Chapter XIII: Front Matter (13)

General Thomas now received General Rosecrans’ despatch from Chattanooga, directing him to take command of all the forces, and assume a threatening attitude at Rossville. Accordingly, at half past five P. M. the retirement of the Union troops commenced, under the direction of General Thomas. Turchin, of General Reynolds’ division, executed a manœuvre, with the view of covering the retreat, by which two hundred prisoners were captured. A brigade commanded by Colonel Robinson of Reynolds’ division, assisted by Turchin and General Willich, were posted on the road leading through the ridge, to hold the ground while the troops passed by to Rossville. The rebel leaders Stoull, Gibson, Helm, Wood, and Polk had all day been hurling their commands against General Thomas’s lines, and now prepared to make a final effort. The signal was given and forward they pressed, with their wonted wild yell. Johnson’s and Baird’s division, which were preparing to retire, saluted them with several volleys as they advanced, but nothing could stay the tide and the exhausted veterans began to waver in the face of the charging, shouting, thundering host which confronted them; the next moment, wave after wave of the rebel sea came surging upon the breastworks, dashing madly against and over the barrier, and greedily swallowing up many of its defenders, with their ammunition and material. Never was resistance more stubborn and determined, and never was attack prosecuted with more devilish pertinacity.

“But all too late the advantage came
To turn the odds of deadly game;”

for night had come on; the enemy’s forces were moving undisturbed toward Rossville; and the Army of the Cumberland, after having had the narrowest possible escape from annihilation, was saved by the masterly generalship and intrepidity of General Thomas.

Major-General George H. Thomas was born in Virginia, July 31, 1816. He graduated at West Point in 1840, and served with distinction in the war with Mexico. He was subsequently stationed in Texas and in the Indian territories. When the rebellion broke out, he was a Major in the regular cavalry. A sincere patriot, he remained true to the flag which he had so long and so honorably served, and he soon rose to the rank of Colonel. In August, 1861, he was made Brigadier-General of Volunteers in the Department of the Cumberland. After much active service, and after thoroughly beating the rebels at Mill Spring, he, with his division, joined General Buell, at Nashville. In April, 1862, he was constituted Major-General of Volunteers. When General Rosecrans assumed command of the Army of the Cumberland, he was assigned to the command of the centre.

In personal appearance General Thomas is dignified and manly; in habit temperate, and distinguished alike for wisdom in council and courage in battle, “George H. Thomas,” said General Rosecrans, “is a man of extraordinary character. Years ago, at the Military Academy, I conceived that there were points of strong resemblance between his character and that of Washington; and I was in the habit of calling him General Washington.” General Thomas is singularly modest and unobtrusive in his demeanor. He was a brigadier-general for some months before he put on the uniform of that office. He did not assume the double star till after the battle of Stone river, though made a major-general more than six months before.

OPERATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA IN 1863.

The National force in North Carolina was comparatively small during the year 1863, as it was the purpose of the Government only to occupy the important posts already gained there, and act merely on the defensive.

On Saturday, the 14th of March, a demonstration was made against Newbern by the rebel forces under General Pettigru. At about daybreak sixteen guns were placed in position near a small fort just opposite the town on the north, and across the river Neuse. The enemy’s artillery was supported by about three hundred infantry. Even while placing the guns in position they commenced a fire of shell and canister against the fort; but after firing a few rounds they sent in a flag of truce, demanding a surrender, with information that further resistance was useless, and they threatened a combined attack by the whole command under General Longstreet. Colonel Anderson, in command of the Union forces, with a view of gaining time for the National gunboats to get into position, asked for a half hour’s time for consideration and opportunity to consult with General Foster. The half hour was granted, and at the end of that time Colonel Anderson’s answer was ready—“My orders are to hold this place, and I shall never surrender it.” The rebels in the mean time having got everything in readiness in the event of such a reply, immediately opened a rapid and furious fire. Inside the fort the Unionists, desiring to conceal their real strength until a charge should be made, lay close back against the sand wall, and got themselves in readiness by biting off cartridges, and putting them up before them on the logs, that they might be able to open a quick fire upon the enemy when they advanced to the assault. Soon one of the gunboats was in position; and a schooner with one gun, and manned by negroes, was the first to enter the contest. The firing raged incessantly for upwards of four hours, though very ineffective, and the rebels were apparently gaining ground, when there came a favorable change to the Federals in the tide of battle. The gunboats came round from the Trent river, with strains of music floating on the air, and the batteries and gunboats poured forth a storm of shells, weighing from six to one hundred pounds; the rebels were compelled to retreat toward the bushes in great disorder. About fifteen was the enemy’s loss in killed, and thirty wounded. The Union loss was two killed and four wounded.

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In April the town of Washington, on the Tar river, was laid siege to by General Hill. The town had but a very small garrison, and was but slightly fortified; but General Foster caused the works to be strengthened so that the Union force was enabled to hold the city till reinforcements arrived from Newbern, and the siege was raised.

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ATTACK ON GUM SWAMP.—The next movement was made on the 22nd of May. General Foster sent Colonel Lee’s brigade, consisting of the Fifth, Twenty-fifth, and Forty-sixth Massachusetts regiments, a battalion of cavalry, and three pieces of Bogg’s battery, to report to Colonel Jones, who had declared his belief that the enemy’s outpost regiments at Gum Swamp could be captured. Colonel Jones ordered a portion of the brigade to attack the enemy in front, while the rest should close up on his rear.

