The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-26
engineer, knows that Fort Morgan is incom-

engineer, knows that Fort Morgan is incom-
parably stronger than Fort Gaines.
This is brief statement in relation to the
surrender of Fort Gaines. Every one who is
acquainted with the chief features of the Bay
of Mobile, the posi- ion of Forts Morgan,
Gaines and Powell, and their construction to
resist foe approaching from the gulf, and
not from the hay, must be aware that the in
slant the fleet ran into the bay from the gulf
that it was all over with the forts.
The abuse. then. which has been SO freely
lavished on the Ulcers and garrison of Fort
Gaines for surrendering, is entirely the result
of Ignorance stimulated by vanity. Every
organ of abuse has been employed to traduce
the character of COL Anderson, and certain
persons have been so cowardly as to attack
the character of Mrs. Anderson. As the
| extreme acrimony of these persons may have
caused erroneous impressions, I shall here
state that Col. Charles D. Anderson was born
in Darlington District, South Carolina, was
brought up in Alabama, appointed from
Texas in the United States army in 1856, re-
signed in March. 1861, and received an ap-
pointment of captain of artillery in the Con-
federates States army.
In 1862 he was appointed Major of the Goth
Alabama regiment, and elected Colonel of the
2lst Alabama regiment, in the same year. At
the battle of Shiloh he acted as Assistant
Adjutant General of Gen. Gladden's brigade
He married in Washington City, D. G., a
Virginia lady, from Westmoreand county;
she accompanied him to Alabama, and is now
in Mississippi. with her children, performing
the sacred duties of true Southern and
Christian woman.
Before concluding, I deem it proper to
state that | was not one Of the Fort Gaines
garrison, but was member of the Engineer
Corps, whose headquarters were at that post
| was present during most of the transac-
tons to which I have alluded in this paper. l
was not present at the council of war, but was
told that only one of the officers voted against
recommending surrender. From my own
knowledge, am able to state that every man
in the garrison, private and officer, Except
the one alluded to- sustained Col Anderson
in his action on the subject of captivating
and if he was a coward and traitor for doing
so, then every man in the fort was traitor
and coward.
The case of the Fort Gaines prisoners has
been very hard. They have had no chance
of indicating themselves from the unjust and
cruel charges which have been made az ainst
them, nor Of warding off the cowardly blows
aimed at their good name by the worst Of
murderers-the assassins of character. A
brave soldier, who has "done the State some
service" on the battlefield, has been merciless-
ly assailed. He has been selected as escape
goat" and the effort is being made to heap on
his head the sins of omission and commission
perpetrated by other parties, who hope to OBJ
tain absolution and remission of their sins,
like the Jews of the old time But they will
be mistaken, for when in the future the true
facts of the case in relation to Fort Gaines
shall be brought to light in official form, 1
have no doubt that its surrender will be re-
garded as a matter of military necessity.
l have the honor, etc.,
BERNARD A. REYNOLDS.