Chickamauga killed and wounded a number of our men, Lieutenant O. Kuffe, with his company of the 15th Regiment New York Volunteer Engineers, was directed to build a battery for two 30-pounder Parrotts on the bank of the river, to keep her off.

On the afternoon of January 14th, a reconnoissance was pushed, under the direction of the Major-General Commanding, to within five hundred yards of Fort Fisher, a small advanced work being taken possession of. This was at once turned into a defensive line to be held against any attempt from Fort Fisher. The reconnoissance showed that the palisading in front of the work had been seriously injured by the navy fire; only nine guns could be seen on the land-front where sixteen had been counted on Christmas Day; the steady, though not rapid fire of the navy, prevented the enemy from using either artillery or musketry on the reconnoitering party; it seemed probable that troops could be got within two hundred yards of the work without serious loss, and it was a matter of great doubt whether the necessary ammunition could be supplied by the open beach if regular approaches were determined on. It was decided to assault, and the assault was made on the 15th, at half-past three P. M., after three hours of heavy navy fire, by three deployed brigades following one another at intervals of about three hundred yards, and each making its final rush for the west end of the land-face, from a rough rifle-pit, about three hundred yards from the work.

At the point attacked, the palisading was less injured than elsewhere, it being partially hidden, and it was necessary to use axes to cut, and timbers to batter. it down, in order that the troops might pass readily through it. Powder-sacks for blowing these palisades down had been prepared, but were not used.

After seven hours' fighting, gaining traverse by traverse, the work was won. Fort Fisher consists of two fronts-the first, or land-front, running across the peninsula at this point, seven hundred yards wide, is four hundred and eighty yards in length, while the second, or sea-front, runs from the right of the first parallel to the beach to the Mound Battery-a distance of thirteen hundred yards. The landfront is intended to resist any attack from the north; the sea-front to prevent any of our naval vessels from running through New Inlet, or landing troops on Federal Point.

1. Land-Front-This front consists of a half bastion on the left, or Cape Fear River side, connected by a curtain with a bastion on the ocean side. The parapet is twenty-five feet thick, averages twenty feet in height, with traverses rising ten feet above it and running back on their tops, which were from eight to twelve feet in thickness, to a distance of from thirty to forty feet from the interior crest. The traverses on the left half bastion were about twenty-five feet in length on the top. The earth for this heavy parapet, and the enormous traverses at their inner ends, more than thirty feet in height, was obtained partly from a shallow exterior ditch, but mainly from the interior of the work. Between each pair of traverses there was one or two guns. The traverses on the right of this front were only partially completed. A palisade, which is loopholed and has a banquette, runs in front of this face at a distance of about fifty feet in front of the foot of the exterior slope from the Cape Fear River to the ocean, with a position for a gun between the left of the front and the river, and another between the right of the front and the ocean. Through the middle traverse on the curtain was a bomb-proof postern, whose exterior opening was covered by a small redan for two field-pieces, to give flank fire along the curtain. The traverses were generally bomb-proofed for men or magazines. The slopes of the work appear to have been revetted with marsh sod, VOL. III.-25

or covered with grass, and to have had an inclination of forty-five degrees, or a little less. On those slopes most exposed to navy fire the revetement or grassing has been entirely destroyed, and the inclination reduced to thirty degrees.

The ends of traverses as they rise above the parapet are very ragged. Still, all damage done to the earthwork can be readily repaired, its strength being about the same as before the bombardment. The damage done by the navy fire was, first to the palisades, which were so injured as in most places to be little obstacle to assaulting troops; second, to guns and carriages. There were originally on the front twentyone guns and three mortars. Of these, three-fourths were rendered unserviceable by injuries to either gun or carriage. The gun in the right bastion, the field-pieces in front of the postern, and one or two mortars, were used against the assaulting troops.

There was a formidable system of torpedoes, two hundred yards in advance of this front, the torpedoes being about eighty feet apart, and each containing about one hundred pounds of powder. They were connected with the fort by three sets of wires; fortunately the sets leading directly to those over which the army and navy columns moved had been cut by shells, and no torpedo was exploded.