At daylight of the 22nd, the main body of Colonel Lee’s command drove in the enemy’s pickets, and commenced an attack upon their front. Upon the rear, some of the Union batteries had been deployed, and immediately opened fire. The enemy made but faint resistance, and then scattered in confusion in every direction. One hundred and sixty-five prisoners were captured by the Unionists, and the rebel works were completely demolished. Colonel Jones then made a demonstration towards Kinston, a few miles distant; but the same evening his pickets were driven in, and he was attacked by the enemy in such strong force, that he was obliged to beat a hasty retreat, pursued by the rebels to the very edge of the Union outpost line. On the afternoon of the following day, the enemy again attacked the Unionists, but were severely repulsed at every point. In this second attack of the enemy, Colonel Jones was shot through the heart; and the army lost in him a gallant leader and efficient officer.

THE EXPEDITION AGAINST ROCKY MOUNT, N. C.
JULY 24, 1863.

The last, and indeed the most important movement of the year in North Carolina, was made on the above date. General Foster sent a force consisting of the Third New York cavalry, and a squadron of the Twelfth, and one company of a North Carolina regiment, under command of Brigadier-General Edward E. Potter, to destroy the railroad bridge at Rocky Mount. This bridge, which was three hundred and fifty feet in length, was completely demolished. Besides this valuable bridge, a cotton mill filled with cotton; a flour mill, containing one thousand barrels of flour, and large quantities of hard bread; a machine shop, filled with shells, gunpowder, and munitions of war; a large depot, with all its offices and outbuildings; an engine and a train of cars; a wagon train of twenty-five wagons, filled with stores and munitions; an armory and machine shop, with all the machinery and materials, and eight hundred bales of cotton, were destroyed in the same expedition. Further on, at Tarboro’, on Tar river, two steamboats, and a large iron-clad, in process of construction, were destroyed; and a saw mill, a train of cars, one hundred bales of cotton, and a very large quantity of subsistence and ordinary stores were destroyed, and about one hundred prisoners, and three hundred head of horses and mules, captured. The expedition was followed on its return to Newbern by about three hundred negroes. During the entire time from its leaving Newbern till its return, the force was engaged in constant skirmishing with the enemy, particularly on the return, the rebels making every effort to impede their way, but being in every instance compelled to retire, frequently with loss. The Union loss in killed, wounded and missing, did not exceed twenty-five men. For the next few months the Department of North Carolina was transferred from General Foster, and united with that of Virginia, under General Dix, who was subsequently transferred to the Department of the East, when General Foster was reinstated in his former position. Later in the year General Foster was transferred to the command of the Department of the Ohio, and General B. F. Butler was placed in the vacant position, as commander of the combined armies of the Departments of Southern Virginia and North Carolina.

OPERATIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN 1863.

Active operations in South Carolina were until the month of March as dull as in North Carolina, and for the same reason. Up to this time the only events that broke the strict monotony of inactivity were the occasional running of the blockade by English and by rebel vessels; and rare skirmishing with the enemy. But heavy work was soon to come. An attack upon Fort Sumter and Charleston had long been contemplated by the Navy Department, and success was regarded as certain, as it had been arranged that the operations of the iron-clads were to be assisted by a large land force prepared to join in the attack. The rebels were not unaware of the measures that were in contemplation against one of their strongest positions, and were busily preparing to resist them. General Beauregard issued a proclamation in Charleston in March, in which he declared it to be his duty to inform the “citizens of Charleston and Savannah, that a land and naval attack on one or both cities, might be expected at a very early date.” He conjured the citizens of Charleston to arm themselves, adding, “Be not too exacting in the choice of weapons. Picks and scythes will do for exterminating your enemies, spades and shovels for protecting your firesides.” The citizens of Charleston and Savannah reported promptly, and the preparations for the attack, and for resisting the attack went on simultaneously.

THE ATTACK ON FORT SUMTER.
APRIL 7, 1863.

The defences of Charleston harbor were now somewhat changed in their character, since the memorable attack on Fort Sumter, in 1861, and require a new description from that furnished in the first volume of this work. The chief works of the enemy for the defence of Charleston at this time may be thus briefly described: On the upper or north end of Sullivan’s Island a powerful sand battery guarding Maffit’s Channel; another large sand battery, called Fort Beauregard, between this and the Moultrie House; Fort Moultrie, which had been greatly strengthened since the commencement of the war; Fort Sumter, built upon an artificial island in the middle to the channel, near the entrance of the inner harbor, and about one and a half miles west of Fort Moultrie; Battery B, adjoining Fort Moultrie, on the western extremity of Sullivan’s Island; the Mount Pleasant battery on the mainland between Sullivan’s Island and Cooper river; Castle Pinckney, built on an island about a mile distant from Charleston; all, with the exception of Sumter, being on the right or northerly side of the harbor. On the other side of the harbor, in the immediate vicinity of the city, was the Wappoo battery on James island, commanding the embouchure of Ashley river; next to which was Fort Johnson, and between it and Castle Pinckney, Fort Ripley, a work erected on an artificial island in what was known as the “Middle Ground.” On Cummings’ Point, Morris Island, opposite Fort Moultrie, was Battery Gregg, and a mile south of this Fort Wagner, an extensive sand battery of the most powerful construction. Finally, at Light-house Inlet, which divides Morris Island from Folly Island, was another fortification covering the landing at that place. Within a few days of the attack the enemy also erected a new sand work between the two last mentioned. The number of guns mounted on these works was estimated at several hundred, comprising the heaviest smooth bore ordnance, and many rifled pieces of English manufacture; and as an additional means of protection, the channel between Fort Sumter and Sullivan’s Island was obstructed by rows of floating casks supporting torpedoes and other submarine obstacles, and in that between Sumter and Cummings’ Point were no less than four rows of piles extending nearly up to Charleston.

