BANKS INVESTS PORT HUDSON. 331 guns; while he had seized 2 and de- | be in position either to defend New stroyed 8 Rebel steamers, beside three Orleans below, or to rëenforce, in an gunboats. An intercepted letter showed that Taylor had purposed to attack Brashear City the day prior to our advance to and attack on Fort Bisland. emergency, or be rëenforced by, Grant above. And Grant, on hearing all the facts as set forth by Gen. Dwight, heartily concurred in this decision; offering to send Banks 5,000 men so soon as he could spare them. Gen. Banks, directly after Dwight's return to Alexandria, put " his army 26 marching by land to Simmsport, where they were with difficulty ferried across the Atchafalaya, and moved down the right bank of the Mississippi till opposite Bayou Sara, where they crossed," and, marching 15 miles next day, proceeded forthwith to invest Port Hudson from the north; while Gen. C. C. Augur, with 3,500 men from Baton Rouge, in like manner invested it on the south. Gen. Banks had been notified by Admiral Farragut, while at Brashear City, that Gen. Grant-then at his wits' end before Vicksburg-would in motion; sending all he had transspare him 20,000 men for a move-portation for by water; the residue ment on Port Hudson-a proffer which was soon afterward, and most fortunately, retracted. Grant's plan was to join teams and help Banks reduce Port Hudson, when the latter should help him reduce Vicksburg: an arrangement to which Gen. B. very gladly assented. Grant's corps designed to cöoperate against Port Hudson was to be at Bayou Sara May 25th; but on the 12th Banks was advised by letter 25 from Grant that he had crossed the Mississippi in force, and had entered on his campaign which proved so successful. Of course, he had now no corps to spare, but proposed instead that Banks should join him in his movement against Vicksburg. This the latter was obliged to decline, lacking the required transportation, and not daring to leave New Orleans and all we held in Louisiana at the mercy of the strong Rebel garrison of Port Hudson, of whose batteries Farragut had recently had so sore an experience; to say nothing of Dick Taylor's return, strongly rëenforced, from the side of Texas. So Banks, sending Gen. Wm. Dwight to Grant to explain his position, wisely decided to move with all his available force against Port Hudson, where he could 20 May 14-15. 25 Dated the 10th. Gen. Gardner, commanding at Port Hudson, sent Col. Miles to resist their junction behind his fastness by striking Augur on his march; but he was repulsed with a loss of 150 men; while our right wing above, under Gens. Weitzel, Grover, and Dwight, drove the garrison, after a sharp fight, within their outer line of intrenchments. The next day,28 they joined hands with Augur behind the Rebel works, and the investment of the Port, save on the side of the river, was complete. Reports being current that the enemy had withdrawn-that there was only a handful of them left behind their works, &c.-Banks, after thorough reconnoissance and giving time for preparation, gave the order for a general assault. That assault May 25. 27 Night of May 23. 28 was gallantly made; 29 but with the 10 A. M., while Gen. Augur, in our usual ill success of attempts to carry center, and Gen. T. W. Sherman, on elaborate, extensive, skillfully plan- our left, did not attack in earnest till ned works, enfilading and supporting 2 P. M. Meantime, the Hartford each other, by merely hurling masses and Albatross above, and the Moof men against them. Intended, of nongahela, Richmond, Genesee, and course, to be simultaneous in every Essex below the Rebel river battequarter, it failed to be so. Our bat- ries, under the direction of Admiral bat-ries, teries opened early in the morning; Farragut, rained shot and shell upon and, after a vigorous bombardment, the besieged, who had already been Gens. Weitzel, Grover, and Paine, compelled by our fleet to abandon on our right, assaulted with vigor at their southernmost battery; spiking 29 May 27. BANKS'S ASSAULT ON PORT HUDSON. 333 its guns. In this day's fight, the fleet | Gen. Banks was justified in accordprobably did the greater execution ing especial commendation to these; on the Rebels, whose attention was saying, "No troops could be more mainly absorbed by the land attack: determined or more daring." The its fire dismounting several of their conflict closed about sunset. heavy guns, and taking in reverse their landward defenses. Never was fighting more heroic than that of our army, assailing nearly equal numbers behind strong defenses, approached only through almost impassable abatis, swept by Rebel shell and grape. If valor could have triumphed over such odds, they would have carried the works; but only abject cowardice or pitiable imbecility could have lost such a position to so small an army; and the Rebels also fought well. We gained ground on both flanks; holding it thereafter on the north, where two negro regiments (1st and 3d Louisiana) vied with the bravest: making three desperate charges on Rebel batteries, losing heavily, but maintaining their position in the hottest forefront to the close. The 1st Louisiana (colored) Engineers were also on trial that day, and justified the most sanguine expectations by their good conduct. Not that they fought better than our White veterans they did not, and could not: but there had been so much incredulity avowed as to negro courage, so much wit lavished on the idea of negroes fighting to any purpose, that 30 Gen. Banks reported that the 15th Arkansas, out of a total of 292, lost during the siege 132; of whom 76 fell this day. 31 The following extracts from the diary of a Rebel soldier (John A. Kennedy, 1st Alabama), who was captured while endeavoring to make his way out through our lines with a letter in cipher from Gardner to Jo. Johnston, gives the most vivid inside view of the siege: "May 29.