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

A MAti FROM MAINE. 47
Keeping close to the sea, the sailors and marines charged
against the sea- and land-face of the northeast bastion with des-
perate valor; but the marines seemed to fail properly to do the
work of sharpshooters according to instructions given them. A
columbiad on the Mound Battery opened on this column, and
the two Napoleon guns in the redoubt of the centre sally-port
fired grape and canister into the fated ranks. The parapet now
swarmed with rebel troops, who exposed themselves with reck-
less gallantry. They had until then largely reserved their mus-
ketry fire, but they now poured volley after volley into the
faltering ranks of the sailors and marines, some of whom had
reached the berme and sprung up the slope of the fort. It was
a grand spectacle while it lasted. The brave Lieutenants Pres-
ton and Porter were instantly killed. The numerous casualties
did not at first check the exhibition of courage and nerve that
seemed like madness, but soon the bravest began to fall back.
The officers could not control the men, who, leaving several hun-
dred of their comrades dead and dying under the walls of the
fort, turned and ran, or took shelter under the slope and pali-
sade of the fort. They were never rallied to charge again, but
some of them were later in the day put on the defensive line, to
take the place o{ Abbott's brigade and Blackman's (Twenty-
seventh United States) colored regiment, that were marched
against the fort in the evening with the object of re-enforcing
Ames.
Simultaneously with the charge of the sailors the recumbent
men of Curti?" brigade sprang to their feet with a bound and
charged forward with a wild cheer; many passing through the
apertures in the palisade, across the dry ditch, and up to the
parapet, the rest charging over the string-pieces of tbe bridge
the planks had been torn up—on the road that led around the
left and rear of the fort. The left of this brigade was exposed
to a severe enfilading fire, directed by General Whiting, who was
present in the fort as a volunteer. The Confederate officers
had scarcely ceased cheering at the repulse of the sailors when
they were surprised to see Federal battle-flags on the left of their
work. The ground over which the right of our column passed