Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/329

 Fortification and Siege of Port Hudson. 323

The troops or commands engaged on May 27 were Weitzel's brig- ade (division ?), Grover's division, Emory's under Colonel Payne, and the divisions under Major- General Augur and Brigadier-Gen- eral Sherman.

The battle on the left wing on the morning of the 27th was an assault or series of assaults for the first two hours; at the end of that time the enemy had been signally repulsed at every point, and he had withdrawn a short distance and concealed his men under cover of the trees, logs, ravines, &c., and from this hour, about 11 o'clock, until five o'clock, the firing relaxed and could only be called sharp- shooting.

The enemy used three or more batteries of artillery against the left wing during this battle ; one against the extreme left, supported by the negroes; one on the hill, opposite the old commissary depot, mill, &c., and one or more against Colonel Johnson's work (Fort Desperate). The latter were (subsequently) exceedingly destructive, disabling or dismounting most of our artillery by night, and an- noying, killing, and wounding numbers of our men. But the enemy's artillery did not escape injury, two of their guns being dismounted in quick succession by a rifled 24- pounder, manned by a detach- ment from Company A, First Alabama regiment.

The heat of the sun on this day was intense. The fight continued until about 5 (2?) o'clock, when suddenly firing ceased everywhere, and word passed up and down the lines that a white flag was up. Upon inquiry I found that it had been presented by the major of some New York regiment, and in the immediate front of the First regiment of Alabama volunteers, and was received by Major S. L. Knox, First regiment Alabama volunteers.

The officer presenting the white flag made a verbal statement that General Banks desired a cessation of hostilities for the purpose of burying his dead.

Major Knox detained the officer until he communicated the verbal statement to the Major-General commanding. He at once rejected it as informal, and an unwarranted use of the white flag, and ordered that hostilities be resumed in half an hour. The enemy was informed of this reply, and both parties retired to their lines and cover. But hundreds of the enemy, who had advanced very near to our lines during the day, and were concealed among logs, ravines, &c., availed themselves of this short truce, and retired to positions of safety. I have since understood the same thing was done also in front of our centre and right wing, and I have now no doubt but that the flag was

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