night was perfectly calm and cloudless,
with the full moon shedding its soothing beams upon the sleeping
veterans as they lay upon the bare ground, covered with their
blankets in groups of two or three for warmth, as the air was
sharp and piercing, seeming not even to dream of the morning's
carnage. The field officers in rear of their regiments paced to
and fro unable to rest from the heavy responsibilities that were
crowding upon them. Along the line of the skirmishers commanded
by "the fighting Quartermaster Durham" and the gallant
Applewhite, the quick blaze of the rifle, like fire-flies at
night, was the only relief from the dead calm that prevailed
around, as the enemy's heavy guns, however, were belching forth
shell and spherical case, firing with great accuracy. When
Generals Hoke and Ransom separated, it was understood that as
soon as the latter was in position, he would signalize the fact
by a rocket, when General Hoke, with his and Kemper's brigades,
would attack on the left, and Ransom on the right, would make an
attack or a demonstration, as he thought best. After making a
reconnoissance, Ransom at one o'clock in the morning
(Wednesday), dispatched General Hoke that he was in position,
but would defer all movements until the dawn of day, when he
would not _demonstrate, but attack, and intended to carry the
place by assault_, asking from General Hoke his simultaneous
co-operation. He called together his field officers,
communicated to them his purpose and plans, and by his
confidence, coolness, and resource seemed to inspire them
thoroughly with his own self-reliance. As a ruse, he determined
to place his artillery in the rear of his infantry, and thereby
cause the enemy to overshoot our lines, which proved a complete
success. The moon had just gone down and the gray streaks of the
morning were faintly visible in the east, when the signal rocket
went up, and the line of skirmishers were ordered to advance,
which they did handsomely, driving in the enemy easily. The
infantry now moved forward, and the artillery, consisting of
Blount's, Marshall's, and Lee's batteries, under Colonel Branch,
dashed forward at a full gallop into position, and opened
immediately upon the town and forts at about twelve hundred
yards. The enemy had by this time concentrated a most terri