The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-10-08
COLUMBIA, s. c.,
And the Part ". II. Prcuty AMI Montgomery
HnIurt Took in The Canture.

ana the Fart W. II. FrGuty ana montgomery
Huiburt Took in the Capture.
To THE EDITOR: I have been very much in
terested in the discussion between w. NJ. PrOuty,
of the LIST Iowa, upon the one hand, and several
members of the 18th Iowa upon the other. 1t
has been pretty well established that the former
is correct III claiming for his regiment the honor
of having been the first organized troops that
entered Columbia, and for their flag the credit
of having been the first to float over the Capitol
OF South Caroline. In my diary find the fol-
lowing:
Feb. 17-Before daybreak, W. NJ. Prouty, of
our company OBJ, and Montgomery Hulburt, of
the 9th Iowa, launched into the impenetrabe
darkness covering Broad River, with their skitf
well laden with rope, for the opposite bank,
with only smoldering campfire at the rebel
picket-post just across the river for their
guide"
Here is certainly material for the pen of the
poet to adequately extol the daring deed of
and these two braves. The names w. NJ. Prouty
and Montgomery Hulburt should have place in
the impershable annals of those eventful times.
We dared hardly to expect that they would
be successful i'll their mission of fastening one
end of their rope, which was to be used for a
ferry line, TO a tree across this dark, broad
stream, of which so little was known, in the
darkness of the night Nothing but the rebel
picket-post fire indicated Enthusiastically that
the enemy were there, but the site for this per-
ilous undertaking was well chosen, for the
rushing waters over the rapids just below
crossing of the Iowa Brigade by means of ferry
ing across in pontOon skifs the great surprise
to the enemy, the short but decisive combat at
aybreak, the surrender to Col. Stone, COM
handing brigade, and our triumphant march
into the Capital city of South Carolina with
the 31st Iowa in advance with its colOrs proudly
floating, and eliminating in placing this ''em-
ham of tho fraa - no dome Oft tho n nito1
of the Palmetto State-all has been well told
repeatedly but especially by Comrade j. w.
Bannan in your issue of the goth inst. will
only add in conclusion, with the utmost charity
for those comrades of the 18th regiment, Seven
tcenth Corps, who crossed Congaree River on the
opposite side of the city in skiff and clandes-
timely placed their flag upon the courthouse (if
placed, as claimed), that they must have been
doing some ''straggling." Putting it mildly,
their claim seems ridiculous, when it is a fact
that the Seventeenth Corps, and no part of it
proper, entered the city at all, and were at no
time within two miles of it.
For full substantiaton of the foregoing, and
for additional proof that the surrender was
made to Stones Brigade of the First Division,
Logan's Fifteenth Corps, respectfully refer all
those who may still have any doubts upon the
matter to Greeley's American Conflict" Vol.
2, p. 700.-S. p. HUMBERT, Co. B, 31st Iowa,
Cedar Falls, Iowa.
FROM ANOTHER COMRADE.
L. S. Taylor, Co. III, 18th Iowa, sends the fol-
lowing in regard to the flag of the 18th Iowa:
HEADQ'Rs FOURTH DIVISION. SEVENTEENTH CoRPs
COLUMBIA, ). c., Feb. IL, 1863
Maj Gen. FRANK p. BLAIR, commanding Seven
teenth Corps: The coors of the 18th Iowa. Third
Brigade, were suspended over the Capitol at IL
o'clock this forenoon. National salute is now be-
ing fired by Capt. Clayton. LIST MINI. battery, to
commemorate this event
Very respectfully, your obedent servant,
GILES A. SMITH,
Brevet Major-General
HEADo FOURTH DIVISION, SEVENTEENTH CORPS
NEAR COLUMBIA, 5. c., Feb. IL. 1861
Brig: Gen. w. W. BELKNAP, commanding Third
Brigade.
SIR: Allow me to congratulate you, and through
you Lieut.-Col j. G.. Kennedy, 18th Iowa, and the
men under his command for first entering the city
of Columbia on the morning of Friday, Feb. IL and
being the first to plant his colors the Capitol of
South Carolina. While The army was laying pom
toon bridges across the Saluda and Broad Rivers
three miles above the city, Lieut.-COl. Kennedy
under your direction. fitted up old wornout flat
boat, capable of carrying about 20 men, and accom-
panied by Lieuts. III. c. Macarthur and W. III. Good
re of your staff crossed the river in front of the
city and boldly advanced through it's streets send
ing back the boat, with another procured on the
opposite Shore for more troops and on their ar
rival with IS men in all, drove portion of Wheel
ers cavalry from the town, and at 1l30 o'clock a.
N. planted his two stands of colors, one upon the
old and the other upon the new Capitol The
swift current of the COngaree River and its rocky
dangerous, and the presence of the enemy, but in
what force unknown, rendered the undertaking
still more hazardous. Lieut.-Col. Kennedy and his
regiment are entled to great credit for its success
have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
Obedient servant, GILES A SMITH,
Brevet Major General.
Official: O. D. KINsMAN, A. A. Gen.