Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 3.

[510] was a tremendous cannonade from besiegers and besieged, and the gunboats of both parties, which was kept up all night, and afforded a magnificent spectacle for the citizens of Mobile. Then

March 28, 1865.

a siege was formally begun. Canby had established his lines at distances of three hundred and four hundred yards from the fort, and at that short range, pounded it unmercifully. The siege continued a fortnight, during which time the greatest gallantry and fortitude were displayed on both sides.

Every day the Nationals mounted new pieces of heavy caliber, until, at length, no less than sixteen mortars, twenty heavy guns, and six field-pieces were brought to bear upon the fort. The gun-boat Cherokee got within range of the works at the beginning, and, at intervals throughout the siege, hurled a 100-pound shell into the fort. The squadron did good service, not only in shelling the works, but in driving the Confederate vessels so far to-ward the city, that their fire failed to reach the besiegers. The National vessels kept up a steady fire all day, and retired at night to anchorage at Great Point Clear. In these operations of the squadron, two of the gunboats (Milwaukee and Osage) were destroyed by torpedoes.

When, on the 3d of April, the Nationals had built an earth-work and mounted large guns upon it within two hundred yards of the fort, the latter was completely and closely invested, and its doom was sealed. Yet the garrison fought bravely on, and the besiegers suffered greatly from the shells, for the lines were at short range from the fort. At length Canby determined to make a grand assault by a concentric fire from all his heavy guns, his field-pieces, and the gun-boats, and, if necessary, by the troops. This was begun toward sunset on the 8th of April, and soon afterward, two companies of the Eighth Iowa, Colonel Bell, of Gedde's brigade of Carr's division, were sent as pickets and sharp-shooters, to gain a crest near the fort, intrench, and pick off the Confederate artillerists. This was done gallantly, in the face of a brisk fire, for General Gibson had doubled his line of sharp-shooters. They were Texans, brave and skillful, and stoutly disputed the advance of the Iowa men. But the latter pressed on, gained the prescribed point, but had to fight instead of digging. Bell saw this, and first sent one company to their aid. Then, seeing his brave men in great peril, he led the remainder *of his regiment to their assistance. He found the place they were holding too hot to be comfortable. To retreat would be fatal; so he gallantly *charged over their works, fought the Texans desperately, and finally, after a severe struggle in the dark, overpowered them. Then the victors swept along the rear, capturing men and portions of the works, until about three hundred yards of the intrenchments was in their possession, with three stands of colors and three hundred and fifty prisoners.

This gallant exploit determined Gibson to evacuate the fort, for it was evidently no longer tenable. Its fire, in response to the continued bombardment, became more and more feeble, and, before midnight, ceased altogether. Other troops pressed into the works, and by a little past two o'clock in the morning,

April 9.

Bertram's brigade entered it without opposition, and was ordered to garrison it. So ended the siege of Spanish Fort. A greater portion of the garrison had escaped. About six hundred of them were made prisoners; and the spoils of victory were Spanish