Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-04-05

GENERAL A. f. BURNSIDE, U. S. A., FED,
l. ERAL LEADER AT A
which lay a fleet Of wOOden gunbOatSD
| A line of forts and batteries stretched
from the anchorage Of the ships down
the shore four miles. resting on the
left in a dense and impassable swamp,
where a three II battery had been
constructed to m the only
causeway across the swamp. A gun
fired from one of the Confederate gun
boats announced the approach Of the
Federal squadron. At half past II
on the 7th the conflict commenced be
tween the %gunboats ut long range. The
Confederate boats gradually retired.
drawing their opponents within range
Of the forts, when fire was opened by
the latter.
Land Troops Move to Attack.
The contest between the boats and
the forts continued with varied en-
ergy during the next three hours, In
which time the barracks within the
forts were consumed. At 8 o'clock the
troops began to land, under the pro-
lection Of the fire Of the three gun
boats. At this time the Confederate
gunboats drew nea and recommended
the action, which was continued until
their ammunition was exhausted.
They then retired up the inlet or
sound. The forts then continued to
fire until the Union g%unboats retired
for the night. The bravery Of the
Confederate defense was admitted on
every side. On the Federal side five
had been killed and ten wounded. In
the forts the Confederate s reported one
killed and three wounded and in the
gunboats five wounded and the largest
gunboat sunk and another disabled.
By 4 O'Clock the Federal transports
had all arrived. and the first body of
troops landed unobstructed at 8
O'clock. In a short line 5000 men
were on shore, and the remainder Of
them landed oon after. The next
morning the troops started in three
columns, the center, under General
Foster, composed Of the T~wenty-thlrd,
Twenty-ifth and Twenty-seventh Mas
sachusetts and Tenth Connecticut; the
next, or left thanking column, under
General Reno. consisted of the Twen-
ty-f1rst Massachusetts. Fifty-f1rst New
York, Ninth New Jersey and Fifty
first Pennsylvania: the third. or right
flanking column, under General Parke,
consisted of the Fourth Rhode Island,
First battalion OF the Fifth Rhode Is
land and the Ninth New York.
The approach to the enemy was by
road through a swamp on each side
Of which was a thick underbrush. An
earthwork about %thirty-ive yards wide
defense.
The tug Of war came when the sol
diers attempted to carry the swamp
battery. All depended upon that. for
the Union fleet had dispersed the Con
federate ships, yet were unable to 81
lence the forts. These could not be
stormed from the water side nor reach
ed at all excepting by the road through
the swamp. Hawkins Zouaves (Ninth
New York;. the Fifty-irst New York
and the Twenty-irst Massachusetts
captured the battery by a rush.
The attack was braveiy made as it
had been Planned upon the enemys
position, and after a most spirited and
splendid defense. as reported by the
assailants, they were obliged to give
way before this overwhelming force
and, retiring farther up the island,
were overtaken and Colonel Shaw,
their commander. surrendered. Thus
six forts. forty guns. over 1000 pris-
oners and 1000 stands of arms were
captured. The Union loss was 81 killed
and 214 wounded. The Confederate loss
in killed was reported to be % killed
and So wounded The capture Of the
island forts opened Albemarle sound
to the Federal warships. On the 10th
Commander S. c. Rowan's division at
tackled the Confederate defenders of
Elizabeth City and brought about the
~nrrondor nf that n00f