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about way through the wood so as to surround them. When the troops had formed themselves within a half mile of the fort, th boats ceased fireing for the night and floated back down the river, out of range of their fire. It was a beautiful sight in the dark, to see the flash of the guns and watch the course of the shell untill it burst, from the boats it looked like lightning flashing from the water. We lay all Sunday forenoon waiting for the artillery to get its position. Our division was on the left, and we on the extreme left next to the river. At about 2 O clock the boats opened fire, half an hour later the fire became general [begin vertical writing] there is a small piece of rebel flag that was on the fort, it was all torn in peces by the men to send home [vertical writing end]