Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 4.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

Longstreet, on his part, neglects nothing to ensure the success of the assault. His last parallel being yet three hundred and twenty-two yards from the works, all the guards of the intrenchments, from the approaches to Fort Sanders as far as the Holston, will endeavor to surprise the hostile sharpshooters, so as to establish themselves in their rifle-pits and there improvise a shelter whence the storming-columns may spring. The most important of these columns, furnished by McLaws, is made up of Wofford's, Humphreys', and Bryan's brigades; it will get in motion a little before daylight, and move against the salient angle of the west bastion; the two brigades which B. R. Johnson has just brought up will serve them as a reserve. On the left, Jenkins will take up a position with Anderson's brigade, and as soon as McLaws shall have cleared the ditch he will attack the point of junction between the works and the line of breastworks trending to the north-east. In fine, to divert Burnside's attention Robertson and Law on the left bank of the Holston will make, at the same moment, a vigorous demonstration against the works on the south, the defence of which the Union general has entrusted to Shackelford.

Toward midnight the preliminary movement is executed with unanimity, and succeeds completely. Under cover of the darkness the Confederates, following the Kingston road, approach the positions occupied by the hostile sharpshooters, push them out, make seventy of them prisoners, and take possession of these positions. But the surprise, however successful it was, had the grave inconvenience of putting all the defenders of the works on their guard. During the rest of the night the irregular rattle of musketshots keeps the Federals on the alert.

At last, at six o'clock, all the batteries of the besiegers open fire at the same time: Fort Sanders is particularly their objective point. This bombardment, rendered almost inoffensive by the traverses with which the works are provided, is for the Federals a final warning. It is the hour when the garrison relieves the sharpshooters. In sending the fresh guard General Ferrero, by a fortunate inspiration, orders the officer on duty to retake, no