Everything on the outside is quiet as usual. Our engineers
blew up one of the main rebel forts, and the infantry rushing in tried to hold
the place, but on account of the fierce cross firing had to fall back to their
rifle pits. A number of our forces were killed, including one colonel, and a
number were wounded. Only a few of the rebels were killed by the explosion, not
many being in the fort at the time. Our cannon opened up all along the line. A
negro in the fort blown up, was thrown high up in the air and came down on his
head within our lines unhurt.1
__________
1 A photograph was taken of the negro and the
boys had him on exhibition for a few days at five cents admission. — A. G. D.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s
Civil War Diary, p. 124
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