The Washington herald., 1913-11-29

Thirteenth, Seventeenth, eighteenth ana
Twenty-first Mississippi Regiments; Wof-
ford's of the Sixteenth, Eighteenth,
Twenty-fourth Regiments, Cobb's and
Phillips Legions and the Third Battalion
of Sharpshooters, all of Georgia; Bryan's s
of the Tenth, Fiftieth, Fffty-first and
Fifty-third Georgia regiments. McLaws
other brigade, Kershaw's, was to remain
in reserve.
In addition, Anderson's Brigade of
Gen. Micah Jenkins division (Hood 50
was to deliver a simultaneous attack on
the earthworks north OF Fort Sanders,
and, if possible, to force its way TO the
rear of the fort. Anderson's Brigade
consisted of the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth.
Eleventh, and Fifty-ninth Georgia regi-
ments. Other troops were held in readi-
ness to follow up the expected success
of the assaulting columns.
Thus of the eighteen regiments selected
to make the attack, fourteen were OF
Georgia troops.
The Federals in the fort at height OF
the fight numbered about 40. The Con-
federate attacking, force was about 1000.
Into EntangIements.
At moonrise, shortly after 10 o'clock on
the plight OF November 2S, four regiment:
of the attacking column moved rapidly
forward toward the fort, captured or
drove in the Federal pickets and estab-
lished themselves within 100 yards of the
work They threw up rife pits on the
crest of a ridge at that point, which af-
forded shelter to the troops moving up
for the attack.
Shortly after s o'clock the following
morning, fifty years ago today, the Con-
federate artillery opened a furious fire
Upon Fort Sanders. 1t did little damage,
only one man Of the garrison being
wounded. Lieut.. Benjamin hurried from
point to point in the fort to see that his
men were in readiness TO repel assault
AmmunitnO was distributed and the guns
triple shotted with canister.
AS the din of cannonading subsided the
solid columns Of Confederates came over
ing ground. Their rifles were silent
Lcngstreet had ordered a bayonet charge,
and had cautioned against loud outcry.
Yet the old war yell resounded loud.
The men in gray meant business.
On they came. The Federal guns
swept the ground with showers of DEATH
dealing missiles, but the advance OF the
enemy was so rapid that only one charge
could be fired before they came too close
for the guns to bear.
An abattis. of felled trees, their tops
n.
momentarily Bursting through this OBJ
struction the Confederates next ran full
against a wire ENHANCEMENT From
stump to stump this confusing network
stretched in many rows.
The abattis had broken the solid forma-
ton of the attacking force. Now the
wires completed the work. In the wild
onrush and scramble to reach the goal,
which now was within few yards and
from which a deadly fire was pouring,
commands became separated, ranks shat
tered. The two attacking columns, un-
able to see one another because of a slight
fog, came up at nearly the same point in
front of the fort. Their ranks became
intermingled-yet the impetuosity of the
charge broke down the wires and the men
dashed on toward the earthen walls of
the fort.
Checked by n Ditch.
When the leaders neared the foot of
the parapet they paused for an instant
at the edge of a dry ditch. which ran
along its front This proved an unex-
pected obstacle. Its existence had been
known. but IL was found to be deeper
and wider than the reports of observers
had indicated. The halt was for an in
stant only. Pressure of numbers in the
rear and the heavy fire OF the defenders
of the fort forced those in front to imme-
diate action. Jumping into the trench
they clambered up the parapets and now.
with wild yeIls, endeavored to gain q
foothold within the works.
All was confusion among the Confed-
and their comrades, unheeding. made