Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/86

 78 Southern Historical Society Papers,

Vice-President Eve of this Association displayed conspicuous gallantry and rendered important service.

The venerable and brave Commodore Josiah Tattnall, command- ing the naval forces at this station, afforded such assistance as the nature of the case and the means at hand justified.

It lies not within the compass of this address to enumerate the details of the siege, which, for ten days, was closely maintained. An incessant cannonade was supplemented at various points by sharp- shooting and musketry firing. The artillery duels were particularly fierce at Battery Jones, at Pine- Point battery, at the redoubts crown- ing the high grounds of the plantations of Lawton and Daly, at the Central railroad crossing, and at Williamson's place. On more than one occasion the Federals demonstrated in force and attempted to carry the Confederate works, but suffered repulse. Protected by their entrenchments, the Confederates sustained comparatively few casualties.

On the afternoon of the 13th of December, Brigadier-General Hazen, with the second division of the 15th army corps, by a rapid assault, swept over the abattis and rear defenses of Fort McAllister and com- passed its capture with a loss 10 his command of one hundred and thirty-four killed and wounded. In the language of this victorious officer, the fighting was desperate and deadly; and, when over- whelmed by the enveloping forces, the Cpnfederates contested every inch of ground within the fort, finally retreating to the bomb-proofs, " from which they still fought, and only succumbed as each man was individually overpowered. ' '

Upon the fall of this work General Sherman acquired full control of the Great Ogeechee river, and was thus enabled to communicate freely with the Federal fleet and establish a convenient base of sup- plies for his army, then sadly in need of provisions for man and beast. The further retention of Savannah was rendered impracticable, and the salvation of its garrison became the problem of the hour. Gen- eral Hardee's instructions from General Beauregard were to hold Savannah only so long as, in his judgment, it might be advisable to do so ; and that whenever it became necessary to decide between a sacrifice of the garrison or the city, to preserve the former for opera- tion elsewhere.

A conference between Generals Sherman and Foster and Admiral Dahlgren resulted in an agreement that the Admiral would speedily engage the Confederate batteries at Turner's Point, Rose Dew and Beaulieu, and furnish vessels suitable for the navigation of the Great