following dandy's attack confederate engineers began working to strengthen the rifle pits, hoping to force the union army into mounting another costly assault. before work could be completed gilmore ordered division commander general alfred h. terry to capture the rifle pits. terry prepared the 24th massachusetts infantry from brigadier general thomas g. stevenson's brigade to lead the attack. in support was the 3rd new hampshire infantry. each member of the 24th massachusetts was equipped with an additional two shovels to immediately rebuild the rifle pits once taken. on the evening of august 25 general stevenson personally led the attack forward covered by fire from the requa guns. the attack overran the 61st north carolina infantry, many of whom surrendered. colonel george p. harrison, the fort's commander, ordered an artillery counterattack but the rifle pits were already turning into a new siege line. on september 5, gillmore and admiral dahlgren attacked with an intense bombing of fort wagner for 36 hours killing 100 of the remaining defenders.