Jan. 15, 1865-- Part 2: "Under A Perfect Hail of Lead"

Ensign Robley D. Evans described the Naval Brigade attack:  "About five hundred yards , from the fort, the head of the column suddenly stopped, and if by magic, the whole mass of men went down like a row of falling bricks.... The officers called on the men, and they responded instantly, starting forward as fast as they  could go.

"At about three hundred yards they again went down, this time under effect of canister added to the rifle fire.  Again we rallied them, and once more started  to the front  under a perfect hail of lead, with men  dropping rapidly in every direction."

Some 60 men under Lieutenant Commander Thomas O. Selfridge reached and broke through the palisade, but it was the high water mark of the charge.  They were hurled back and others recoiled under the withering fire after approaching the stockade at the base of the parapets.

--Old B-Runner