Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-24

column, ana that our men aIter great
slaughter had been forced to surrender
just as we had repulsed the naval COL
umn: that to add to the scomfiture of
the Confederates, as soon as the federaI
battle flags appeared on the ramparts
Battery Buchanan had opened with its
two heavy guns on the left Of the work,
killing and woJnding fr end and Toe
alike. This was disheartenlng, but told
Capt. Blocker if We could hold the enemy
in check until dark I would then drive
them out.
Notwithstanding the loss of a portion of
the work and part of the garrison the
men were in good spirits and seemed de-
termined to recover the fort. We had re-
taken one gun chamber in the charge on
the parapet and nee we had opened on
the enemy's flank we had shot down all
their standard bearers and the federal
battle flags had disappeared from our
ramparts. I was encouraged TO believe
that before shutdown We could recover all
the gun chambers to the east of the west
ern salient.
Just as the tide of battle seemed to
have turned in our favor the remorseless
fleet came to the rescue of the faltering
federals. Suddenly the bombardment,
which had been confined to the sea-face.
turned again on our land front. and with
deadly precision, driving from the front OF
near that TO have fired on them would
have been to slaughter the Federals.
We had now to contend tn an army
column advancing around the rear OF the
left bastion into the interior plane of the
fort 1t moved slowly and caut ously,
apparently in olumn of conn anies and in
close order. l met it with an effective in
fantry fire. my men using the remains OF
old work as breastwork and taking
advantage OF every object that would af-
ford cover, for were now greatly out
numbered The fire was so unexpec ed
and destructive on the massed columns of
the Federals that they halted when an
advance would have been fatal to
With orders to the officers to dispute
stubbornly any advance until my return
I went rapidly TO the extreme southern
limit of my work, and turned the two
mound guns on the column in the fort. AS
I passed the different batteries I ordered
the guns turned on the assailants, but on
returning found that only two besides
them, and these had to be fired over my
men. l ordered them, Notwithstanding
to be fired carefully, W tn properly cut
fuses, which was done, but it made some
of my men very nervous. l brought back
with me to the front every man except d
single detao hment for each gun.
was gone from the front at least
thirty minutes, and on my return found
the fighting still continuing over the same
traverse for the possession of the gun
chamber, despite the fire of the fleet. AS
my men would fail others would take
their places. 1t was a soldiers fight at
that point, for there could be no organiza-
ton; the officers of both forces were load
ing and firing with their men. If there
has ever been a longer more stubborn
hand-to-hand encounter l have failed to
meet with it in history.
I had brought back with me more than
a hundred of my old garrison, and /
threw them in front with those already
engaged Those who had been driven
from the parapet had taken position be-
hind the old work. | went to the bomb
proof where the South Carolinians We're
and appea ed to them to help save the
fort, and they promised to do so. | went
along the galleries and begged the sick
and wounded who had retreated from
the captured bombproofs to come and
make one supreme effort to dislodge the
enemy. AS l passed through my work
the last time the see e was indescribably
horrible. Great cannon We're broken in
two, and over their ruins We're lying the
dead: others We're partly buried in graves
dug by the shells which had slain them.
The enemy's advance had ceased en-
tirely; protected by the feet, they held
the parapet and gun chambers, but their
massed columns refused to move and ap-
peared to be intrenching in the work. l
believed a determined assault with the
bayonet upon their front would drive
them out The head of the column was
not over one hundred feet from the por-
ton of the breastwork which l occupied
l passed quickly in rear of the line and
asked the officers and men If they would
follow me; they all responded fearlessiy
that they would. l returned to my post,
and giving the order Charge bayonets.
sprang upon the preastwork. waved my
sword and as gave the command For
ward, Double quick. march, fell on my
knees, a rifle ball having entered my left
hip We were met by a heavy vol.ey,
aimed too high to be effective; but our
column wavered and fell back behind the
breaStworks.
A soldier raised me up; L turned the
command over to Capt Daniel Mum and
told him 70 keep the enemy In check and
that I would bandage my wound and soon
return Before l could reach the hos
pital was made to realize that / was in
capacitated from joining my men a ain.
In the hospital / found Gen. Whiting.
suffering uncomplainingly from his two
wounds.
/ perceived that the fire of my men
had slackened, and sent my acting ad-
jutant for Maj Reilly. next in command
Reilly came and promised me that he