The National tribune., 1884-12-25
Fort Morgan.

To THE EDITOR: In an interesting article
appearing in your issue of the 9th November,
headed Mobile Bay" written by Comrade III.
III. Martin. the writer is at fault in two or
three particulars, which l will specify.
l. Neither the Goth Iowa nor 94th Ill. led
the advance at Fort Morgan; it was the Goth
Ohio.
2 If my memory is not at fault, our trans
ports entered the bay through Grants Pass,
commanded by Fort Powell, which had sur
rendered TO the fleet.
3. The Tennessee was not monitor, but an
iron clad ram with casemated batteries, known
among the ConfederatcS as the Ladies Ram,
from the fact that she was built from the pro-
ceeds of jewelry contributed by Confederate
ladies' i have before me letter written to a
brother member of the 4th Ohio Army OF
the Potomac, bearing date Fort Gaines Ala,
Aug. IL, 1864 The contents are as follows:
''F Fort Gaines surrendered on the Sth. As you
OF the Potomac have never witnessed the sur
render of a rebel fortress, | will describe the
ceremony. Our command formed in two lines
in front of the fort, facing inward; the garri
son marched out between our lines formed
line and stacked arms; their officers then came
to the front and center aud surrendered their
side arms; the Stars and Bars were then sent
down one side of the flagstaff and the Stars
and Stripes up the opposite side: salute of 81
guns ended the performance. We captured 775
men, D heavy guns, and large amount of
commisSary stores ammunition. etc. On the
9th we proceeded to invest Fort Morgan; the
96th, again in advance, deployed as skirmish-
ers. We succeeded before night in lodging our
skirmish-line within 500 yards of the fort
The advance of our regiment upon Fort Nor
gan was an event the boys will always remem-
ber. Our instructions were to advance until
we drew the fire of the fort, then hold our
ground until night when we would be relieved.
We emerged from pine wood about one mile
from the fort Our line stretched across the
point from gulfto bay in front was level waste
of sand. We expected to draw their fire when
we reached open ground but all was silent,
and we continued to advance. We were within
500 yards, on level, open ground, in full view of
the garrison; still silence reigned, and we moved
on. We were within 600 yards; we could look
directly into the muzzles Of q double tier of
heavy guns; we could see the gunners at their
stations ready to let loose the dogs of war"
The strain on the nerves was becoming intense.
"Why the devil don't they fre?" exclaimed an
impatient cOmrade. =" Do they expect US to
walk right into their blasted old fort?" AS if
in answer to the remark a stream of fire belched
from an emfsasure and an enormous she'll went
screaming overhead; a moment later all the
guns bearing upon us opened fire, and a hurri
cane of shot. shell and grape was hurled over
and around u.s. When the first shot was fired
the boys dropped to the ground, and with tin
plates and quart cups commenced scooping
sand for dear life In a few moments the whole
line was out of sight in the earth, except Col.
Brown, who took his chances above ground,
and came out, as usual, without scratch. We
were relieved after dark and the line perma-
nentiy held. Thus Gen. Granger was enabled to
open his batteries within 600 yards of the fort.
j. II. CRAVEN, seth Ohio Craventon, Kan.