2. Sea-Front. This front consists of a series of batteries, mounting in all twentyfour guns, the different batteries being connected by a strong infantry parapet, so as to form a continuous line. The same system of heavy traverses for the protection of the guns, is used as on the land-front, and these traverses are also generally bomb-proofed. Captain N. Adams, 4th New Hampshire Volunteers, and First Lieutenant J. H. Price, 4th United States Colored Troops, commanding pioneer companies of Ames's and Paine's Divisions, and First Lieutenant K. S. O. Kuffe, commanding company of 15th New York Volunteer Engineers, have, with their commands, been of great service in the construction of batteries and defensive works. First Lieutenant A. H. Knowlton, 4th New Hampshire Volunteers, has rendered valuable assistance in making sketches of Fort Fisher; as also private Schultze, 15th New York Volunteer Engineers.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Major A. TERRY, A. A. G.

C. B. COMSTOCK.

Lieut.-Col. and Brev. Brig.-Gen., Chief Engineer.

It may be added that in thirty bomb-proofs and magazines and their passages, there were fourteen thousand five hundred feet of floor space, not including the main magazine, which was exploded, and whose demensions are unknown.

OBITUARY.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL T. E. G. RANSOM.

BY A COMPANION-IN-ARMS.

"In war was never lion raged more fierce:

In peace was never gentle lamb more mild."-SHAKSPEARE.

C. B. C.

AMONG the most prominent actors of the West, in what has been so well called "this fearfully glorious present," one of the most brilliant young captains in our army, and one who certainly had no superior of his years in the volunteer service, stood THOMAS EDWARD GREENFIELD RANSOM, who possessed, to a greater degree than ordinarily falls to the lot of man, the respect and love of all who knew him. Lieutenant-General Grant once said of him "he is my best fighting man.” The fields and fortresses of eight States, in which he led the invincible legions of Illinois, who with

"Nerves of steel and hearts of oak,"

drove back the enemy; have witnessed his devotion, and his blood poured out on five battle-fields attests his valor. No story could be richer in deeds of daring and heroism than the story of the life of the young General, who died among the hills of Georgia of disease induced by the exposures of the service, as much "dead on the field," as if a rebel bullet had struck him to the heart.

Brigadier-General Ransom was born in Norwich, Vermont, on the 29th of No. vember, 1834. In 1846 he entered the primary class of Norwich University-a Military College under the charge of his father, T. B. Ransom, then a Major-General of Militia of the State of Vermont. He was afterwards appointed Colonel 9th United States Infantry, displayed signal ability and bravery in the Mexican war, and fell at the storming of Chapultepec, Sept. 13th, 1847. The son inherited his father's sterling qualities, and has placed his name high on his country's roll of "brave men and worthy patriots, dear to God and famous to all ages." During the Mexican war young Ransom was taught engineering, under the tuition of his cousin, B. F. Marsh, on the Rutland and Burlington Railroad; but on his father's death he returned to the Norwich University, and continued there until the age of seventeen. In 1851 he entered upon the practice of his profession of an engineer, in Lasalle County, Illinois. Three years later he embarked in the real estate business at Peru, with his uncle, under the firm of Gilson and Ransom, and in December, 1855, removed to Chicago, to become a member of the firm of A. J. Galloway & Co., a house largely engaged in land operations. At a later period he removed to Fayette County, and while engaged in trade, acted as an agent for the Illinois Central Railroad Company. He was there when the war began, and immediately raised a company and reached Camp Yates, at Springfield, April 24th, 1861, where his company was organized into the 11th Illinois Volunteers, and on an election for field-officers being held, was elected major. The regiment was ordered to Villa Ridge, near Cairo, and there remained in Camp of Instruction until June, when they were ordered to Bird's Point, Mo. The regiment was mustered out of the three months' service, July 30th, and was reorganized and mustered in for three years, Ransom being elected lieutenant-colonel. On the night of the 19th of August, in a gallant charge under Colonel Dougherty, upon Charleston, Mo., Colonel Ransom received his first severe wound by a mounted foe, who pretended to surrender, but fired upon him as he approached to take his arms. After receiving the bullet in his right shoulder, he fired upon the rebel, instantly killing him. He was granted thirty days' leave, and reported for duty at the expiration of the seventh.

