudley's Brigade. under
Col. Dudley, to report to Gen. Grover,
| and two regiments, as already ordered,
| to report to Gen. Dwight. With the
remainder of his command, Gen. Augur
| will make a feigned attack on the part
| os the works in front of Holcomb's Bat
| terry and slaughter-house, to be made
| vigorously, and converted into real
attack, should circumstances favor 1t.
| He will also hold his command in read
| mess to support either Gen. Grover or
| Gen. Dwight, in pursuance of orders
that may be given from these head
| quarters.
"A heavy fire of artillery will open
| or this point of attack at 2:45 a. m.
At 3:15 a. m. the attack by skirmishers
| will be briskly made.
"An officer to be designated by Col
| Hodge will report to Gen. Augur, with
| a detachment of the 1st La. Engineers,
and with intrenching tools and sand
bags, to take position, unless otherwise
| ordered by Gen. Augur. near Holcomb's
| Battery. on the road leading from his
headquarters to Port Hudson.
| "Gen. Dwight, with his command in
| Guiding two regiments to be sent him
| by Gen. Augur. will make an attempt
| to gain an entrance to the enemy
works on our extreme left. Should this
attempt fail. it will be properly reported
| to these headquarters, and the same
| will be done in the case Of it's success.
| In the former case the command will be
| held in readiness to move promptly to
reinforce at other points, in pursuance
OF orders that may be given from these
headquarters.
"A detachment of the 1st La. Engi-
neers, provided with intrenching tools
and sandbags, will report to Gen
Dwight, and take position unless other
wise ordered by him, on the road on our
| extreme left leading to Port Hudson,
as near the works as cover may be
found, Gen. Dwight to move at such
| time after $3.50 a. m. tomorrow as he
may deem most expedient.
"Gens. Augur. Grover and Dwight will
| not wait for signals, but act at the
times specified herein without further
orders The standard is the telegraph
| time at these headquarters.
Gen. Arnold will have charge of all
artillery in position. excepting such as
/ he may have placed under the direction
of division commanders. A reserve of
! engineer troops under Col. Hodge, with
| tools and sand-bags. will be stationed
| near Gen. Augur's headquarters. Gen.
| Banks's headquarters will be during the
action at the barn near the naval bat
| terry. All applications for reinforce
ments will be made to these headquar-
tiers. Either OF the three commanders
OF point of attack is authorized to or
der the fire of artillery near him to
cease if he finds 1t mountaineering his
| troops or movements He will report
his act to these headquarters"
The Assault.
| Sunrise comes early on the 14th Of
June in the low latitude Of Louisiana,
and the troops were still in the fret
and hurry of hasty preparation when
| the sun dawned at o'clock. The bat
teries were punctual in their service
and the cannonade began even earlier
about 2:45. One Of the dense, shroud-
ing, penetrating fogs common to that
| country had risen, however, and vailed
in obscurity everything beyond the
reach of ones hand. Very singularly
thunders of the heavy siege guns, and
in most instances the reports were
muff1ed and extinguished within 100
yards of the pieces. 1t did not inter-
fere with their aim, however, for the
direction of the enemy's works was
the day previous. and the heavy shells
tore remorselessly against the rebel
redans
What subsequently proved to be the
strongest part of the enemy's works is
termed In the official reports the
"priest-cap." That is, 1t was a double
redan, having the form of a swallow
tail or of two salient angles thrust out
on high point to the right of the Clin-
ton Railroad, and in front Of Paines
Division 1t was the nearest to our
works Of any point in the Confederate
lines, and became the main point Of at
tack, and a heavy battery had been
built opposite to destroy 1T. The fol-
lowing is the account of the assault
| given by Col. Irwin:
For the chief assault Grover had Sc
[ lected Paine's Division and had placed
the main body Of his own division with
5 WeitZel's Brigade, in close support
], Paine determined to lead the attack
himself. Across his front as Skin
[ mishers he deployed the 4th Wis, now
: again dismounted, and the 8th N. H
The 4th Mass was told off to follow the
: skirmishers with improvised hand
grenades made of 6-pounder shells
Next the 38th Mass. and the SD Mass
were formed I'm line of battle. At the
! head Of the infantry column the 31st
Mass, likewise deployed, carried cotton
bags to fill the ditch. The rest OF
/ Gooding's Brigade followed, next came
Fearing's, then Ingraham's under Fer.
: ris. In rear Of the column was posted
. tho artillery under Minis At a pOint