Upon the 6th of April the whole National fleet crossed the Charleston Harbor bar, intending to reduce Fort Sumter at once, and proceed thence direct to the city; but the day turned out to be particularly foggy, and the attack was necessarily deferred until the following day. About noon, upon the 7th, the signal was given by Admiral Dupont from his flagship for the vessels to weigh anchor. According to the plan of attack the vessels were to form in the following order ahead, at intervals of one cable’s length: 1. Weehawken, Captain John Rogers; 2. Passaic, Captain Percival Drayton; 3. Montauk, Commander John L. Worden; 4. Patapsco, Commander Daniel Ammen; 5. New Ironsides, Commodore Thomas Turner; 6. Catskill, Commander George W. Rodgers; 7. Nantucket, Commander Donald McN. Fairfax; 8. Nahant, Commander John Downes; 9. Keokuk, Lieutenant-Commander Alexander C. Rhind. The squadron was then to pass up the main ship channel without returning the fire of the batteries on Morris Island, unless signalized to do so, and was to take up a position to the northward and westward of Fort Sumter, and engage its northwest face at a distance of from one thousand to eight hundred yards. A squadron of reserve, consisting of the Canandaigua, Unadilla, Housatonic, Wissahickon, and Huron, under the command of Captain Joseph H. Green, of the Canandaigua, was ordered to remain outside the bar, and be in readiness to support the iron-clads, when they should attack the batteries on Morris Island, which would be subsequent to the reduction of Fort Sumter.

At half past twelve the whole fleet was in motion; but almost immediately a raft attached to the Weehawken became disarranged, and nearly an hour was consumed in putting it to rights. The fleet then moved forward again, and passed the works on Morris Island which remained perfectly silent. In stately majesty the fleet moved on, till within range of the fire of Fort Sumter and the batteries upon Sullivan’s Island, but still the same ominous silence continued; not a sound broke the stillness of the listening air, and the unbroken quiet was growing into suspense that was painful. But scarcely had that feeling of suspense time to manifest itself, when all around was clamor, and a noise that equalled the loudest thunder, burst with a deafening uproar on the ear. At precisely four minutes past three o’clock, a terrific fire burst from Fort Sumter upon the Union fleet. The Weehawken, being the leading vessel, was of course the first to receive the enemy’s fire, but instead of moving forward as the rest of the fleet moved up toward her, she was seen to come to a dead halt, just between Sumter and Moultrie! It was impossible to those who were eagerly, anxiously looking on, to assign any reason for such a halt. But very soon the cause became startlingly apparent. The enemy had thrown a strong hawser, floating on beer casks, across the river; upon this hawser, nets, lines, and catlets, strung with torpedoes, were hung, and should the vessel run into it, she would immediately become entangled, be deprived of her motive power, and so be left at the mercy of the current, to drift straight into the hands of the rebels. To attempt this danger was not to be thought of, and all attention was turned toward the left hand channel, to see what could be done between Sumter and Cummings’ Point. But this was found to be still more impassable. A row of piles, rising ten feet above the water, and extending the whole distance across the channel, blockaded the passage; and on further observation, it was discovered that another row of piles stretched across the middle ground between Forts Ripley and Johnson. This did not compass the whole passage, but left an opening for the fleet, which was the most dangerous of all the entanglements for its destruction. Beneath the water in that passage was a torpedo of enormous size, containing five thousand pounds of gunpowder. Beyond this the three rebel iron-clads were drawn up in line of battle. Thus again did the enemy display his wonderful tact and ability in protecting the northwest face of Sumter, which they well knew to be its weakest point. It was impossible to carry out the first intentions with regard to the action of the National fleet; and it only remained to put the vessels in the most advantageous positions which circumstances would admit. To add to all the other embarrassments attending the movements of the Union iron-clads, the flagship caught in the tideway, and became, for the moment, unmanageable; while the steamers Catskill and Nantucket, who kept in the Ironsides’ wake, fell a-foul of her. Accordingly, Admiral Dupont was obliged to signal to the rest of the fleet to disregard the movements of the flagship; and shortly before four o’clock the remaining eight vessels were ranged opposite the northeast front of Sumter, at distances varying from five hundred and fifty to eight hundred yards. The enemy during this time had not been idle, and from Forts Beauregard, Moultrie and Sumter, Battery Bee and Fort Wagner, the concentrated fire of three hundred guns was poured upon the devoted fleet, exceeding probably in rapidity and power any cannonade previously known in warfare. To this the eight iron-clads could oppose but sixteen guns. During the climax of the fire one hundred and sixty shots were counted in a single minute; and projectiles struck the vessels at every moment. It has been estimated that during that brief engagement the enemy fired three thousand five hundred round of ammunition.

