a rapid firing at short range to cover the sortie being made by regiments of the Second and Third brigades. These regiments rush gallantly forward to the assault. They are repulsed but quickly reform, and, with other regiments sent to their support, they again pass forward. The fort was captured and lost three times in succession, but at last the rebels are forced to flee before our furious charge. Leaving the guns they join the main line.
The Union forces prevented the rebels from again occupying the fort until dark, when detachments from the Twenty-ninth and other Ohio regiments of the First brigade were sent to open a trench through the earthworks of the fort through which to move the guns into the ravine below. The rebels discovering this charged down upon us to recapture the guns. Expecting such an attack the First brigade had moved forward into the ravine, and now waited the coming of the rebels. When close upon them a signal was given, which was followed by a sheet of flame along our whole line, dealing terrible destruction into the rebel ranks, immediately followed by a determined bayonet charge, which threw their lines into disorder and they fled panic-stricken over their fortifications, closely pursued by our command, whose loud huzzas sent Johnston's army in rapid retreat, abandoned all its cannon, hospital, and commissary stores, and with their usual savagery leaving their own dead and wounded upon the field. We also captured many prisoners.
This success was a grand victory for the "white star" division of the Twentieth corps, yet not unattended with losses, which were, however, light in comparison with those of the enemy. In fact, in the night attack we had so thoroughly surprised the enemy that but feeble resistance was made.
