Meantime  the   7th  Connecticut  and  28th  Massachu-  '^'^''
setts,  following  close  upon  the  8th  Michigan,  turned  into    ^^^^
the  field,  deployed  in  like  manner,  and  moved  forward.     — -*•
Unfortunately  they  inclined  a  little  to  the  left,  and  after   ''^^
crossing  the  second  hedge  the  heavy  grape  and  canister   ""^
and  musketry  of  the  fort  cut  them  up  severely,  and  drove  ^s
them  still  farther  to  the  left,  where  they  became  disor-    —
dered,  and  entangled  in  the  bushes  and  broken  grround—
bordering  the  marsh  on  that  side.     LieutenanlrColoneL
Hawley  tried  to  straighten  out  his  regiment,  setting  up
his  colors  in  the  field,  and  moved  it  to  the  rear  and
to  the  right,  when  he  was  ordered  by  Colonel  Fenton
to  move  still  farther  to  the  right,  and  advance   agab
on  the  fort.     The   28th   Massachusetts,  although  con-
siderably scattered,  moved  forward  under  cover  of  the
bushes  until  they  encountered  an  inlet  of  the  marsh  and


THE  ASSAULT  ON  THE  FORT  406

the  abattis  of  slashed  trees,  when  they  fell  back  under
cover.
By  this  time  Leasure's  brigade  was  up,  and,  directed  by

General  Stevens  in  person,  advanced  straight  on  the  fort,

legiment  after  regiment,  deploying  as  they  advanced.
