The National tribune., 1907-02-14
ASSAULT ON PORT HUDSON.
Gallant Attack Upon an ImpreEnabIe
Line of WorIss-The 2Ist Mes Shnre.

Editor National Tribune: The we'll
known classification of war by one of
the greatest Generals Of his time can
only be appreciated by those who have
participated In its active operations.
Brilliant manuverS and special sue
cesses are pictured in glowing colOrs,
while the work of officers and men of
subordinate rank, with its result of pain
and suffering often have little thought.
For this reason 1 am interested in the
brief sketches of individuals or regi-
ments and in details that are lost in
the general reports of army movements,
tho they remain fresh and clear in the
memory of eye-witnesses who relate
them for your paper as if they were the
happenings of yesterday.
Having been a member of the 21st
Me. previous to my service in the Signal
Corps, and being on duty at Port Hud-
son at the time of the assault of the
Nineteenth Corps. May 81, 1863, my
attention was called to its movements
and failures on that day which ended
without success to our arms. as did the
first attacks at Vicksburg and many
other places where the most chivalric
courage was not able to overcome the
advantage of the protection of solid
Notifications
Before Port Hudson.
L Ills regiment was stationed at BdtOI1
Rouge during the Red River campaign,
and in the assault was part of the First
Brigade of Gen. c. c. Augur's Division,
the brigade being made up of the 10th
N. Y, the 21st Me. and the 4Sth and
49th Mass It's position was on the i'm
mediate left of the main road leading
from Plains Store to the main en-
trance of the works.
The line was screened by a forest
nd nr hn n6O nf h
wood in its front was the "storming
party" composed of volunteers carry
ing, besides arms, faScines and tools to
aid in entering the works. When the
order to advance came from corps
headquarters all was in readiness and
the regiment moved forward to be met
by terrific storm of missiles from the
artillery and infantry that crowded the
Confederate works. within easy range
and In an open field. except for heavy
abatis skilfully constructed from large
trees felled for the purpose.
A perfect alinement was impossible,
but the men pushed forward regardless
of the fire of the enemy, opening pas
sages IN the abatis as best they might
and firing at intervals, leaving line of
dead and wounded to mark their prog
ress.
The brigade commander, Col. E. P.
Chaplin, was killed early in the action.
but the work to be done was plain and
few commands were needed. Adj't
Woodward was down with bullet in
the knee, while acting as Lieutenant
Colonel, that officer being on detail
service. Capt J. U. Hubbard was hit.
but rallied and went forward, to fall
later from bullet in the neck well up to
the enemy's works. Lieut. II. w. Wal
lace had been killed In the storming
party near the woods, as was Lieut.
Col. O'Brien, of the 4Sth Mass. who
was in command of the detachment of
"stormers' from the brigade. Corp1
J. Baker, of the Color Guard, was shot
thru the body, and others wounded
more or less severely. The veteran
Color Sergeant, Hadley P. Dyer, when
struck in The wrist, disabling It, coolly
changed hands on the staff, supported
the butt with the injured member and
moved steadily on till second bullet
entered his shoulder, from the effects
in hospital.
A supporting line came forward, but
melted away under the severe fire of
the enemy, and it was evident to all
that the attack had failed. The men
retired as night came on, bringing their
colors with honor, stained with the
blood Of brave men, and with the pride
of duty well performed, and their
wounded comrades with deep sorrow
buried their dead with heavy hearts but
unbroken courage, and waited for the
morrow Quiet reigned over the field,
save where the wounded were cared
for by busy Surgeons, and the stretchers
and arnbulances moved with their bur-
den of wounded and suffering men.
A train of ambulances took such as
could be moved to Springfield Landing.