was the famous Fort Wagner; and, as its cannon
prevented any farther progress up the island, it was
necessary to reduce it before our forces could approach
nearer to Fort Sumter.

"It was thought by our engineers that a continuous
bombardment of a few days by our siege batteries and the
fleet might dismount the rebel cannon, and demoralize the
garrison, so that our brave boys, by a sudden rush, might
gain possession of the works. Accordingly our siege train
was brought over from Folly Island, and a parallel commenced
about a thousand yards from Wagner. Our men worked with such
energy that nearly thirty cannon and mortars were in
position on the 17th of July. On the 18th of July the
bombardment commenced. The land batteries poured a tempest
of shot into the south side of Wagner, while the fleet moved
up to within short range, and battered the east side with
their great guns. In the mean time the rebels were not
silent, but gallantly stood to their guns, returning shot
for shot with great precision. But, after a few hours, their
fire slackened; gun after gun became silent, as the men were
disabled, and, when the clock struck four in the afternoon,
Wagner no longer responded to the furious cannonade of the
Federal forces. Even the men had taken shelter beneath the
bomb-proofs, and no sign of life was visible about the grim
and battered fortress.

"Many of our officers were now so elated with the apparent
result of demolition, that they urged General Gillmore to
allow them to assault the fort as soon as it became dark.
General Gillmore yielded to the solicitations of the
officers, but very reluctantly, for he was not convinced
that the proper time had arrived; but the order was finally
given for the attack to take place just after dark. Fatal
error as to time, for our troops in the daytime would have
been successful, since they would not have collided with
each other; they could have seen their foes, and the arena
of combat, and the fleet could have assisted them with their
guns, and prevented the landing of the re-enforcements from
Charleston.

"It was a beautiful and calm evening when the troops who
were to form the assaulting column moved out on to the broad
and smooth beach left by the receding tide.

"The las