The whole fury of the fight was comprised within the space of thirty minutes, during which time it is impossible by the use of words to give even a faint idea of the perpetual roar of the guns, and the unceasing glare and flash of the fire. During this terrible fight it is not to be supposed that the Union vessels were merely receiving the enemy’s fire. At the order to disregard the movements of the Ironsides, Captain Rhind ran the Keokuk up through the others, and laid it, apparently, under the very walls of Fort Sumter, and scarcely more than five hundred yards distant from it. Close behind the Keokuk came the Catskill, and close upon this vessel the Montauk, the Passaic, the Patapsco, the Nahant, the Nantucket, the Weehawken, and the Ironsides. The last named vessel poured forth its whole strength upon Fort Moultrie, while the remainder of the fleet directed all its fire against Fort Sumter. The face of Sumter soon began to show the marks of the severe treatment it was receiving from the heavy projectiles; and the brave men on board the Union iron-clads were eagerly and hopefully looking forward to the breach they expected to make, if their vessels could but remain under the storm of rebel fire long enough to effect it. But on this occasion the National cause was doomed to disappointment, and the bombardment of Fort Sumter was a crushing failure. Already the Keokuk was utterly disabled, and twelve of her men wounded; among whom was her gallant commander, Captain Rhind. The Nahant received thirty gaping wounds; six of her men were wounded, and the Quartermaster, Edward Cobb of Massachusetts, received his death blow. The Passaic was struck in twenty-five places: the Nantucket was badly injured; and the Catskill and Ironsides slightly damaged. The remainder of the vessels, though often struck, received no serious injury; but in the opinion of Admiral Dupont another half hour would have placed them, also, _hors du combat_, and accordingly, at five o’clock the signal was given to retire.

During the night following this disastrous fight it was confidently expected that the attack would be renewed in the morning; but when the morrow came Admiral Dupont had decided that, for the time, the bombardment of Fort Sumter was at an end.

On the 12th of April, then, the whole fleet—with the exception of the Keokuk, which had sunk, and the Ironsides, which was left outside of Charleston Harbor Bay—returned to Port Royal.

CAPTURE OF THE REBEL IRONCLAD ATLANTA.
JUNE 17.

About the middle of June, Admiral Dupont, learning that the Atlanta and other rebel vessels at Savannah, meditated an attack upon the blockading vessels in Warsaw Sound, despatched the Weehawken (Capt. Rogers) and the Nahant (Commander J. Downes), to prevent any disaster to the fleet. The Atlanta, originally a swift and powerful British steamer called the Fingal, had early in the war run the blockade of Savannah, and been converted by the enemy into an iron-clad at a great expense. She was one hundred and ninety-one feet in length, and forty feet beam, somewhat over one thousand tons in measurement, and had a low deck with a casement or covered iron-plated house in the centre, with sloping sides and ends, in which was her battery, consisting of two six-inch and two eight-inch rifled guns. Of these the former were broadside guns, and the latter worked on a pivot, either as broadside or bow or stern guns. She was further armed with a powerful ram, and had attached to her bow a submarine torpedo, charged with about fifty pounds of powder. No efforts had been spared to render her formidable, and it was believed by the enemy that her speed, her heavy armament, and her ram, would render her more than a match for any two vessels of the monitor type. Accordingly at dawn of June 17th, she steamed down the sound; followed by several small steamers containing pleasure parties who were to be the witnesses of the confidently expected triumph of the rebel vessel.

At 4 A. M. she was perceived by the Union iron-clads,—lying at anchor near the north of the Wilmington river—and they at once prepared for action. The Weehawken was nearest to the enemy, and getting under way stood up the sound, the Nahant following in her wake. The Atlanta lay across the channel and quietly awaited the attack from the National vessels; but at five o’clock she took the initiative and fired a single shot at the Nahant, which, however, failed to have any effect. The Weehawken steamed toward the Atlanta; and when within three hundred yards opened upon her with a fifteen-inch gun. She then approached still nearer, and when within two hundred yards she suddenly poured in upon the rebel vessel the full contents of her two guns. The effect was disastrous to the Atlanta, who immediately hauled down her colors, and ran up the white flag in token of surrender. Another discharge from the Union iron-clad was poured in upon her before the signal was understood, after which all firing ceased, and the Weehawken, having done all the fighting, took possession of her prize after a contest that lasted barely fifteen minutes. In this engagement one hundred and forty-five prisoners were captured.

SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.
COMMENCED JULY 3, 1863.

It was felt by the U. S. Government that the attack on Fort Sumter, of April 7th, was a somewhat humiliating failure; but, notwithstanding this, the original intention of redeeming Charleston was not abandoned. It was understood, from the tone of Admiral Porter’s letters, that he was opposed to a renewal of the attack on Charleston; and he was, accordingly, relieved of command, and Rear-Admiral Foote was appointed in his place. Before the period fixed for taking command of his squadron had expired, Admiral Foote died in New York, and a second appointment was made in the person of Admiral Dahlgreen, who entered upon his duties on July 6th. About this time General Gilmore was constituted commander-in-chief of the military department of the south, and arrangements were entered into for combined operations by land and sea.

THE ATTACK ON MORRIS ISLAND.

On July 10th, an attack was made upon Morris island by the land forces under General Gilmore, and the iron-clads Catskill, Montauk, Nahant, and Weehawken, under command of Admiral Dahlgren. On Morris island, on the opposite side of Light-house Inlet, the rebels had erected, after the naval attack upon Fort Sumter, several batteries, in all mounting nine heavy columbiads, and three 10-inch mortars, all bearing upon Folly island, and the mouth of Light-house inlet, and the approach to the island by way of Folly river.

