The National tribune., 1908-12-31

sons msi faa not really settled doW1
pied the works beyond the river Wi&
Eve, Louisiana yegimsnts and drssn9
Battery, which placed two guns in 6anh ,
Of the small forts. AZ so6h as EhrfS
was notified OF the approach of sedSe
wick he sent Hoke's Brigade to the as
his other brisades to fan In ana niovs
after Hoks. Hoke's Brigade crossed the
river at 4 o'clock. and Hays placed him
on his left in the breastworks which
extended upward to the river. HaySA
own brigade held the two forts and the
nne extending down to the river on the
Union left. Altogether the Confeder.
ates on that bank numbered about
z'eo0. Early's two other brigades came
up on the opposite side of the river.
and Early went across to examine
Hayss position. Lee himself came up
after an inspection of the ground de-
cided that the Federals would not dare
to attack the position. and that the two
brigades together there were sufdcient
for its defense. He ordered some ar
tillery placed on the right bank. 80 az
to flank the position. but sedgwick's
slSirmishers had pressed forward ana
opened such a well ll-directed fire upoh
the cannoniers as to make 1t necessary
to withdraw the guns. By 3 o'clock
Sedgwick had completed his DISPOSE
tions, and had his slSirmishers sharply
engaged with ths enemy around the
entire semicircle from the river beyond
to its bank below. Gen. Russell, one OF
the best soldiers in the army. was sent
forward with two brigades to develop
the enemy's position. and what followed
Is best told by Gen. Russell In his res
port: ..5lt aefG
eat sundown. after carefully consid-
| arsr fI,A alof ftxra =
known character Of my troops, it was
my desire to storm the enemy's posfs
ton. and a message was sent thru his
Assistant Adjutant- General. Capt Henry
r. Dalton. to Brig.-Gen. H. c. Wright,
commanding the corps. asking permits.
sion to do SO. That permission was
granted. and Capt. Dan Packard. senior
Aid-de-Camp upon my star. was sent
back to order forward the brigade. as.
The remaining five companies Of the
9Th Me-, on the left OF the 5th Wis,
constituted the first line of the advanc.
Ing column. and the 4sth Pa, on ths'
left of the 119th Pa. formed the rear
line. Thus they advanced to the foot
Of a hill distant from the river about
1.500 yards. Here the order was given
to dep1oy the remaining five companies
OF the 9Th Me-, TO double the skirmish
line, and with that formation and the
5th Wis. as support to make a charge
upon the enemy's works.
upon the command Forward. dou-
ble-quickn the skirmish line, with their
support, dashed on In q style never sur
passed by any troops. The ground was
OF nature well calculated to check
the impetuosity Of charge. Across
the way as they advanced the storming
column encountered a formidable
ditch. IL or IA feet wide. some six feet
deep and filed with mud and water to
an average depth Of three fest. Crosse
ing this. they came to q plain broken
with stumps and underbrush. white be.
fore the skirmish line in the advance
could be reached q dry moat or ditch
had to be crossed. nearly as formidable
az the obstacles already passed.
"But over every hindrance. tn face
Of heavy fire Of musketry and artil-
lery, the storming party pressed on
with bayonets fixed and never pausing
to fire a shot. The left wing Of the
skirmish line entered the smaller re-
doubt upon the enemy's right almost IL
the same time that the right Of the
skfrmish line leaped into the larger re.
doubt and the rife pit extending from
its left. The 5th Wis. was directed
upon the stronger work. and the right
aid their left In the smaller work. A
desperate hand-to-hand struggle en-
sued. the foe was overpowered and the
works were ours.
The batteries, which had kept up
their destructive fire to the moment OF
the order to charge, had simultaneously
ceased. From the rifle pits to the loft
Of the larger redoubt severe anfilad-
ing fire was kept up upon the stormine
party. Those OF the rebels In the re.
doubts who had not been captured and
many from their right. unable or fear
Ing to cross the river. were beginning
to rally around their battle flags plant
ed upon the brink OF the rifle nits Tt1
rious. but as yet futile. endeavors were
made from the rifle pits 20 retake the
larger redoubt, and saw 1t was neces-
sary to order forward at once the re-
naming two regiments Of the Third