-The fight continued until long after night yesterday evening. The fight has opened | We lost in this desperate struggle 293 killed, including Cols. Clarke, 6th Michigan, D. S. Cowles, 128th New York (transfixed by a bayonet), Payne, 2d Louisiana, and Chapin, 30th Mass., with 1,549 wounded, among whom were Gen. T. W. Sherman, severely, and Gen. Neal Dow, slightly. The Rebel loss was of course much less-probably not 300 in all.” There was a truce next day to enable us to bury our dead; after which, our soldiers addressed themselves in sober earnest to the arduous labor of digging and battering their way into the works which had proved impervious to their more impetuous endeavor. This was no holiday task, under the torrid sun of a Southern June, with Rebel sharp-shooters close at hand, ever on the keen watch for chances to obey the Donnybrook injunction, 'Wherever you see a head, hit it;' but our boys worked with a will; and soon the pick and spade were pushing zig-zag trenches up to the Rebel works; while the heavy guns of our batteries, alternating their thunders with those of the fleet, gave fresh illustrations of the truth that 'there is no peace for the wicked.'" -it opened at daybreak. The fight has been very warm to-day. I received a shot in the foot, but it is slight. The Yanks attempted to charge the works, but was repulsed. It has clouded up and is raining. We have a muddy time-a very wet time for sleeping. "May 30.-The fight opened at daylight. Our company has three wounded in the hospital. The Yanks have been sharp-shooting all day. We have lost but one man belonging to company B. The Yanks are building rifle-pitsthey fire very close. I have been sharp-shooting some to-day. The boys are very lively. Gen. Banks's position was far from enviable. His small army-now scarcely numbering 12,000 effective men—was isolated in a thinly settled, partially devastated,exhausted, and intensely hostile region. It was largely composed of nine-months men, whose terms of service had expired or would soon expire, whose hearts yearned toward loved ones far away, and who decidedly preferred a sure prospect of going home to their chance (if shot) of going to heaven. There were some 2,500 Rebel cavalry in close proximity to his rear, in addition to the garrison of 6,000 or over in his front; his necessary concentration for this siege had left nearly all Louisiana open to Dick Taylor, who would inevitably rëtrace his steps across the country out of which he had so lately been driven, capturing and conscripting by the way; and he might, very possibly, enforcements. I shall go to the breastworks this morning. The Yanks are still popping was killed to-day while looking over the breastwork. It is very, very hot, and we have lain in the ditch all day. "May 31.—We had a very hot time last night. We have quit living like men and are living like hogs. The Yanks have built rifle-pits with port-away, from their rifle-pits. One of company B holes. Our battery was silenced this morning; 5 of company A was wounded. Our regiment has lost 26 killed and 40 or 50 wounded. We have been relieved from our position by Miles's Legion. We will return to our position, I guess, to-morrow. The Yanks are shelling from the lower fleet. Ten of us are going at a time to camps to get clean clothes. "June 1.-I was on guard last night. The Yanks shelled us last night, but did no damage. Sam Hagin and Bob Bailey was killed by a rifle cannon-shot this morning. The Yanks are still sharp-shooting, also using their artillery. They have dismounted all our guns. They are the best artillerists I ever saw. The lower fleet has pitched us a few shots from Long Tom. “June 2.—The lower fleet shelled us last night. I am a little unwell this morning. There has not been much fighting to-day. The artillery is booming occasionally, and the sharp-shooters are still popping away. The Yanks threw a few balls at one of our batteries near us to-day. It is reported that we have rëenforcements between Clinton and Osica. "June 3.-The Yanks has been shooting all around us to-day. The Hessions seem to be rather afraid to attempt to storm our works again but seem rather inclined to starve us out. I hope we will receive rëenforcements in time to prevent it. Heaven help us! “June 4.—I am very unwell this morning. The lower fleet shelled us last night. The shells made the boys hunt a place of safety; such as ditches, rat-holes, trees, etc. We are going to our old position. I am sick at camp. "June 5.—We are still besieged by the Yanks. Another day has passed and no rëenforcements. Sim Herring was wounded in the head to-day. The Yanks are still sharp-shooting, also using their artillery with but little effect. We hear a great many different reports. “June 6.