Delaware State Journal And Statesman

HOW FORT M'ALLISTER WAS CARRIED.

Learning that Hazen was to storm the fort on the afternoon of the 13th, I visited the right of the line, and at 1 o'clock joined Gens. Sherman and Howard, at Dr. Cheroe's rice mill, on the Ogechee, opposite Fort McAllister. I found Sherman on the roof of the mill, surrounded by his staff and signal officers Bickley and Cole, waiting to communicate with Hazen on the Island. While patiently waiting for Hazen's signals, Sherman's keen eye detected smoke in the horizon seaward. Up to the time he had received no intelligence from the fleet. In a moment the countenance of the bronzed chieftain lighted up, and he exclaimed: "Look ! Howard there is the gunboat!" Time passed on, and the vessel now became visible, yet no signal from the fleet or Hazen. Half an hour passed, and the guns of the fort opened simultaneously with puffs of smoke that rose a few hundred yards from the fort, showing that Hazen's skirmishers had opened. A moment announces "A signal from the gunboat." All eyes are turned from the fort to the gunboat that is coming to our assistance with the news from home. A few messages pass, which inform us that Foster and Dahlgren are within speaking distance. The gunboat now halts and asks: "Can you run up? Is Fort McAllister ours?" "No," is the reply; "Hazen is just ready to storm it. Can you assist?" "Yes," is the reply. What will you have us do?" But before Sherman can reply to Dahlgren, the thunders of the fort are heard, and the low sound of small arms is borne across the three miles of marsh and river. Field glasses are opened, and, sitting flat upon the roof, the hero of Atlanta gazes off to the fort. "There they go, grandly; not a waver," he remarks. Twenty seconds pass, and again he exclaims : "See that flag in the advance, Howard; how steadily it moves; not a man falters. There they go still: see the roll of musketry. Grand, grand." Still he strained his eyes, and a moment after speaks without raising his eyes- "That flag still goes forward: there is no flinching there." A pause for a minute. "Look !" he exclaims; "it has halted. They waver, no ! it's the parapet! There they go again ; now they scale it; some are over. Look ! there's a flag on the works! Another. another. It's ours! The fort's ours!" The glass dropped at his side; and in an instant the joy of the great leader at the possession of the river and the opening of the road to his new base burst forth in words :— "As the old darkie remarked, dis chile don't sleep dis night !" And turning to one of his aids, Captain Auderied. he remarked. "Have a boat for me at once; I must go there ;' pointing to the fort, from which half a dozen battle flags floated grandly in the sunset. And well might William Tecumseh Sherman rejoice; for here, as the setting sun went down upon Fort McAllister reduced, and kissed a fond good night to the Starry Banner, Sherman witnessed the culmination of all his plans and marches, that had involved such desperate resistance and risk—the opening up of a new and shorter route to his base. Here at sun set, on the memorable 13th of December the dark waters of the great Ogeechee bore witness to the fulfilment of the covenant Sherman made with his iron heroes at Atlanta twenty-nine days before, to lead them victorious to a new base.