Major Chambers, with a flag to demand the surrender of the fort,
as he was anxious to spare the effusion of blood, which he should
probably not have it in his power to do should he be reduced to
the necessity of taking the place by storm. My answer to the
summons was, that I was determined to defend the place to the
last extremity, and that no force, however large, should induce
me to surrender it. So soon as the flag had returned, a brisk
fire was opened upon us from the gunboats in the river, and from
a five and a half inch howitzer on shore, which was kept up with
little intermission through the night. At an early hour the next
morning, three sixes (which had been placed during the night
within 250 yards of the pickets) began to play upon us, but with
little effect. About 4 o'clock P.M., discovering that the fire
from all his guns was concentrated against the northwestern angle
of the fort, I became confident that his object was to make a
breach, and attempt to storm the works at that point. I therefore
ordered out as many men as could be employed for the purpose of
strengthening that front, which was so effectually secured by
means of bags of flour, sand, &c., that the picketing suffered
little or no injury. Notwithstanding which, the enemy, about 5
o'clock, having formed in close column, advancing to assail our
works at the expected point, at the same time making two feints
at the front of Captain Hunter's line, the column which advanced
against the north-western angle, consisting of about 350 men, (p. 274)
was so completely enveloped in smoke as not to be discovered
until it had approached within fifteen or twenty paces of the
lines; but the men being all at their posts and ready to receive
it, commenced so heavy and galling a fire as to throw the column
a little into confusion. Being quickly rallied, it advanced to
the outer works and began to leap into the ditch. Just at that
moment a fire of grape was opened from our six pounder (which had
been previously arranged so as to rake in that direction), which,
together with the musketry, threw them into such confusion, that
they were compelled to retire precipitately to the woods. During
the assault, which lasted about half an hour, an incessant fire
was kept up by the enemy's artillery (which