-The river is falling very fast. It is very, very hot weather. Several shots from 'Whistling Dick' came over our camp to-day. Sewell is shelling the Yanks. I expect to go to the breastworks in the morning. Several of the boys are at camp, sick. "June 7.-Another day has dawned and no re "June 8.-The Yanks began to sharp-shoot at daybreak. We had two men killed yesterday. I am afraid some of our company will get shot next. Another day has dawned and no rëenforcements, but I hope we will. receive them soon. The Yanks have been shelling our breastworks, but no damage done. It is very disagreeable sitting in these dirty ditches-but this the Confederate soldier expects and bears cheerfully; but another long hot day has passed, and who knows what may be our situation at this time to-morrow evening? "June 9.-The Yanks attempted a charge last evening but was repulsed. Whistling Dick is at work to-day; it has played a full hand, too. Whistling Dick is tearing our camps all to pieces. Charley Dixon and Berry Hagin was wounded by fragments of our cook shelter, which was shot down. Our sick has been removed to the ravine. It is difficult to get something to eat. The Yankee artillery is playing upon us all around. around. The Heshians burned our commissary with a shell to-day. "June 10.-Another day and night has passed, and this poor, worn-out garrison has received no assistance. assistance. We have lain in the ditches twenty days, and still there is no prospect of succorbut I truly hope we will soon receive rëenforcements. The men is getting sick very fast. The Yankee artillery is keeping a dreadful noise. I and Mormon have been detailed for some extra duty. The Hessions gave us a few rounds as we were crossing the field. I received dispatches from the General in person. "June 11.-The Yanks used their artillery at a tremendous rate last night. I went to or attempted to visit Col. Steedman's headquarters. I had a gay time trying to find them; falling in ravines, etc. I was in a hot place, shure. We captured a Yankee Captain and Lieutenant last night. The Yanks seemed disposed to make a general assault last night." At this point, the journal suddenly stops; the author having been taken prisoner. SECOND ASSAULT ON PORT HUDSON. 335 some cost, from an average distance of 300 yards, to one of 50 to 200 yards from the enemy's works; and here our men intrenched themselves and commenced the erection of new batteries. On òur left, an eminence was carried and held which commanded a vital point of the defenses, known as 'the Citadel'; and which enabled Dwight, some days later, to seize and hold a point on the same ridge with 'the Citadel,' and only ten yards from the enemy's lines. Banks professes to think the day's gains worth their price; but, as he had few men to spare, he did not choose to pay at that rate for any more ground, restricting his efforts thenceforth to digging and battering; Farragut still cöoperating to make the slumbers of the besieged as uneasy as might be. bring from Texas a force sufficient | more palpable advance of Gens. Groto capture New Orleans itself. Jo. ver and Weitzel on our right. NeiJohnston, with an overwhelming ther attack fully succeeded; but our force, might swoop down from Jack-lines were permanently advanced, at son at any moment; Alabama and Georgia might supply a fresh force adequate to the raising of the siege and the rout of the besiegers; add to which, Lee-so recently victorious at Chancellorsville-might dispatch a corps of veterans by rail for the relief of Gardner and his important post. The Rebel line of defense was three or four miles long; ours, encircling theirs, of course considerably longer; so that a stealthy concentration of the garrison on any point must render it immensely stronger there, for a time, than all who could be rallied to resist it. With Vicksburg proudly defying Grant's most strenuous efforts, and Lee impelling his triumphant legions across the Potomac, the chances were decidedly against the undisturbed prosecution of this siege to a successful issue. After a fortnight's steady digging and firing, a fresh attempt was made, under a heavy fire of artillery, to establish our lines within attacking dis-over 2,000 bushels of corn. Its guns tance of the enemy's works, so as to avoid the heavy losses incurred in moving over the ground in their front. Our men advanced at 3 A. M., working their way through the difficult abatis; but the movement was promptly detected by the enemy, and defeated, with the loss on our side of some scores as prisoners. 33 32 Four days later, a second general assault was made: Gen. Dwight, on our left, attempting to push up unobserved through a ravine and rush over the enemy's works while his attention should be absorbed by the 32 June 10. That garrison was not beaten: it was worn out and starved out. A shell fired its mill, burning it, with were successively disabled by the remarkable accuracy of our fire, till but 15 remained effective on the landward defenses. Its ammunition for small arms was gradually expended, until but twenty rounds per man remained; and but little more for the artillery. Its meat at length gave out: when its mules were killed and their flesh served out; the men eating it without grumbling. Rats stood a poor chance in their peopled trenches: being caught, cooked, eaten, and pronounced equal as food to squirrels. And thus the tedious 33 June 14. |
