The National tribune., 1909-01-07

IOulSHeu at lHc TGSuit.--AAOW t'ley must
have cursed the Yankee mudsilis' you
lean readily imagine.
The signal gun is fifsed, and our bat
iteries make the island tremble with
their laundering volleys. The monitors
ltake up the refrain, and swell the VOL
lume of the deafeningj chorus. In vain
the rebels on Morris 1slandi attempt to
and panic-stricken. Bursting shell and
Irifled cannon shots, tearing and scream-
ling thru their strongholds,I accomplish
their fearful work. "h
Strongs Brigade comes quickly on
They are met by volleys from the rebel
rifle pits. but they press on. gain land
ing, and, with wild cheers and flags
streaming in the early dawn, charge the
rebel batteries. Ourbatteries and moni-
tors cease firing, and the gallant Strong
with his brave boys drive the enemy
| from their guns. and plant our glorious
flag upon every battery on the lower
end of Morris Island. Our men are fast
crossing the Inlet and pressing the reb-
els up the beach. But Sumter opens
with her barbette guns, and Wagner
growls with grape and canister.
Ere the sun has reached its meridian
the rebels are driven within a quarter
of mile from Fort Wagner. and Gen.
Gilmore and his troops are in possess
sion of three-quarters of Morris Island
anu WIlufu Iult view VI SHdt iCotoh. oui C.
ly this was glory enough for one day.
IIardships of the Siege.
The hardships of the siege now COM
mence. The troops have finished their
work on James Island, and under cover
of gunboats are quietly and speedily
withdrawn. to take more conspicuous
part in the siege of Forts Wagner and
Gregg and the famous Sumter. To give
you an adequate idea of the mighty
work and terrible carnage in the reduc-
ton of the above-named forts 1t VIII be
necessary to briefly explain the situa-
ton. The island, scarcely two miles in
length and little more .han 4 half
mile in width was not very extended
area for the deeds of yalor / display
of military genius which Wa enacted
on it's sea-bleached sands. Charge after
charge was made upon fnvulnerable
Wagner. Courage and bravery can do
much; but here it was like the tempest
driven wave dashed on rock-bound
shores-spent in vain. Many brave
soldier sleeps in the ditch which sur
rounds Fort Wagner, and many a noble
| hero found a last resting place beneath
its powerful parapets. Many gallant
regiment of our noble little army faced
the terrible maelstrom of shot, shell and
shrapnel which belched in vo;leys from
her lurid embrasures, but were surged
back by the iron death that assailed
| them.
| Just here let me pay a feeble tribute
to one regiment that deserves our high
est encomiums. L refer to the 54th
Mass. (colored), under command of the
lamented and heroic Col. Shaw, who fell
with scores of his dusky warriors glo-
riously fighting within the embrasures
and on the ramparts of that strong
fortress. He and they were buried
where they fell. and mo ,prouder, no
grander monument hasrever been erect
ed to the memory of. DARING, and heroic
manhood. The Atlantic spray may keep
the clods green upon their fortress fu-
neral pile, but until old ocean and the
grave give up their dead their memory
will be held sacred by d free people and
a saved Republic. 50 sD
Siege of Battefy whsner.
Fort Wagner was not to be taken by
assault, and its siege began. Gilmore
appreciates the situation, rapd now his
skill as an engineer is to be put to a.
greater test. Parallel ,approaches. OBJ
| lique trenches, splinter, proofs and
hundred different c9ntriNances are
brought into requisitioa. The student
of history will search ia Taip for O par
allel to a siege like this. FOE fmore- skill
| full strategy and engineering, heroic dar-
ing, patriotic, toiling endurance as was
displayed on this narrow island, scarce
| ly quarter of a mile wide at fioodtide,
and exposed to the converg:ng fire Of
four powerful forts. the sanguinary his
tory of war furnishes no equal. Night
and day men piled their shovels under
| bursting shell, scourging canister and
death-dealing rifle bullets. Parallel after
parallel is finished, until our soldiers can
hear the sentinels tread their beats
within the besieged fortress. A. bloody
| combat or. a hasty retreat on the part of
the rebels is now the issue of a night.
Morning streaks the horizon. Our troops
have been in their harness all night and
now await the bugle blast that summons
them to the last struggle. But the enc
N.Y. under cover of nigh. have left their
strongholds for quieter and safer apart
ments, and our forces are now in full
possession of the island. Wagner and
Gregg are ours, and the Stars and
Stripes float proudly from their flag
| staffs in full view of Charleston. Rebel
guns are replaced by 200-pounder Par
rotts, and the walls of Sumter crumble
slowly under their incessant fire. The
lironclads take a part, and the new IRON
sides discharges her monster broadsides
at the close distance of 800 and 400
yards They make fearful breaches in
the masonry of the Inflated fort. Day
after day, week after week, and month
after month cannon and mortars hurl
!, their bursting shell upon her shot-torn
WOrKS. 1t SeeInS d IldSs - TultlS, Dul
within its Strengthening bombproofs the
rebels are secure, for every shot and
"A shell now adds to its strength. Artillery
!, duels are now the order of the day. The
!, rebels shell our camps, and make dwell
ing in tents by the sea anything but
; desirable. The Swamp Angel sends her
: dreaded missiles into the ill-starred city.
Churches, the palaces of her merchant
princes, her public monuments and edi-
fees of beauty are shattered and marred
, at a distance of four and a half miles.
But Charleston is firm and secure in
) rebel hands, her defenses are complete.
5 and thus we must leave her till Sher-
man, the Field Marshal of the age.
: raps at her back door, for he and his
conquering legions have completed their
: march to the sea. And Charleston, first
8 to take up arms. is among the last to
succumb to the genius of the Union
2 III. r. Crawford, Quartermaster-Ser-
geant. SD Pa.
II IUKA AND CORJNTH