Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/52

36 tection, the accurate fire of the Union fleet soon compelled it to retire out of range, with the loss of one of its vessels." The Confederate vessels did not retire, how ever, until they had expended their ammunition. Fort Bartow, which had, owing to the position of the Federal fleet, been able to use only three guns, was little injured, although sustaining the fire of the fleet for six hours. This fort, the single one in action, made a gallant resistance to the numerous guns of the fleet.

While this battle of heavy guns was in progress, General Burnside landed his infantry at Ashby’s Point, about a mile and a half below the three-gun redoubt. His troops spent the night on the island, and early on the morning of the 8th began the attack on the redoubt with its flanking earthworks. The three guns of this redoubt were commanded by Captain Schermerhorn, Lieutenant Kinney and Lieutenant Selden, each having charge of one gun. These were supported by six companies of infantry, occupying the earthworks, and two companies on its left. The other Confederate forces were distributed at the other batteries or in reserve. General Wise reported that some companies of the Thirty-first evaded the combat. The whole land fighting was over the possession of this redoubt. If it fell, all the other batteries would be left exposed in the rear.

General Foster began the attack about 8 o’clock on the 8th. He moved up six Dahlgren howitzers on the only road that led to the redoubt. These he supported with the five regiments of his brigade. Reno followed with his brigade, moving into the swamp on the Confederate right to flank the position. Parke followed with his brigade. Each of Foster s attacks in front was held at bay until General Reno s brigade succeeded in making its way through the dense morass. Two Massachusetts regiments had penetrated the swamp on the right also, and had fallen on Wise s three companies and driven —