The National tribune., 1884-10-02
More About the Capture of Arkansas Post.

To THE EDITOR: In your issue of the 18th
of September | noticed an article over the sig
nature of Jas. S. Schermerhorn, late Color
Sergeant of the 127th H., in which he takes
exception to the description of Arkansas Post
as written by J. w. Fry, of the AID Ohio pub
lished in THE TRIBUNE of Aug. %, in which
he FRY gives Lieut.. r. p. Wallace, of the
120th Ohio, the credit of placing the colors of
his regiment first upon the fort claiming that
distinguished honor for himself The author
of the article, ]. w. Fry, is certainly correct,
as hundreds who were present can testify. The
same day that l received THE TRIBUNE of the
18th nit. ! visited Lieut. r. p Wallace at his
home near Loudonvile o., and showed him
the article and held quite lengthy conversa-
ton with him on the subject. | also conversed
with several others on the subject who were eye
witnesses, and they all tell the same story. The
facts are substantially as follows: The 120th
Ohio held position on the left of the line,
near the river, about 20 rods from the fort
with orders 70 advance and charge the fort
when the signal was given But before the
bugle sounded, which was to be the signal for
general charge all along the line, the white
flag was displayed in the fort and, although
the command was given to halt, the 120th
rushed pell-mell into the fort closely followed
by other regiments. Lieut.. Il. p. Wallace who
was Color-Sergeant of the regiment, was IN
the lead and scaled the ditch and assembled into
bDt lCIt Uy Oh bUe DaCk OF duOLHCr
soldier and planted his flag On the fort and
commenced TO cheer. Now, these are the facts
in the case, as hundreds of the members of the
120th and 42d Ohio and Gen. Osterhaus, who
commanded the division, if living, can testify
Lieut.. Wallace says he had a good view of the
fort and could not see another Union flag on
the fort until soon after he planted the 120th's
colors. do not wish to detract one iota from
any comrades bravery or pluck single star
from his crown, but desire to see justice done
TO all. Serg't Schermerhorn says he went into
the fort with his flag before they quit firing
and got the flagstaff shot in two in his hand
etc. Now, this may all be true, but it is an
unusual proceeding in military tactics to
rush up and plant flag on fort while
the firing is still going on, and before the
surrender, and receive the fire OF both friend
and foe. do not know the position the 127th
Ill. occupied; but if they were on the right of
the line, it might be possible that Comrade
Schermerhorn is right and placed his colors
first on the fort, the same not seen from our po-
sition, but our impression always was that the
l20th's flag was first ON the fort; and cannot
believe differently until fully convinced that
such was not the case.
Lieut.. r. p Wallace was taken prisoner at
| Raymond, Miss, and served Is months in
Libby Prison, when he succeeded in effecting
his escape and reached the Union lines He
was as brave soldier as ever drew sword or
pulled trigger. Lieut.. Wallace lives on a
splendid farm which he owns, near the town of
Loudonyille, Ashland county, o., and is en-
gagged extensively in farming.-J. p. VAN
NEST, Lieut., 120th Ohio Wooster O.