Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[348] led by General Dwight, favored by a ravine, reached the ridge on which the Citadel stood: it succeeded in obtaining a foothold on it, and fortified itself so as to command all the approaches. On the right the main attack had been entrusted to the four brigades of Paine's division, which, at the signal of their chief, bravely rushed forward against the enemy's works. The Federals, who had about three hundred yards to traverse under the cross-fire of these works, found themselves suddenly checked by a small ravine bristling with abatis of whose existence they had no suspicion: compelled to turn back, they left a large number of wounded on the ground, among whom was their general.

This new assault had cost Banks in the neighborhood of seven hundred and fifty men. The results obtained were not proportionate to the price paid for them. Consequently, their fatiguing labors and struggles, so frequently unsuccessful, had demoralized these somewhat inexperienced troops. The time of service of a number of regiments had expired, and they were unwilling to expose themselves to new dangers, considering their engagements as no longer binding: the Fourth Massachusetts was in open rebellion. Banks was obliged to resort to a more methodical course of proceeding, and the trenches were regularly opened against the Citadel. We shall leave him busy hemming in the garrison–whose hopes, with the scanty provisions that are left them, are growing less each day—to go in search of Grant, who had undertaken similar operations against Vicksburg, but on a larger scale.

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