rail road bridge, and the disorganization of the important rice plantations in the neighborhood. From the time of its construction-which was coeval with our earliest coast defenses-to the day of its capture on the 13th of December, 1864, it subserved purposes most conducive to the general welfare, and on various occasions gallantly repulsed repeated and well directed naval attacks by the enemy. No name is more proudly remembered on our coast than that of this small earth-work near the mouth of the Great Ogeechee.

The first attack sustained by this fort occurred on the 29th of June, 1862. It was then in an unfinished condition, with an armament of only one forty-twopounder, and five thirty-two-pounder guns. Its garrison consisted of the DeKalb riflemen, under the command of Capt. Alfred L. Hartridge. Four Federal gun-boats-one a side wheel steamer, and the other three, propellers-armed with eleven-inch Dahlgren and rifle guns, composed the attacking fleet. Over seven hundred shots were fired by the enemy, and the action continued for two hours and a quarter. The Confederates replied slowly and carefully, using their guns only when the vessels ventured within range. For the most part the bombardment was maintained at a distance beyond the reach of the battery of the fort, the rifle guns of the enemy giving them under such circumstances a decided advantage. One of the Federal vessels was struck. The quarters in the fort were considerably damaged, and the fortytwo-pounder gun was disabled during the engagement. Only two men of the garrison were wounded. Fort McAllister was on this occasion deliberately and ably defended, and the enemy here encountered a repulse which was but the prelude to others more signal.

On the 21 of November of the same year, Capt. A. Bonaud, while in an open boat engaged in reconnoitering the exact position of the Federal fleet, and when within some twelve hundred yards of one of the vessels, was discovered. The enemy at once opened fire upon him, and dispatched two barges in pursuit. This pursuit was maintained until the barges were drawn under the fire of the fort, before which they retreated precipitately. One of the gun-boats approached and bombarded the fort at long range for some time, but without causing any injury. On this occasion the garrison consisted of the Emmett Rifles.

Seventeen days afterwards, two gun-boats and one. mortar boat commenced shelling Fort McAllister at 8 o'clock, A. M., and continued the bombardment until three o'clock in the afternoon, throwing several hundred projectiles. They kept studiously beyond the range of the guns of the battery, only at intervals venturing near enough to draw the fire of the fort, and at no time approaching within a mile. Twelve shots only were fired from the fort, one of which took effect upon the foremost vessel. Three men of the garrison-at that time consisting of the Republican Blues, and the Emmett Rifles-were wounded. Lieut. George W. Anderson was in command. The battery of the fort had previously been increased by the addition of an eight-inch Columbiad.

On the morning of the 27th of January, 1863, the Federal iron-clad Montauk, accompanied by the gunboats Wissehicken, Seneca and Dawn, the mortar schooner C. P. Williams, and the tug Daffodil, advanced up the river, and at half-past seven o'clock opened fire upon the fort. The Montauk, armed with one fifteen-inch, and one eleven-inch Dahlgren

gun, took up a position nearly abreast of the battery and in close proximity to the obstructions extending across the river in front of the fort. For five hours and a half, assisted by the other vessels at longer range, did she hurl her enormous projectiles against the sand parapet, and explode them within the parade of this heroic little fort, whose heaviest guns, although handled with skill and determination, were powerless against her thick iron-sides and heavily plated turret. Despite this formidable demonstration and the enormous expenditure of shot and shell on the part of the enemy, the damage done to the fort was repaired before morning, and not a single casualty occurred among the members of the garrison. Major John B. Gallie commanded the fort during this bombardment, and the guns principally used in replying to the enemy were the eight-inch Columbiad, and a rifle thirty-two-pounder gun which had been recently added to the battery. The men, one and all, as on previous and subsequent occasions, exhibited in the discharge of every duty devolved upon them a deliberation and a courage worthy of every commendation.

To this bombardment remarkable historical interest attaches, because, on this occasion, a fifteen-inch gun was first used in the effort to reduce a shore battery; and the ability of properly constructed sand parapets to resist the effect of novel projectiles, far surpassing in weight and power all others heretofore known, was fairly demonstrated. To the honor of this little fort, and to the praise of its heroic defenders let these facts be recorded and perpetuated.

As at Fort Pulaski the problem of the reduction of masonry walls at unusual ranges by rifle guns was solved to the surprise of many, and in contradiction of accepted theories, so at Genesis point the value of

sand parapets was fully substantiated in the face of guns of novel calibre and power.

Thus upon the coast of Georgia two military lessons were first learned, the value of which proved of prime importance in the subsequent conduct of the war, lessons which caused, and must continue to render necessary most essential modifications in the construction of permanent fortifications and the erection of coast defenses.

The result of this iron-clad attack upon Fort McAllister greatly encouraged the spirit of its gallant defenders, and diminished the confidence of the enemy in the abilities of their vaunted vessels.

Not satisfied, however, with the experiment, mortified at the results of their repeated attacks, and resolved upon the reduction of this heroic fort, the enemy about half-past seven o'clock on Sabbath morning, the first of February, renewed the attack, and for some six hours directed against Fort McAllister a fierce and terrific bombardment. The thunders of those hostile guns strangely marred the stillness of the holy day, and with harsh discord invaded even the sanctuaries of the living God. Fervently did the prayers of the assembled worshippers within the respective churches in the city of Savannah ascend on that day to the God of battles in behalf of fathers, husbands, and brothers who were gallantly passing through this fearful ordeal. Those prayers were answered, and the enemy for the fifth time was compelled to retire from the contest, vanquished and discomfited. In this bombardment the iron-clad Montauk was assisted by four gun-boats and one mortar boat.

The following dispatches, sent by Col. Robert Anderson to Gen. Mercer at Savannah during the progress of the engagement, contain in a few words its

history, and truthfully express the conduct and the determination of the brave men to whom were entrusted the defense of this important position and the honor of the Confederate flag:

WAYS STATION, Feb. 1, 8.10 A. M.

A Yankee iron-clad is anchored about two hundred yards from the obstructions. Four gun-boats and one mortar boat are opposite to, and two miles from the battery. The firing is very rapid.

Major Gallie has just been killed, and one of the men buried in the sand.

Our parapet in front of the eight-inch gun is entirely demolished, though the detachment is still at the gun. One of our thirty-two-pounders is disabled.

We will hold the battery to the last extremity, and blow it up before we will surrender. The attack is severe, but the men are in fine spirits.

8.30 A. M.-The fog deceived me as to the distance. Instead of being two hundred yards from the obstructions, the iron-clad is between a quarter and a half mile from them.

9.20 A. M.-The iron-clad has been struck several times, and is slowly falling down the river, though she is still within a thousand yards of the battery.

The battery has received no further damage.

The garrison is in fine spirits, and everything working beautifully.

Two more men have been slightly wounded.

1 P. M.— The garrison, after a most gallant and determined

resistance, have driven off the enemy.

The behavior of the officers and men was noble.

The damage to the works can be repaired in about two hours. Our loss is: Major Gallie killed, and seven privates wounded— none seriously.

Early in the action Major Gallie commanding the fort was wounded by a shell, and upon its explosion almost buried in the sand. Gallantly refusing to