The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-10
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Or Veterans Have 10 Say Abeat
Their Old Campaigns.


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To THE I-DrToR: Under the above heading,
In your pa or OF June j, 1854, Comrace w. III.
Colder, Of sth Iowa, gives an account OF the
capture OF Spanish Fort opposite Mobile, aud,
thinking he aud other members of that regi-
ment would like 10 hear what Chaplain How
ard has 10 say about it, IN his history OF the
I24th H., belonging to the same brigade, viii,
with your permission, send copy:
April S. tha 18th and last day of the siege, open
ed fair ana cool. after a heavy rain on the I'm.
Skirmshing had been going on all night. but there
had been VERY little artillery firing About noon
received orders to be ready 10 march wlth 70
days rsilions;ire IN haversccks and 10 M wagons
This the mea did not relish; il seemed like eilcat-
ing them 81 the fruits Of well-earned Victory
The oroei Was caused by a ialse alarm 81 Sonied-
crate troops gathering near stockton. At.5 n. al.
our hrgaot ordered into the riepits rs there
was TO Ice q general b0mbardnlent soon after, IL
began from SO guns, So Of which were siege gums.
The enemy ALSO were shctIag heavily. having
commenced . little before did, and the effect
was terrific. The corps commanders had dlscre-
sonary orders from the beginning OF the siege 10
take every advantage that promised decisive re-
suits and those orders bad been communicated 10
division commanders just when the caunoDading
wac al lis hight Gen Carr determined TO carry a
crest covered with pines on tbe enemy's left, con-
stitut8ng sor Of detached portion OF their WORKS,
Tor the pugpOse al planting a battery. The execU-
ton OF TINS undertaking Was given by Col Geudes
OF tie oth Iowa who ia command Of the bril-
gHde and mot 81 the regiment, as stated by Com
THde Sooer 10 l-ieat-Noi- teIl, OF the sih Iowa,
who accomplished II CALAMITY, though not without
severe loss IN DONG il lac had pushed forward
only three np5nies OF his regiment. while ali the
resi- OF lhe brigade engaged in the Tife-pits,
where the firing 80 heavy that d somew nat
blinded TIE rebels TO what being done their
left so, wien those who were .irst attacked mad
yielded, and he victorious stl moved on 10 ada
cent pits they perfect surprise 10 their occu-
pants, VINO either surrendered were shot down
M their tracks. In this Way ille gallant sth took
and occupied about three hundred yards OF the
Confederate works, with three stands of coiors.
and about three hundred aud fifty prisoners before
hat hfftrF
attempted. TACT il surprise to themselves,
aud of the most dasilIng and brilliant eX-
IOiis oi tie IL was now, and had been for some
time, guile -ark but gaming a knowledge OF what
going forward the resi- OF the brigade, inciud
ng regiment, galantly rushed out Of the
trenches ana entered the works. experimenting
attack were ordered 10 commence intrench-
Ing 10 hOid our ground, no other portion Of the
bcsiegIng force was IN concert with Us. This we
actually commenced TO do; but our regiment was
soOn formed IN line TO repel assault, one having
Just been made upon the STA iowa's advance and
repealed -. A, under Lieut. ". F. Dodge, WAS
then SEM out skIrmish-neEo feel of the enemy
on our Tlatil iront. while Co. i, commanded by
Capt. \. n. Pratt SEM for the same pur-
pose in trent OF our left. Capt Pratt depioyed his
company alh fis left resting the enemy s main
line of wpFSa. and swept forward. After advanc-
lng about hundred and iiy Yards piece OF arti-
lery opened GA them with grape, but they speedily
captured u sustaining no damage, and with II
siRtt or ten prisoners and another gun. Sending
hls prisoners 10 the rear. the Captain requested
permission 10 continue has advance, giving "a
reason that he believed that the enemy was eyacT-
atlng. ana THESE lew men were only ielnt to cover
the escape OF the main body. Co. L continued TO
move forward, capturing eight or ten pieces of
artillery and more men iiian H. own force num-
Dereo tlli. nearly midnight, some OF the men
inquired II The Captain going TO take Co +
10 Mobile unsupported. But last the rest of
the regiment up 10 fnd the rebels really
gone aIlG penetrated ms Jar IN the darkness old
spanish Fort, which it reached about midnight
Here stacked arms and rested a little. scTari-
bling meantime Tor the possession of the guns
and Tor the asras and cornnseai left by the gar
Elson. Bat very soon the -oetoroFa,' not know
ing OF the change of the administration in the fort
sent hundred pound shell al Us and IL Deem
GO prudent 10 withdraw, returned 20 our
quarters. reaching them about O'Clock ia the
morning. confident than we had done pretty good
nights work The division took about five hun
dred prisoners. of which took our fun share.
The troops our Jeff took the Confederaies in the
rlfie-plIs in front OF them. who had been ieit 10
their fase by the rctrcstiag garrison. but they did
not do u untN after midnight. upon learning fllal
the fort ia hands, =. kEECE. I24sl H..
- Madison ST, Chicago IA