Accompanying General Grant up the Tennessee River, he participated in the capture of Fort Henry, on the 6th of February, 1862, and led his regiment in the assault upon Donelson, was again severely wounded, but would not leave the field until the battle was ended. His clothes were pierced with six bullet-holes, and a horse was killed under him. His wound, together with fatigue and prolonged exposure, did their work-a long sickness followed; but he would not leave his regiment, and moved with the 11th from place to place, being carried in an ambulance. For his skill and gallantry at Donelson, Ransom was promoted to the colonelcy—Wallace, who had been for some months commanding a brigade, receiving at the same time a commission as brigadier-general. At Shiloh, when General Wallace fell, Ransom led his regiment through the hottest part of the bloody battle, and, though wounded in the head early in the engagement, remained with his command through the day. In his official report, Major-General McClernand, in whose Division he was, spoke of Colonel Ransom at a "critical moment performing prodigies of valor, though reeling in his saddle, and streaming with blood from a

At

serious wound." In June he was appointed as chief of General McClernand's staff, and served for a time on the staff of General Grant. Wherever there was hot work, the young colonel was to be found; leading the successful expedition against Clarksville, Tennessee; routing Woolward at Garrettsburg, Kentucky, and commanding a brigade in the van of the army when it moved into Mississippi. In January, 1863, Ransom was appointed a brigadier-general, his commission dating from Nov. 29, 1862. He next participated in the campaign against Vicksburg, commanding the First Brigade, Sixth Division, Seventeenth Army Corps. Champion Hill, and during the siege operations, his gallantry was conspicuous. After the surrender, General Ransom's Brigade formed a part of General Logan's column of occupation. August 6th, he was appointed to the command of the post of Natchez, and captured, upon his arrival there, a large supply of ammunition, and five thousand head of cattle. He was next transferred to the Thirteenth Corps, and assigned to the command of a division. He accompanied the Texas Expedition under General Banks, in November, 1863, and led the troops detailed to capture the enemy's works on Mustang Island. He took part in the Red River Campaign, fully maintaining his high character as an efficient soldier. In the disastrous battle of Sabine Cross-Roads, April 8th, 1864, his Division of Infantry was ordered up to the support of Lee's Cavalry, by Major-General Franklin, then in command of the column. The writer was near him "amid sheeted fire and flame," while he rode hither and thither, vainly endeavoring to beat back the overwhelming numbers led against him by Generals Green and Mouton. No man ever behaved more gallantly. While directing the guns of the Chicago Mercantile Battery, his adjutant, Captain Dickey, was mortally wounded, and he himself severely hurt in the knee. The day following, four surgeons examined the wound at Pleasant Hill, and were divided in their opinion, two being in favor of amputation, while the others deemed it unnecessary. The General, who was an anxious listener to the conversation, raised himself on his couch, and said, "Well, gentlemen, as the House is equally divided on this subject, I will as chairman of the meeting decide the question. I shall retain the wounded leg, lead included." And so the matter was decided, and the gallant young captain ultimately recovered, although with a stiff knee, which was however, as he remarked, "better than no knee."

During the month of April, he was awarded a gold medal by the board of officers of the Seventeenth Corps for gallant conduct in the Vicksburg campaign. After recovering from his wound, Ransom was ordered to report to the Georgian Hero, General Sherman, and was assigned to the command of the Fourth Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, operating in the vicinity of Atlanta. He was soon promoted to the command of the left wing of the corps, consisting of Fuller's and Corse's Divisions, and was advanced in September, during the absence of General Blair, to the command of the Seventeenth Corps. From the date of the capitulation of Atlanta, the General suffered from a severe attack of dysentery, but would not, as his friends advised, give up command, or leave the post of duty. While his corps was in pursuit of Hood's Army, he continued to direct its movements, riding in an ambulance for several days, after he was unable from weakness to sit on his horse. Ere long he was utterly prostrated, and on the 29th of October, after giving the most minute orders in regard to his affairs, leaving messages of love for his widowed New England mother, and other dear friends, among the prairies of Illinois, and in the Union armies; and when his thirtieth birthday was waiting for him over in the month of November, he finished his glorious little week of life, and the spirit of T. E. G. Ransom, fit companion for Bayard and McPherson, Sedgwick and Wadsworth,