Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/45

 The Last Il/t/< / // /.,//, UW. 89

brought down Colonel La Grange's horse and two pack-horses. The Federals planted their brass cannon on Ward's Hill, just a half mile from the fort, a most commanding position, and began a rapid and effective cannonade on the fort. They soon drove in the out- posts, and began to sound the bugle for charges on the coveted tro- phy. The valiant soldiery in the fort, though but a handful, were equal to the occasion, and repulsed attack after attack. The cannon in the fort was silenced about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, every gun- ner having been either killed or wounded. General Tyler, while recklessly exposing himself at the portcullis, viewing the enemy through his field glasses, was shot by a sharpshooter from a flower or kitchen garden below. The first shot, though fatal, was followed by a second, which cut his crutch in two and precipitated him to the ground. He was tenderly borne to the foot of the flagstaff, where he died an hour later, beneath the flag he had sworn to protect with his life, which had been presented by the noble ladies of West Point and vicinity. The command of the fort then devolved upon Captain Gonzales, of Florida. He, too, soon received a death wound, but survived until Monday morning. Next in line was Colonel J. H. Fannin, of La Grange, Georgia, who, after seeing the ammunition was about exhausted, and the fearful odds against him, and the hope- lessness of contending against 3,000 picked men inured to warfare, and thoroughly equipped with improved repeating carbines, raised the white flag at 6:30 o'clock, after a gallant stand of eight hours and a half in such an unequal conflict.

Our losses were thirteen killed and twenty wounded, among the killed being Lieutenant McKnight, of Louisana, the author of many beautiful poems.

While the battle was in progress there were other details to carry out. My orders were to take charge of the supplies and govern- ment stock, all of which I sent up the river about three miles, on the Winston plantation. My wife and daughter, Callie, accompanied the train on horseback, with a Mr. Leonard in charge. They would have been captured but for a thorough knowledge of the country and the fleetness of their horses.

I was superintending the men under me in tearing up the flooring <>t the large foot bridge, to prevent the enemy from passing over with their cavalry and heavy ordnance, as Beauregard was thought to be rapidly pursuing this part of Wilson's command. Here the noble y>ung McKnight was killed, and he was on leave of absence Irom