652

THE DEFENSE OF FORT FISHER.

all the gun-chambers to the east of the westernsalient. Just as the tide of battle seemed to haveturned in our favor the remorseless fleet came tothe rescue of the faltering Federals. Suddenly thebombardment, which had been confined to the sea-face, turned again on our land-front, and withdeadly precision; the iron-clads and heavy frig-ates drove in our Napoleons and exploded shells inthe interior of the sally-port, which had heretoforeescaped. They also swept the gun-chamber occu-pied by Confederates in front of those occupied bythe enemy, and their shells rolled down within theworks and exploded in most unexpected quarters,

BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL NEWTON M. CURTIS.

PROM A PHOTOGRAPH.

preventing even company formation. They drovefrom the front of the enemy all assailants exceptthose so near that to have fired on them wouldhave been to slaughter the Federals.

We had now to contend with a column advancingaround the rear of the left bastion into the in-terior plane of the fort. It moved slowly andcautiously, apparently in column of companiesand in close order. I met it with an effective in-fantry fire, my men using the remains of an old workas a breastwork and taking advantage of everyobject that would afford cover, for we were nowgreatly outnumbered. The fire was so unexpectedand destructive on the massed columns of the Fed-erals, that they halted when an advance would havebeen fatal to us. With orders to the officers to dis-pute stubbornly any advance until my return, I wentrapidly to the extreme southern limit of my work andturned the two mound guns on the column in the fort.As I passed the different batteries I ordered theguns turned on the assailants, but on returningfound that only two besides those on the moundwould bear upon them, and these had to be firedover my men. I ordered them, notwithstanding,

to be fired carefully with properly cut fuses, whichwas done, but it made some of my men very nerv-ous. I brought back with me to the front everyman except a single detachment for each gun. Iwas gone from the front at least thirty minutes,and on my return found the fighting still continu-ing over the same traverse for the possession ofthe gun-chamber, despite the fire of the fleet. Asmy men would fall others would take their places.It was a soldier’s fight at that point, for there couldbe no organization; the officers of both forceswere loading and firing with their men. If therehas ever been a longer or more stubborn hand-to-hand encounter, I have failed to meet with it inhistory. The Federal column inside had advancedno farther, and seemed demoralized by the fire of theartillery and the determined resistance of the gar-rison. I had brought back with me more than ahundred of my old garrison, and I threw them infront with those already engaged. Those who hadbeen driven from the parapet had taken positionbehind the old work. I went to the bomb-proofwhere the South Carolinians were and appealed tothem to help save the fort; they were in a positionto flank a part of the column, and they promisedto do so. I proceeded to the sally-port and or-dered the gallant Adams to bring his guns out andopen fire on the head of the column, and if he hadnot men left to serve the guns to get volunteersfrom other companies. I went along the galleriesand begged the sick and wounded who had re-treated from the captured bomb-proofs to comeand make one supreme effort to dislodge the enemy.As I passed through my work the last time, thescene was indescribably horrible. Great cannonwere broken in two, and over their ruins were lyingthe dead; others were partly buried in graves dugby the shells which had slain them.

Still no tidings from Bragg. The enemy’s ad-vance had ceased entirely; protected by the fleet,they held the parapet and gun-chambers, but theirmassed columns refused to move and appeared to beintrenching in the work. I believed a determinedassault with the bayonet upon their front woulddrive them out. I had cautioned the gunners notto fire on our men, and had sent Lieutenant Jones,of the navy, to Battery Buchanan, asking for allthe force they could spare, and to be careful notto fire on us if we became closely engaged withthe enemy. The head of the column was not overone hundred feet from the portion of our breast-work which I occupied; I passed quickly in rear ofthe line and asked the officers and men if they wouldfollow me ; they all responded fearlessly that theywould. I returned to my post, and, giving theorder “ Charge bayonets,” sprang upon the breast-work, waved my sword, and, as I gave the command“Forward! double-quick, march!” fell on myknees, a rifle-ball having entered my left hip.We were met by a heavy volley, aimed too highto be effective ; but our column wavered and fellback behind the breastworks. A soldier raised meup ; I turned the command over to Captain DanielMunn and told him to keep the enemy in check, andthat I would bandage my wound and soon return.Before I could reach the hospital I was made to