Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-17

cd fire upon the Cotton and the Con-
federate breastworksz Although the
little feet stopped before the obstruc-
tons In the channel, the first line OF
troops rushed ahead on both sides OF
the bayou. This line consisted Of 40
picked men. sixty from the Eighth Yer
mont, led by Captain Dutton. and the
same number from the Seventy-ffth
New York. under Lieutenant J. E.
Whiteside.
The men were the crack shots of the
brigade. and under cover of the fire
from the batteries made their way to
within easy range Of the Cotton.
Opening brisk fire upon the Cotton.
the sharpshooters killed her pilots and
several of the crew. A bullet also dis
abled the arm of Captain Fuller.
Meanwhile the Confederates In the
first line of pits chose for their target
the flagship Calhoun. which was
aground or fouled by the distractions.
Commander Buchanan took his station
on deck regardless Of danger to direct
the fire OF the bow guns. He was in
stantly killed and his gunners driven
from their places by the pitiless fire
rained upon them from shore.
Word OF the death of Buchanan, the
plight of his ship and the attack on
the Cotton caused Weitzel to push for
ward his land column independent Of
support from the navy. The Seventy
fifth New York and Eighth Vermont
formed for the charge under cover Of
buildings and advanced upon the rear
Of the rife pits nearest the Calhoun.
The men in the pits were Louisian-
ians. jealous in the defense of their
| homes and so intent upon destroying
the Federal flagship that they paid no
attention to the Federal troops until
the Vermonters. were close upon the
pits. Firing a voley at short range,
they abandoned the field. all except an
officer and forty men captured in the
pits by the Eighth Vermont.
The Cotton Out of the Fight.
BY the retreat of the Louisianians
from the advance line of pits the ia
bles were turned and the Cotton in
peril, but her commander kept the
! deck in spite of his wound and. taking
! the place of the dead pilot at the
wheel, backed the ship slowly up the
/ river. where she lay under the protec-
ton of redoubt on the west bank
/ The Seventy-fifth New, York was
marching up the west bank, preceded
at some distance by the skirmishers
under Lieutenant whiteside who COW
| cred themselves from Confederate view
| by hillocks and other shelter as they
| advanced.
! Seeing the Cotton backing out of the
/ fight, her guns silent and no sign of
/ belligerency in her crew, Whiteside
rushed TO the bank Of the bayou and
called out TO the ship to strike her col
/ Ors. The brave lieutenant was almost
/ alone, for his men were scattered
about, stealthily moving toward the en-
emy's trenches or watching cover that
might hide a Confederate marksman.
| The main body OF the regiment was
/ not vet up with the retreating gun
boat.
/ No answer came TO the lieutenant's
hail from the crew of the gunboat,
/ bbN n ouAiNA AAOLh TIC HN dhlDN NdlC-
brake on the side OF the bayou crash
ed through his brain. and the second
brave leader on the Federal side was
out of the fight
The dash OF the Eighth Vermont
upon the rife pits OF the Louisianians
was blow on the enemy's flank and
a complete surprise as well. From the
captured pits the Vermonters marched
in line Of battle up the bayou to the
main line of Confederate works ex-
tending from the bank at right angles
These were opposite the redoubt on
the west bank. where the Cotton lay
and which the Seventy-fifth New York
would encounter should IL continue 70
advance. Summoned to the protec-
tiOn OF the Cotton from the New York
ers, the COnfederates in the breast
works had crossed the bayou on a
floating bridge. thus concentrating all
the strength of Taylor on the west
bank.
The Vermonters took possession Of
the abandoned trenches and deployed
scouts to the bank OF the bayou. The
scouts on the bank betrayed TO the
enemy on the other side the presence
OF the Vermonters in the earthworks.
and two riled guns in the redoubt
sent shells crashing across the bayou
into the Vermont line.
The Vermonters stood alone on the
east side of the bayou and had no
batteries with them. A channel which
was unfordable separated them from
the remainder OF the brigade. while
the Confederates had guns within
range of the position: also a bridge
under cover OF those guns by which
they might cross and overpower the
Isolated Federals.
Confederates Burn Their Gunboat
Retiring his men beyond the enc
my's range. the Vermont colonel, put
his line IN bivOuac for the night. which
y was at hand. cold and stormy. In
order 10 deceive the enemy as TO the
strength OF the Federals on the east
bank the Vermonters built a long line