THE ARMY BEFORE CHARLESTON IN 1863.

59

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topographical change we were entirely ignorant. We did not know thatthe island at its narrowest point between us and Battery Wagner, and quitene ar to the latter, had been worn away by the encroachments of the sea toabout one-third the width shown on our latest charts, and so much reduced111 height that during spring-tides or heavy weather the waves swept entirelyov er it to the marsh in rear. Against us the fort presented an armed frontabout 800 feet in length reaching entirely across the island, while mu'advance must be made over a strip of low shifting sand only about 80 feetAV| de, and two feet above the range of ordinary tides.

Between the lOtli and 18th of July, as preliminary to a second attempt to§ e t possession of Battery Wagner by assault, 41 pieces of artillery, comprisingbght rifles and siege-mortars, were put in position on an oblique line acrossBie island at distances from the fort ranging from 1300 to 1900 yards. Ther, fles were intended principally to dismount the enemy’s guns. Early in thea fternoon of the 18th all these batteries opened fire, and the navy closed in°u the fort and took an active and efficient part in the engagement. In as hort time the work became absolutely silent on the faces looking towardll b and practically so on the sea front, from which at the beginning of theAction a severe fire had been delivered against the fleet. The work wass benced for the time at least, but whether this was due to the injury inflicted011 its armament, or to the inability of the men to stand to their pieces, or toI'bese two causes combined, we had no means of knowing.

An assault was ordered. The time of evening twilight was selected for the

storming party to advance, in order that it might not be distinctly seen fromBie James Island batteries on our extreme left, and from Fort Sumter andSullivan’s Island in our distant front. Brigadier-General Truman Seymoururganized and commanded the assaulting column, composed of Brigadier-Wneral (4. 0. Strong’s brigade supported by the brigade of Colonel Haldimandk- Putnam. As the column left the line of our batteries and began its advancealong the narrow strip of beach, a rapid fire was opened upon it from Fort'Onter and from the works on James Island and on Sullivan’s Island.v hen it reached a point so near to Battery Wagner that the fire from our ownSuns and those of the navy had to be suspended from fear of destroying our° w u men, a compact and deadly sheet of musketry fire was instantly pouredUpon the advancing column by the garrison, which had suddenly issued forth°ua the security of the bomb-proof shelter. Although the troops went gal-Utly forward and gained the south-east bastion of the work and held it formoi ' e than two hours, the advantages which local knowledge and the deepen-^Ug darkness gave the enemy forced a withdrawal. The reprrlse was complete,f n d our loss severe, especially in officers of rank. The gallant Strong, who} >eeu the first man to land on Morris Island a few days before, actuallyfading As entire command in that descent and in the daring assault that

IO Uowed

, was fatally wounded. As he was being conveyed to the rear I

Pped the ambulance for a moment to ask if he was badly hurt. He recog-°d my voice, and replied, “No, General, I think not; only a severe flesh-

^oima

ui the hip.” He was taken to Beaufort that

night

and placed in