The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-10-23
FORT MALONE.
What Regimant Was First in the Fort, and Who
First Planted the COlOrsf


What Regimant Was First in the Fort, and Who
First Planted the COlOrsi
THE 10TH NEW YoRK's CLAIM.
To THE EDITOR: we'll remember the part
nv regiment 1.-THE lO9th N. Y J took the morning
of the capture Of Fort Malone. We had per-
formed most of our duty during the siege OF Pc
tersburg Va, near the Orator. In the small
hours of the morning of April 2, we fell in in
front of our camp. in the woods in front of and
to the right of the battery of Connecticut
heavy artillery, near where Col. Hartman had
his brigade headquarters. We marched rap
idly to the left, until we were nearly
opposite Fort Sedgwick. ] think there were
some heavy mortar shells thrown from where
we halted. Our orders were to pass over our
works as quietly as possible; not to stop for
the enemys pickets, but to press hard for the
post in front. l think we were in the second
line 1t was very dark, and when the line i'll
our front reached the picket-line of the rebels,
some of them opened fire, which our officers
and men tried hard to silence. This firing
drew the fire from the fort. The range was
perfect and several of our men were wounded.
The cry was raised by our men, Lets get
there" and away we went, every man for HIM
self, but well closed up. The rebels second
and third volley, which was their last, did us
no harm, as they fired over our heads. Those
of us who were in the advance rushed into the
embrasure, where the piece stood close up. as
if ready to be discharged l said, in no low
tone: If you discharge that piece you are a
dead Johnny" His answer was, is empty"
which was the best news ] ever heard. Our
men were now among thcm and some OF the
boys made q rebel go to the magazine and
| throw up some of their ammunition, and as
the guns were not spiked they were turned
the other way. They had been fired three
times when the artillery details came to take
charge of them. Some of our boys passed
through the fort and were on the flank of the
rebels on each side of us, and we got good
many prisoners. l have always supposed that
our flag was the first one OIL the rebel works in
this vicinity. 1t was carried and placed in
position by Comrade WILDER. of Co. +. He
lost his hand by piece of shell few minutes
after.-J. G. HARKER, Capt, Co. A, 1OSth n.
Y, Cayuta, n. Y.
WHAT REGIMENT WAS FIRST INSIDE?
To THE EDITOR: Seeing very little in THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE in regard to the operations
of our forces in the East. thought would
contribute short article about the assault on
Fort Malone. The 3Sth Wis, First Brigade,
First Division, Ninth Corps, was the first regi-
ment TO enter the fort. 1t captured the conf
mander and secured his papers, and had a
hand to- hand fight for the five loaded cannon,
which were captured with the assistance of
the 109th N. Y. (under command of Lieut.-Col.
y,
regiment to enter the fort Then came the Sth
Mich, and believe they were the first to plant
their colors in the works, unless it was the
Tooth N. Y.
Some of the officers of the 9th Mich. at
tempted through the columns of the New Y DIRK
Herald and other newspapers to claim the honor
for their own regiment, and thus rob those to
whom it justly belongs. A brigade that came
inside the lines just as the rebels were making
one of their fercest charges to recover the cap
tured works-almost entirely out of danger
were so alarmed at the sight of the charging
rebels that officers and men broke and fled.
The First Brigade of the First Division, Ninth
Corps, was in position behind Fort Sedgwck,
lying down, and a brigade of Gen. Hartranfts
fled past US. The 3sth Wis. was ordered to
move out and form line of battle directly in
| front Of Fort Sedgwick and in the immediate
rear of the picket-line, with the Tooth n. Y. as
our support about 10 yards in our rear, and the
9Th Mich. about 10 yards in the rear of the
Tooth n. Y. This is as near as / can remember
in regard to the disposition of the troops
VIM. Ii. THOMPSON, Co. E, 3Sth Wis, Milwau-
kee, Wis.
FROM ANOTHER COMRADE OF THE 38TH WIS.
To THE EDITOR: With your permission
will give short sketch of the part my regi-
ment (3sth Wis., took in the storming of Fort
Malone The LIST of April, 1865, was drawing
to a close All day at intervals the sharp rattle
| Of musketry far on our left had been heard in
camp. Late in the afternoon Col. Bintlif re-
| marked that he expected we should have work
to do before morning. AS the evening passed
| away the usual routine of camp duties was
strictly observed. At retreat the men were
cautioned to be in readiness to repel an attack
or be ready to move at a moments notice. just
| after midnight the order was given to fall in.
Everything being in readiness the 51st Pa.
was deployed to hold the line, and our regi-
ment moved by left flank, marched along the
line past Forts Meikle Davis and Gas the boys
called it, Fort He'll just to the left of the latter
we halted while bri gade of the Third Division,
| Ninth Corps, filed past us. Here we found the
37th Wis. and 9th Mich, and shortly the Sth
Mich. and 109th N. Y. arrived.
The 3Sth was then ordered to form in lire of
| battle in front of Fort He'll Tor Sedgwick), the
| Sth Mich. was formed about 10 rods in rear,
| and 109th n. Y. same in rear of 9Th Mich.
! The moment for advance at length arrived, and
at about o'clock on the morning of April 2
| the command was given, Column forward {"
| Steadily, as if on parade we moved out. The
! trenches of our picket line were first to be
| crossed, and as down into them we went the
order was given to fire. Reloading our guns we
| scrambled out and on toward the enemy. The
| rebel pickets fired one vOlley and fed But the
enemy is awake now, and he trains every gun
upon us. The air is full of the storm of lead
The strong chevaux de frize is reached and
torn away. The abatis is reached, and the
sbarpened stakes are wrenched away. Here
the gallant Kelley and Wood were wounded
but still we swept on. The parapet was
reached, and over we went. A short hand to-
hand struggle and the fort is ours. Immediately
| the captured guns were turned upon the flying
rebels. Having performed the part assigned u.s.
the 1O9th N. Y. and 9Th Mo. closely followed
US into the fort.
The 3Sth had no colors with it, nor had it at
any time during the campaign. When the regi-
ment left the State the colors were not prepared,
but it was the understanding that as soon rs
| ready they were to be forwarded to us by the
! State. From some cause or other the colors
! never reached the regiment while at the front,
and were not found until it had returned and
| encamped at TenallytOwn near Washington, in
April, 1865 Thus, having no colors, the 3Sth,
though acknowledged to be the first in the fort,
was obliged to see those of other regiments
| planted instead of its. The first colors planted
| upon Fort Malone were those of the 1O9th N.
| Y. the second stand those of the 9Th Mich.
| 1t was some time after the colors of the 109th
| N. Y. and 9Th Mich. had been hoisted over the
| works that the color-bearer of the 9th Mich.
came into the fort with his coors incased.
Lieutenant of the 38th II do not now remember
who) told him to plant the colors on the fort,