The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

A MAN FROM MAINE. 43
threw themselves on the sand, and using their hands, tin cups,
or anything else that would aid them in their work, threw up
little trenches as soon as possible. In the meantime they
hugged the sand and fired as best they could.
The Second Brigade under command of Colonel Penny-
packer, was now formed also in line of battle at a position of
about five hundred yards from the fort, parallel to, and in rear
of, the line formed by the First Brigade. The Third Brigade,
under command of Colonel Bell, was formed in a similar man-
ner about seven hundred yards from the fort. This column of
brigades was manceuvred on tne open sand plateau, directly in
front of the land-face. It extended from a point opposite the
west bastion to the east of the centre sally-port. The men were
quickly in position, and then they threw themselves on the sand
and dug small rifle-pits for protection, as has already been
described. They were often directly over the subterra net-work
of torpedoes placed in front of the fort, that fortunately for the
l-'"ederal army did not explode.— the wires having been cut by
shots from the navy.
While these operations were taking place, General Terry and
staff, and General Ames and staff, occupied the advance earth-
work already described. It was situated near the river about
eight hundred yards from the fort. It was at this point that
Terry made his headquarters during the fight. From this posi-
tion he could communicate with the navy and, at the same time,
have a good view of the fort.
General Ames gave a most minute and careful supervision to
every detail of these preliminary manoeuvres, not hesitating to
go himself to direct the troops into better positions and to cor-
rect and establish the lines of attack, although at each time he
and his staff showed themselves on this plateau of sand they
became targets for the sharp-shooters stationed on the parapet
and behind the palisading. It is difficult to understand how
Ames went unscathed at this time while exposing himself, as he
did, for he wore a brigadier-general's dress-coat, and had made
as careful a toilet as if he were going to review.
While these operations of the army had been going on, a
force of sailors and marines, numbering two thousand, were