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

A MAN FROM MAINE. 53
one time killing friend and foe alike. When Lamb returned
from the Mound he brought back with him more than a hun-
dred of his garrison and threw them in front of those already
engaged.
A large number of the traverses of the land-face had been
taken, the interior plane had been occupied, but Fort P^ishcr
was not captured. The Third Brigade was within one hundred
feet of the breastworks inside the fort. Lamb saw he must
make an heroic effort or all was lost. He massed what men he
could gather, including those he brought from the Mound; he
called upon them to follow him, but as he gave the command
he fell seriously wounded and was carried to the rear.
Outside the circle of flame and smoke the sun was seen
setting in a flood of rosy light; men were gladdened at the
sight, hoping that the fighting would now cease.
At this time the herculean General Curtis, who had been
fighting with his men all the afternoon, approached General
Ames, who was then standing on the interior plane of the fort
some little distance from the left bastion. Ames was engaged
in giving some general instructions as to the battle, when Curtis
suddenly threw up his arms and fell to the ground. He had
been struck in the eye by a fragment of shell fired from Battery
Buchanan. Carleton sprang to his relief, and picked up his
sword, which he carried during the rest of the fight. Curtis
was borne from the fort, not to die, however, for in a few hours
he heard the shouts of victory.
At last Ames stood within this circuit of fire amid the frag-
ments of his division ; every brigade and almost all of the
regimental commanders had fallen, as well as most of his
personal staff, so that for necessary duty substitutes for the
latter had to be taken temporarily from the most available
officers at hand. Ames, who had entered the fort at the head
of the Second Brigade, remained there fighting with his men
until the close of the action. He had been made particularly
conspicuous by the prominent and advanced position he occu-
pied. There he stood among his troops. No advice to retreat,
no suggestion to postpone the engagement until the following