Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-02-04

..Boat infantry, at Charleston.

excellent service of volunteers under
extraordinary circumstances, / should
like to refer more particularly to that
remarkable situation where the war
was kept up from the first shot with
Senaeity AMI perseverance on both
sides that were never excelled any
where. and where the result was fin
ally determined by the fianking move
nent OF Sherman's army. which caused
the withdrawal of the Confederate
forces from Charleston and all its de-
fenses, Probably nowhere else was the
blockade maintained at so much cost
and trouble, and in no other entrepot
along the two thousand miles of block
AIDED coast were so many contraband
eargoes successfully run in under the
guns of the Union feet The harbor
WAS early INSTRUCTED by the sinking
of stone-laden vessels, and the channel
leading TO the city was obscure and
dangerous it was commanded by guns
from half dozen islands and shores.
and the approaches to the cradle of
the rebellion were so lined with de-
Tense that It became no empty boast
that Charleston could never be taken
by direct attack 1t was not taken
In that way, as | have stated. Almost
the whole monitor fleet of turreted
ironclads was assembled in the har-
bort tons of solid shot and she'll were
poured upon Fort Sumpter. making of
it nothing but a heap of broken stone
and brick Still 1t resisted every form
of attack, and assaulting parties sent
TO occupy II were beaten off or cap
tured The assault on Fort Wagner,
on one of the outlying islands, was
gallant. costly, and Intellectual, and the
siege went on by slow approaches. I'm
ion batteries were erected in swamps,
Keep a footing. 1t was done by the
most patient and wonderful labor in
making a foundation on which to place
heavy guns Tin spite of Colonel Ser
rells protest that he could not do it
without a detail of soldiers each
twelve feet long, But when this
Swamp-Anger battery was planted
securely, and its heavy guns began 20
demolish exposed positions of Charles
ton, at a distance of four miles, with
200-pound shells, a most astonishing
feat was performed, the like of which
had never before been known In war.
And still the city would not surren-
der, 1t seems to me that every sur.
yivor of the great conflict North,
South, East and West ought to be
able to read the story of that long and
obstinate warfare about Charleston
with feeling that the heroism OF the
American soldier was illustrated both
by the attack and the defense.
/ wonder how many OF the readers
of these sketches have ever heard OF
the boat infantry that was so i'm
portant part of the Union efforts TO
capture Charleston?
1t is my belief that nowhere was
better scouting done. or better results
obtained by it. than that Of Colonel
Lewis S, Payne in Charleston harbor.
with details of his regiment, the One
Hundredth Regiment New York Vol
unteers
I knew Colonel Payne almos, since
my boyhood He was very free to talk
of the stirring days and nights OF
1863, when he penetrated the works
ard inlets of the harbor with his boats
and brought back information of the
utmost value, which could not be in
any other way obtained / have heard
him tell how he learned in this way
that a large detachment OF Confeder-
ates had been withdrawn from Seces.
sionville. one of the suburbs of Charles.
ton, and the difficulty he had in con.
vincing General Vodges OF the fact
although those very troops fought at
Chancelorville He has told me how
he came on board Admiral Dahlgren's
. flagship with important information.
he, wet, muddy and tired as he was,
being most politely welcomed to the
Admiral's coy cabin, where that Off
Ger was cutting big Watermelon quite
at ease. His most dificult and dan.
gerous duty. however, and that in
which he was finally taken prisoner
was TO 90 out at night. locate the DO
sitions Of the enemy and the routes of
their vessels In supplying their gar.
risons with provisions and ammunl.
ton, and then TO send up a rocket to
guide the fire of the Union nortars
He made himself so troublesome to
the Confederates in this way that
shrewd plans we're laid for his cap.
ture, which at last succeeded.
From history OF the One Hun.
dredth Regiment, New York Yolun.
teers, written by Major George II
stowits, Of that regiment. ! am per.
mitted to make the following interest
ing extracts upon this subject:
Previous to the disposition Of the
necessary forces for an assault on Nor.
ris Island, Colonel Payne had given
his opinion as to the number Of rebel
troops upon the island. Generals
Gilmore Strong and Seymour could