At five A. M. the Union fire opened upon the batteries on Morris Island, being directed from the entire line of works recently erected on Folly Island. The rebels were taken by surprise, and as the fire from the Union ranks poured in upon them, they sprang to the tops of the sand-hills, eagerly looking whence it came, but speedily dropped back again, and remained concealed till they were taken prisoners by the Union troops. The fleet, with Admiral Dahlgren on board the Catskill, had, at an early hour in the morning, crossed the southern channel, and had drawn up in line of battle along the southern end of Morris island, in order to deliver an enfilading fire and harass the enemy on his left and rear.

A vigorous fire was also kept up, during the greater part of the day, upon Fort Wagner. For three hours the cannonading continued against the Morris island works, and when at length it began to slacken, General Gilmore signalled to General Strong, who with his little boat fleet lay concealed in Folly river, to land his forces, and assault and carry the batteries at the point of the bayonet. The order was no sooner given than executed. With shouts and cheers the troops sprang ashore, formed in line of battle, with the Sixth and Seventh Connecticut on the right, the Ninth Maine and Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania in the centre, and the Third New Hampshire and the Forty-eighth New York on the left. In less than ten minutes the right and centre had carried all the batteries, and left all the rifle-pits—capturing ten Columbiads, two 10-inch mortars, one Whitworth gun, together with nearly the entire garrison, consisting of the First South Carolina Artillery, and ten companies of the Twenty-first South Carolina Volunteers, in all numbering one hundred and eighty-five men.

This unexpectedly quick and brilliant success in capturing these strong works, and obtaining so important a footing upon the island, filled the troops with the greatest enthusiasm. Cheer after cheer rent the air.

In a few moments General Gillmore and staff crossed to the island, and, under a burning sun, examined the works, and ascertained the extent of the victory. The batteries had been in command of Captain Mitchell, son of the Irish orator, John Mitchell.

With the exception of Fort Wagner and Cummings’ point, all the works on Morris island had been taken by this time; and during the whole afternoon the monitors continued to throw shell into the fort. It was determined that at daylight on the following morning, an attempt should be made to carry Fort Wagner at the point of the bayonet.

THE ASSAULT ON FORT WAGNER.
JULY 11, 1863.

At three o’clock, A. M. the attack was made. General Strong led the Seventh Connecticut, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Rodman; the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania, Major Henks, and the Ninth Maine, Colonel Eng, boldly to the attack, drove in the first line of the enemy’s pickets, thrown out about half a mile from the fort, received a vigorous fire from three platoons of infantry in rifle-pits, advanced upon and drove all not brought down by the Union rifles up to and through the gates of the fort, while the Seventh Connecticut pushed aside the abattis, waded through the ditch, took the southeast bastion, bayoneted all who offered any resistance, and ran their first line all along the parapet facing the sea, and in five minutes more would have had possession of the whole fort if the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania and the Ninth Maine had supported them as gallantly as the Seventh Connecticut led.

The garrison of the fort, which was about seven hundred strong, now belched forth from their howitzers both grape and canister, against an advancing force of only one hundred and eighty men; for the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania and Ninth Maine regiments were so completely demoralized by the heavy fire of the enemy, that they instantly fell on their faces, and rose only to retire beyond range.

Slowly the gallant little detachment from the Seventh Connecticut were compelled to fall back, but not until they had left two-thirds of their number in the ditches, on the parapet, and within the walls of the fort. Lieutenant-Colonel Rodman and nearly all his captains were wounded. Colonel Rodman behaved with the greatest gallantry, and received two severe wounds.

During the rest of the day, nothing more was done by the land force; but the monitors kept up a constant fire against Fort Wagner and Cummings’ point. The enemy made strong efforts to reinforce the garrison at Fort Wagner, but without success.

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From this time nothing of importance transpired as regarded the taking of Charleston, for upwards of a month. General Gillmore was engaged in pushing his intrenchments toward Fort Wagner, and the navy was comparatively inactive until such time as the land forces would be ready to cooperate. Almost every day two or three of the iron-clads bombarded Fort Wagner and Battery Gregg on Cummings’ point, without receiving any injury in return, while at the same time the firing served to divert the enemy’s attention from the siege works in progress.

BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER.
AUGUST 17–23, 1863.

At early morning on the 17th August, General Gillmore opened all his batteries on Fort Sumter, firing directly over Fort Wagner. Admiral Dahlgren, during the same time, was making good use of the five iron-clads, Ironsides, Weehawken, Nahant, Montauk and Catskill; he brought these vessels abreast of Fort Wagner, and effectually silenced that troublesome work for the remainder of the day. About two thousand yards from Fort Sumter, the Passaic and Patapsco had taken up position, and cooperated with the batteries on shore in the attack upon it. No material injury was done to any of the vessels, but the service lost a valuable officer in the person of General Dahlgren’s chief-of-staff, Captain George W. Rodgers. Captain Rodgers was in the pilot house when he met his death by a flying piece of fractured plating, which killed him instantly. Paymaster Woodbury was also killed at the same time.

Within the city of Charleston, during this long siege, much fear and dread troubled the hearts of the inhabitants. The future loomed up dark and terrible before their affrighted minds, although the chroniclers of the time declared that there was no panic, nor any prospect of one. Business of all kinds was, however, almost entirely suspended; and the cannonading without Fort Sumter, the storm of shot and shell continually hurled against its walls, brought anxiety to every mind, and a deathlike pallor to very many cheeks.

