The National tribune., 1884-12-11
FIGHTING THEM OVER,
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
PETERSBURG.
The Capture OF the Rebel Pickets in Front of
Fort He'll.

The Capture OF the Rebel Pickets in Front of
Fort Hell.
To THE EDITOR: In your issue Of Oct. %,
one Capt. Rob't H. Taylor, Co. G, Goth Ind,
spreads himself on what he calls How the
picket-lne was captured in front of Fort He'll
{Sedgwick), Va, Sept. 10, 1864" and wants
every man who was in that little affair to have
something 10 say concerning it,
Now, II ali the boys would say just what
they know about it, and the truth, the Captain
would be the lGughingstock OF the Nation, as
your truly good paper reaches almost every ex-
soldier, both North, South, East, and West.
The truth of the matter is, that Gen. Han
cock planned the attack, and not our worthy
Captain, and intrusted its execution to Breyet
Brighten. Z. r. Biles, of the 99th Fa., who
conducted ii successfully.
On Sept. Z, lo6i, Gen. Hancock, with poT-
tion of his staff, came into the fort, which was
occupied by the YSth Pa; Battery q, I'd U. S.
Art, and a battery OF Parrot guns the num-
Der and name Of which l forget The rebel
rifle line was less than 100 yards in front of
the fort and at no time of the day was il safe
TO even raise the hand above the parapet. The
soldiers inside the fort watched through loop
holes both day and night, made out Of sand
bags placed eu0wise, forming small square
hole just large enough 10 sight through over
the riie barrels.
The e:lbrasures for the artillery were pro-
tSClStS lI itS StllS manner. WITH also q IHith
wooden shield 20 protect the gunners from
small rifle shots, which were continually be-
ing fired by the rebel rifiemen, and whoever
was foolish enough 10 expose himself for even
u moment al an embrasure or above the works.
paid the penalty in rebel lead, and how many
true, good, brave fellows lost their lives in this
aptly-named place none but the Great Com
luander knows 1t was even remarked by the
boys that one could kick a skull out OF that
breastwork at any place and l think it is tue
The mortality had been SO great in the works
that Gen. Hancock determined on this visit
Sept. Z, 1oo4-to venture an attack on their
lines.
At a conference of officers that very evening
it was decided to make the attack on the night
OF Sept. 10, 1861, 1T the going down OF the
moon, which occurred at LEO o'clock j. NJ. The
regiments selected were those remaining in
camp of the 99ih and 1l0th Pa, the I'd
Berdan SharpshoOters, and the goth Ind.
Details from each Of these regiments were al
ready on picket, which accounts fer the fact
that parts OF the regiments above named only
were IN action on this night.
Fora better understanding o. this article I
would here mention the fact that Fort He'll (or
Sedgwick) was built astride the Jerusalem
plank road, and directly in front OF rebel Fort
Malone. At this point the rebel line Of breast
works turned abruptly to the right, and, of
course, our line of works was thrown forward
from the left of the fort correspondingly.
OF course, the abrupt turn in both lines caused
an angle, and across this angle came the rebel
picket-line, strong, heavy embankment near
ing our works ct the road, and for about 300
yards was at about the distance named above
/ shall never forget while / live seeing each
regiment pass up through the covered way into
the fort prior TO the attack, q quiet, solemn,
sober lot Of soldiers ever looked upon. Each
man had been made acquainted with the work
hand and each knew the dpGt,a raf a
dertaking; yet each one was ready to measure
steel against STEEL for that was what it was TO
be. Every musket had been examined and every
cap removed from its nipper. The orders were
" Take those works by the bayonet. No shots
70 be fired until the works are ours"
The 10th Pa. was the first out of the sally
port and into the moat. Quietly they crawled
mp out of the darkness and Oh the level, dam
gerous ground above edging their way along
towards the right to connect with the 18th
Me-, already the picket-line. Next came
our own regiment (the 99th Pa, occupying
The ground directly in front OF the fort. Next
came the 20th Ind, connecting on the left Of
ours; then quietly came the pride of our di-
vision, the Cd Berdan S S. and took position
on the left Of the Goth Ind. Each regiment
was lying prone upon their faces close under
the cover OF the fort. The cannOneers after
ward told me that the going out of the regi-
ments 10 take position was quiet that not
sound reached the cars of those in the fort
Thus We lay awaiting the signal of attack
Each man knew it, and his car was strained TO
catch it. Suddenly out through the darkness
came q prolonged, low whistle, sounded by
Lieut.-Col. Peter Fritz, jr., of the 93th Pa.
Every man was on his feet in an instant and
was pressing through the darkness without
any further commands. 1t seemed but few
strides when we were in among the Johnnies,
clubbing and fighting the best we could. One
solitary rifa-Shnt only WAS fred by tha rahaIS
before we had them, and that one killed Lieut.
George Elislcr, Co. +, 99th Pa. In a few mo-
meutS everything was confusion. Every man
carried small sap shovel in his belt and the
work Of turning the works was begun. In the
meantime the rebels in the heavy works found
out their line had been captured, and they
opened terrible storm of shot, shell and shrap-
mel. The air seemed perfectly full of flying,
eeething missiles and the boys Rugged mother
earth for safety, our own forts firing well over
rs and iuto the rebel works
The fire on both sides gradually slackens,
and the rebels send a strong line of infantry
against US. They strike the 18th Me- first and
break through. Our men are busy turning
the works. They hear the fighting close at
hand, but don't know what it meaGs. Sud-
denly and like an avalanche their big, heavy
line burst upon US, and then began one Of the
hardest and best-contested little battles Of the
war. Col. McKeal, of the goth Ind, was killed,
Win great many Oh MS regiment. our own
regiment suffered terribly, as did the I'd regi-
ment and the 10th. Daylight coming ON put
stop to the fight, and many Of US lay all day
IN the trench, without food or shelter under
the burning rays of that hot September day,
having gone into the fight with nothing but
gun and cartridge-box.
Thus was the line established, and for which
each regiment was complimented by Gen.
Hancock in General Orders (see Bates; and
with Capt. TAYLOR will add that every man
who took part in that fight was a hero
PETER B. AYARs, Adj't 99th Pa, Wilmington,
Del.