the lat word on his lips. I called his adjutant and Lieutenant Cate, his aide, who were in the fort, to carry him off. As they were approaching him Lieutenant Cate also fell, and the adjutant, after examining him, left the fort. The fight was now raging severe. There was yet a hand to-hand contest at the entrance to the bastion from the main body of the fort. I then called a councilo of the officers in the fort, not wishing to hazard anything further without their co-operation. All agreed to hld out until we could hear from the rear. After waiting twice the length of time which I knes it would require to move Stevenson's brigade to our support, at about 10,30 o'clock, observing that the rebels were being re-enforced and we making preparations for a sally upon both flanks, I gave the order to retire. Ordering Captain Coan, of the Forty-eighth New York, to go down into the bastion and get all of the men that were able to get out without distribing those who were engaged with the enmey, he soon reported to me that all had left that would leave or could leave. I then went around the fort, relieved the men engaged, a few at a time, so that the rebels did not know when we did leave. To this course I attribute our geting away at all. Now for personalities. Among the most prominent officers in the fort that night who did their duty in a cool, deliberate manner, were Captain Coan, now major-of the Forty-eighth New York; Captain Klein, now major of Sixth Connecticut; Captain Taylor and Captain Kahler, or the Sixty-second Ohio. Of those prominent in the fort of my own officers every one that was pot wounded went into the fort, adn as readily obeyed commands as on parage. These were Captain Lewis C. Hunt, Captain Alfred P. Girty, Lieutenants Cochrane, Hathaway, Kief, Bell, Ward, adn Briggs. There might have been other officers in the fort, but those whom I have mentioned were officers who came under my personal notice. The report that the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts (colored) did more thatn any other regiment upon that occasion is, in my opinion, a base fabrication. That they were in the fort as an organization I positively deny. I found but few of them in the fort and none that appeared to be under the control of any officer of the regiment. There we in that regiment, as every other, individual instances of personal courage that deserve credit, but as a regiment I claim that a great deal more is awarded it than was its just due. The officers whom I have specified, the men of the organization to which they belong, were the men who were in the fort and did all that possible for men to do under the circumstances. The Third New Hampshire and Ningh Maine Regiments had no men in the fort that I know of; the One hundredth New York had but very few. About the time that we were entering the fort Captain John B. Chapman, of our regiment, who was wounded and going to the rear, saw Colonel Dandy just abobe the battery inquiring for his regiment, and was informed by him that he would find it in the rear. My firm belief is that there were more men in the fort from the two Ohio regiments than form any others. I do not say this through any partility for the Ohio boys, but perhaps from the fact that I was known to the officers and men of those regiments and they more readily obeyed my commands. Great credit is due Captain coan, of the Forty-eigth New York, and Captain Klein, of the Sixth Connecticut. They appeared to be the only officers of their regiments in the fort who were laboring to rally their men, standing firm themselves at exposed points.

In conclusion let me say that the repulse we suffered was entirely owing to our not being promptly sustained, and the consequence the numerous lossof life and expenditure of money which had to be incurred to regain the position which we had gained at so fearful a loss of life,