At about 2 o’clock in the afternoon all the fleet had retired, with the exception of the Weehawken and the Nahant, which remained to keep Fort Wagner silent, and to prevent the remounting of her guns. During the whole afternoon and night the shore batteries continued firing upon Fort Sumter with such effect that the shore damage done to it was visible to the Union men without the aid of a glass. The enemy had erected a false wall outside of Sumter, which was completely battered and crushed to pieces; the inner wall was perforated in many places; and the northwest corner hacked and cracked down almost to the edge of the water. Upon the next morning the batteries were all briskly at work at an early hour, the siege guns hurling shell at Sumter at the rate of five shells to the minute. The masonry of the fort was gradually but surely crumbling to pieces; but still the rebel flag floated above it, although it had been twice shot away. Often as it was riddled and torn, a fresh one was run up, while the determined band within seemed little inclined to surrender. Since the previous day a severe storm was raging with a high wind, which prevented the monitors from being of any marked assistance; but during its utmost violence the land batteries continued to pour in a deliberate and destructive fire, doing great damage to the gorge wall, which had been strengthened in every possible way. Before the close of the day the parapet was utterly demolished, and great breaches were to be seen in the main wall, through which the projectiles hurled against it entered, and struck the wall upon the other side, killing any that came within their deadly path.

During the day a new flagship, the Philadelphia, arrived from Hampton Roads, having been refitted for the use of Admiral Dahlgren, who transferred his flag to her, as she was a much more roomy vessel than the one he had been occupying.

During the long day’s engagement, the cannonading from the National guns was terrific; and the shriek and scream of shells made the very air alive with turmoil, while the enemy’s fire was very feeble; Wagner, owing to the close watch kept upon her, being unable to get even an occasional shot at the Unionists, and Sumter being too thoroughly disarmed to attempt a full-voiced return to the countless thundering defiances sent to her. By way of proving that life was not entirely extinct within her, she did, however, at long intervals, hurl forth an occasional shell.

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THE “SWAMP ANGEL.”—On the evening of the 18th, the enemy discovered that a battery was being constructed on the Union left, in a marsh which lay in that direction, and they immediately, from their guns on James Island, began firing upon the men who were at work there. The erection of that battery was of considerable importance, for it was nearer to Charleston than any of the others. The men stood boldly against the enemy’s fire, and bravely continued their work. One man was killed, and two wounded. From the time that the enemy first discovered this battery until the evening of the 20th, they devoted most particular attention to the work, and within that time one hundred and sixteen shells were hurled at it from the James Island batteries. Only one struck it, and there were no farther casualties than those named above. The men christened the battery in the marsh “The Swamp Angel,” from the great service it did in concentrating the enemy’s attention upon itself.

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CONTINUATION OF THE BOMBARDMENT.—Upon the morning of the 20th, Fort Sumter still stood, notwithstanding its fall had been confidently and speedily anticipated on the night of the 18th; but it was an obstinate and very strong work, and from every flagstaff visible upon it, the blood-red battle-flag of the “Confederate States Army” still floated proudly and defiantly on the breeze. The gorge wall still stood obstinately upright, notwithstanding the fearful fire directed against it from end to end of the Union lines; although the effect of the projectiles was plainly visible. Fort Wagner, too, in defiance of the severe treatment it had received, remained as strong as ever, although its walls showed the bruises of the many and formidable blows which had been levelled against it; and it had now the farther advantage of having been strongly reinforced. Before Sumter could be occupied by the Union troops, it was absolutely necessary to reduce Forts Gregg and Wagner; and active operations to this end were constantly going forward.

The storm, which still continued, and at times raged with great violence, rendered it impossible for the monitors to be of any immediate service, although the whole fleet moved up abreast of Fort Sumter on the evening of the 19th, but were obliged to retire without firing a single shot. When the port-holes were opened the heavy ocean swell washed in, and effectually prevented the accurate elevation of the guns.

The troops still continued in excellent spirits; though from their confidence of ultimate success, and the monotony of the long continued bombardment, some of them showed a slight disposition to carelessness. But this was speedily put an end to, and the hottest fighting since the opening of the bombardment, began in terrible earnest. The firing increased so rapidly that the loud and continuous roar was absolutely deafening; every battery was at work. At six o’clock in the evening, the entire top of the fort was completely gone, and every parapet gun was dismounted, most of them having fallen into the sea. The flags were of course shot away; the garrison no longer making any effort to return the Union fire, which hardly ceased during the whole day. The southwest side presented a mere mass of ruins, when at length the guns were silenced for the night; and on the next day, nine enormous breaches were visible in the strongest portion of the fort. The firing was again resumed; and, upon rebel authority, “kept up heavier than ever during the 21st.” From five o’clock in the morning, till seven in the evening, nine hundred and twenty-three shots were fired, of which no less than seven hundred and four struck the fort. The Ironsides, on this morning, also opened fire, and Sumter occasionally replied. Fort Wagner fired briskly on the Union advanced works, too, but without doing much damage. The National fire upon Wagner was, however, very destructive, and with every hour continued to grow more so. At eleven P. M., a demand for the surrender of Fort Sumter was sent to General Beauregard, with a threat that, if the demand was not complied with, the city of Charleston should be shelled within four hours. The demand was refused, although the fort was a ruin; and the paper containing the demand was returned at seven o’clock on the morning of the 22d to General Gilmore. The flag of truce which had been hoisted during the sending of and return of the demand, was now lowered, and the firing recommenced in all its fury, passing from end to end of the Union line, and continuing with unabated fierceness for the remainder of the day. General Gilmore, (after allowing time for the removal of the women and children,) gave orders to Lieutenant Sellmer, commanding the “Swamp Angel,” to open with his heavy rifled gun upon the city of Charleston; and accordingly, fifteen shells (of Birney’s invention), were thrown across the James Island batteries into the town. The arrival of these projectiles caused the utmost terror and dismay to the inhabitants, who rushed blindly to and fro in indescribable confusion, while the light of burning buildings and the ringing of alarm bells, gave proof to the Unionists of the consternation caused by the unexpected arrival of the messengers from the “Swamp Angel.”

