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Chapter 5: the greater assault on Wagner.
On the ‘
General Hunter’ the officers procured breakfast; but the men were still without rations.
Refreshed, the officers were all together for the last time socially; before another day three were dead, and three wounded who never returned.
Captain Simpkins, whose manly appearance and clear-cut features were so pleasing to look upon, was, as always, quiet and dignified;
Captain Russel was voluble and active as ever, despite all fatigue.
Neither appeared to have any premonition of their fate.
It was different with
Colonel Shaw, who again expressed to
Lieutenant-Colonel Hallowell his apprehension of speedy death.
Running up
Folly River, the steamer arrived at Pawnee Landing, where, at 9 A. M., the Fifty-fourth disembarked.
Crossing the island through woods, the camps of several regiments were passed, from which soldiers ran out, shouting, ‘Well done!
we heard your guns!’
Others cried, ‘Hurrah, boys!
you saved the Tenth Connecticut!’
Leaving the timber, the Fifty-fourth came to the sea beach, where marching was easier.
Stretching away to the horizon, on the right, was the
Atlantic; to the left, sand hillocks, with pine woods farther inland.
Occasional squalls of rain came, bringing rubber blankets and coats into use. At one point on the beach, a box of watersoaked hard bread was discovered, and the contents speedily
