The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-02-11
Cantura of MOIiIe.

To THE EDITOR: Ia the issue Of THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE of Dee II, Comrade j. L.
Beckicy, Of tic 9jth H., like COmrade Fry,
makes some mistakes, Of which wish to speak.
lie AYERS " Col. Ward, Second Brigade being
Oh the left of the Sixteenth Corps, the Thir-
teenth Corps filled the space from the Six
tcenth Corps TO the bay, being the left of our
line y; which Is mistake as our brigade, the
Second, OF Gen. McArthurs Division, was then
composed Of the 47th H.. 18th Mo-, Sth Wis,
and 9th Mimi, and oar position on the line
was northeast of Spanish Fort.
Now. / will speak Of nothing but what
know TO be true. ! know that we were in line
OF battle around Spanish Fort from March q
6ntii April 8 at o'clock p. IN. In the after
noon OF April our regiment the 41th I'LL was
ordered out TO dig ditch large enough TO pro-
tect our regiment, so that regiment could be
sent cut 10 support the sklrmish-line at night.
That night we were ordered to occupy il, which
caused some Of the boys TO indulge in cuss-
ing" thinking it :! hardship for them TO have
10 do both the digging and the guarding, while
the others were quietly protected behind their
breastworks, little thinking it would give them
the opportunity OF being the first to enter the
old fort We were taken out there with orders
TO keep our aCcOuiermcntS OH and be ready to
meet Z charge, which was expected at any mo-
ment.
We lay on cUr arms until / O'Clock a. NJ, when
the videts gave the alarm that the fort was
being evacuated. Our regiment WAS quickly
put IN line 10 move Instantly, only waiting for
the order-which WAS brought, think in less
than three minutes, by Capt. McGrew, Of Gen.
Hubbards static move on the doabie-quck
into the old fort. That was the order; | heard
it. Major" said he, move your men on the
double-q quick into the old fort" The regiment,
under the leadership Of the gallant Major Ed.
Bonham afterwards Lieutenant COLONEL and
Capt. Royal Olmstead, of Co. A, was soon in the
fort. Spanish Fort was surrendered to Jacob
Grader, First Sergeant of Go. of the 9TH
Ill, he having command of the Videt posts.
a rebel Lieutenant having command of the
rebel vidcts, called out, johnny YanR, quit
shooting" Serg't Grader answered, if he would
raise the white flag he would which was done
Immediately. Jacob took his command and
went out TO him. lie handed him his sword,
saying: " surrender; the garrison has eft me- 3"
There were 10 other troops in there, and Mai.
Bonham placed guards over the rebel guns,
magazines, and such other rebel property as
needed guarding. After the Thirteenth Corps
and the gunbo2ts had shot two rounds apiece
at US, regiment Of the Thirteenth Corps was
sent in with flag, and raised il over the fort.
The 4Ith at the time having only four com
panies. had no flag. therefore did not get the
honor Of raising it over the fort they were the
first 10 occupy; but, then, we made Il raid on the
rebel stores taking III their meal and tobacco,
thinking we would have some "slapjacks" for
dinner the next day, but were ordered out on
the march again for Fort Blakely, and so never
got an opportunity to cook the cakes Should
any Of the members of Co. A, 47th H., see this
should like TO hear from them, either through
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE or the malt W.
gibson, Co. 4, 47th H., GRANVILLE, White Co.,
Ill