Fort Wagner now gathered up her whole strength to throw against the Union forces, and her firing, directed exclusively against the right, became really terrific. The Ironsides and two other monitors came up, and for four hours poured a torrent of shells into the Confederate fort, which finally silenced her.

Another flag of truce was hoisted during the day to receive a message from General Beauregard, which turned out to be an indignant protest against what he was pleased to call General Gilmore’s “unchristian and uncivilized mode of warfare” in shelling the city of Charleston. The dispatches were instantly replied to, and in a manner not calculated to quiet Beauregard’s indignation. Again there was a suspension of hostilities while the message was being carried, but the firing recommenced as soon as the dispatch had been delivered.

During the night only a few shots were exchanged by the combatants; and on the next morning such a dense fog hung over the bay that operations were temporarily suspended. The “Swamp Angel” was again trained on Charleston; and the shelling of the city continued with great violence for a good part of the night, while the rebel batteries on James island continued playing away on the “Swamp Angel,” but without doing it any great damage.

Fort Sumter itself was by this time so utterly ruined that no further damage could be done to it by continued firing, in rendering it useless as a defence to Charleston; and as it was not deemed necessary to absolutely level it with the earth, firing upon it was discontinued after the 23d August. Fort Wagner was found to be very difficult to overcome. Day after day the bombardment had been continued against the place, which was evidently one of the strongest of the enemy’s forts. It was commanded by Colonel Keith, of South Carolina, and garrisoned by fourteen hundred effective men; but notwithstanding its brave defence and its strength, it could not much longer hold out against the Union forces. On the 26th General Gilmore succeeded in running a parallel very close to Wagner. A ridge of sand which interposed, could, he perceived, be made useful, as it was constantly occupied by a body of the enemy’s pickets, and at night by a large force protected by rifle-pits. To push the rebels from this sand ridge and take possession of it himself was the intention of General Gilmore; and just before dark the position was assaulted, and carried by the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts regiment. The bombardment of the fort itself then continued more actively than ever, while from Fort Johnson and all the other works on James island, the booming of cannon continued to make itself heard loud and furious.

On the 30th of August the bombardment of Fort Sumter was resumed. For seven days the firing had ceased against it, but as that was quite long enough for the enemy to make necessary repairs, and in some degree fit it up again, firing was recommenced in order to prevent the rebels from making any important advance in their work of reconstruction, supposing them to have begun it. No reply came from the fort in answer to the firing directed against it, which only increased its battered and helpless appearance.

On September 1st a general engagement took place between Forts Wagner, Moultrie, and Sumter, and the Union iron-clads, in which two of the forts suffered severely, but the apparently invincible Wagner was but slightly injured. To mine the work was impossible, because of its low position. The men who attempted to lay a train, discovered water at the depth of only two feet. But the sappers succeeded, on the night of the 6th September, in mining the outerscrap, after long and tedious work; and in this way all its guns were unmasked, and an order was issued to carry the place by assault at nine o’clock on the following morning, that being the hour of low tide. It was then discovered that the enemy had commenced evacuating the fort late on the previous night, and with the exception of seventy-five men, had escaped. The National troops invested the fort, and took possession of Cummings’ point. A large supply of excellent ammunition was captured, and nineteen pieces of artillery; and thus the city and harbor of Charleston were completely covered by the Union guns.

An assault upon Fort Sumter was made during the same night, by a flotilla of twenty-five boats, manned by one hundred sailors, under Lieutenant-Commander Williams, and about one hundred marines under Captain McCauley. The entire force was under the command of Commander Stephens, of the Patapsco.

The boats landed, and the men attempted to run up the parapet, but were repulsed. At a signal from Fort Sumter, all the batteries bearing on it opened at once on the boats, and a rebel ram coming up engaged them at close quarter. Three boats were completely demolished and forty or fifty sailors and marines were killed and wounded. Lieutenant Bayard was mortally wounded and captured. The other officers captured were Commander Williams, Lieutenant Renny, Lieutenant Hueston, Lieutenant Rowell, Lieutenant Bunce, Doctor Wheeler, and Ensign Porter. The entire list of casualties numbered about eighty; and the remainder of the command retired in safety.

After this ineffectual attempt to take possession of Fort Sumter by the navy, little progress in the siege of Charleston was made during the remainder of the year. All the captured forts on Morris island were enlarged and strengthened; and new batteries, which effectually commanded Fort Sumter, were erected by order of General Gilmore, which could also be made most valuable in aiding any further naval attack against Charleston.

The next event of marked importance was an attempt on the part of the enemy to blow up the frigate Ironsides, on the 5th October. The shelling of the city was continued at intervals; and occasionally the forts were severely bombarded. The portion of Charleston which was within reach of the shells, was greatly injured, and had been quite abandoned by its inhabitants at an early stage of the proceedings against the city. Fort Sumter was furiously bombarded late in October, with severe damage to the sea wall, but its devoted garrison still clung to it, and the return fire was, at times, very severe. The year drew to its close, and the rebels had lost their strongest forts—the National troops occupied Wagner; Sumter was a ruin; and the city of Charleston, already severely shelled, lay under the guns of the Union.

OPERATIONS IN ARKANSAS—CAPTURE OF LITTLE ROCK.

On the 1st of July 1863, General Steele arrived at Helena, and reported to General Hurlbut, the commander of the Sixteenth Army corps, in order to receive instructions as to an expedition planned by General Grant, against Little Rock, in that State. All of the troops then in Helena, together with a cavalry division, operating in various parts of the State at that time, and led by Brigadier-General Davidson, were immediately placed under General Steele’s command. But the climate of Helena, which was unfavorable to the troops, had weakened a large number who were either sick or convalescent from sickness. The number mustered at this point for the expedition, was about six thousand. The artillery consisted of three six-gun batteries, one four-gun battery, and six ten-pound Parrot guns. The cavalry numbered less than five hundred men fit for duty, and consisted of the First Indiana and the Fifth Kansas regiments. General Davidson’s cavalry division consisted of six thousand men. On taking command at Helena, General Steele proceeded to organize his forces, and to establish camps for the sick. This done, he commenced an advance movement. General Davidson pushed on to Clarendon, a point on White river, where corduroying two miles of bottom, he threw a bridge over Rock Roe Bayou. Another division advanced toward the same point, under command of General Rice, and still another under command of Colonel W. E. McClean. The entire force was congregated, on the 17th of August, at Clarendon. Beyond the river lay the enemy. General Steele’s design, now, was to establish an Hospital at Duvall’s Bluff, a healthy point on the river, and thence to advance against Little Rock, the capital of the State, and the headquarters of the rebels, situated on the west bank of the Arkansas river. This plan was pursued with equal energy and success. As early as the 23rd July, the Hospital was established; and, on the 25th, General Davidson, still advancing, skirmished with the rebel General Marmaduke’s cavalry, which he finally drove into their intrenchments at Bayou Meton. On the 27th he again attacked the enemy, and drove them from their intrenchments; but the rebels burned their bridges in returning, and thus, for a time, succeeded in checking the Union advance. General Davidson then concentrated his forces at Brownsville, where he remained until the end of the month. On the 30th of August General Steele was reinforced, by True’s brigade, from Memphis, and on the 14th of September he commenced a general advance against the rebels beyond Bayou Meton. At first he resolved to endeavor to turn the left flank of the rebel forces, and for this purpose he sent out General Davidson to reconnoitre. This reconnoissance, made by way of Austin, lasted two days. At the end of that time, however, General Steele was in possession of such information concerning the roads and the disposition of the foe, as determined him to advance on the right. On the 6th of September, therefore, the general advance was resumed, True’s brigade, and Ritter’s cavalry being left to guard the sick at Brownsville. On the 7th the advance reached the Arkansas river, at or near Ashley’s Mills, a point above Little Rock. General Steele’s plans were now laid with equal boldness and skill. General Davidson was directed to cross the Arkansas with a considerable force, and to move down the south bank of the river directly against the capital. General Steele meantime marched down the south bank, and threatened the city in front. The passage of the river was effected by means of a pontoon bridge, on the 10th, and General Davidson advanced to Bayou Fourche before encountering any opposition. At this place, however, he was met by a Confederate force, in regular line of battle, consisting of Fagan’s and Tappan’s brigades and Marmaduke’s cavalry. A brisk engagement ensued, but the rebels, galled by artillery fire from the other side of the river, and steadily pushed by the gallant troops of Davidson, were speedily compelled to retreat. The Union advance meanwhile was continued—simultaneously upon both sides of the stream. In a short time, volumes of smoke and clouds of dust, in the direction of Little Rock, made it evident that the rebels were retreating from the city, burning the bridges as they passed over. Marmaduke’s cavalry was thus found to be the only obstacle to the Union occupation of the capital. A bold push soon swept that foe away, and on the night of September 10th, Little Rock was formally surrendered. The forces, however, were too weary to continue the pursuit, until the next day, when Merrill’s and Clayton’s cavalry followed the flying foe for twenty miles, taking a number of prisoners and causing the destruction of a part of the rebel baggage train. The Union loss in this battle did not exceed one hundred; the rebel loss was at least five times as great, including prisoners. So ended a campaign of forty-five days, which resulted in substantially freeing the State of Arkansas from the clutches of rebellion.

The capture of Little Rock, however, was succeeded by a variety of incidents, which deserve to be summed up in a brief statement, as marking the close of the war in Arkansas.

On the 28th of October a portion of the retreating troops of the discomfited rebel General Price, having eluded pursuit, attacked Pine Bluff, hoping, if successful, to recapture Little Rock, and enfeeble the Union troops by cutting off their line of communication with the Mississippi. But the Unionists repulsed this attack, and on the same day captured Arkadelphia, forcing the Confederates to retreat towards the Red river.

Thus, at the close of the year 1863, the entire State of Arkansas, excepting a small part in the Southwest, and another small part in the Northwest, infested by guerrillas, was restored to the authority of the United States Government.

OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN VIRGINIA, DURING 1863.