The National tribune., 1888-07-05
Port Hudson again.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: VIM. Z. Den
murc has undertaken to correct WILDER II.
Weber on his late Port Hudson article. Be-
ing a little interested in the controversy,
desire to take the stand and state the facts as
they were. know positively that the lower,
or Citadel, gun was dismounted by No. 30
Founder PARROT rife of my company III, 1st
Ind. H. A. ] was cannoneer on No. 2, and
every man in the company, except those who
manned the gun, crept up with their breech-
loading rifles until we could almost look into
the bore Of the Lady Davis, rs we called the
Citadel gun, and from short range poured our
minie-balls into the embrasuTe so accurately
and fast that it was sure death TO approach the
gun. Gunner Jerome, who had moved his gun
from the I7-gun battery to an advantageous
position within quarter mile of the Citadel,
opened fire, first with percussion shell; after
obtaining the range, he used solid shot. The
second shot struck the wood part of the axle,
and detached silver flew so feet into the air,
which caused great cheer to 60 up from the
infantry. The ninth shot struck the gun fair
in the muzzle, and she fell from her carriage,
and prolonged cheer rang out from bill and
forest. After we had disposed of this gun,
which was the terror of the fleet our Captain
(Jas. COnnelly) got permission from Gen. Ban ks
TO cross the river. He (Banks) was of opinion
that 1t would be folly for two guns to face the
combined batteries on the river front. Accord
ingly, we pulled down to Prophet Island on the
26th of June, crossed the river that night, aim
ing to get position before daylight; but after
working all night dragging our guns up the
bank of the river, which was too steep Tor the
mules, we were obliged to advance upon those
grim batteries in broad daylight. As we crept
slowly up the west bank we could sec those
great black guns looking over the rebel parapet
on the opposite bluff, expecting every moment
to see the white smoke leap from their muzzles
as signal that we were discovered; yet, strange
TO say, they remained silent. At last, when the
sun had risen halfway TO the zenith, we I'M
imbeTed and ran our guns upon the platforms
which had been prepared for us. One shot from
our PARROTS was the challenge that brought
the fury of those great batteries upon US. No
pen can describe our experience for the next
few hours We lay up close to the old leVee,
while the huge shot and shell Kissed above and
around Us. Finally, the rebels believing, no
doubt, that this would be sufficient hint for us
to leave, slackened their terrific fire. But they
reckOned wrong. After making our position as
secure as possible, we opened again with both
guns. We selected the two lower guns next
above the one we had dismounted before coming
over. We were not again silenced during the
siege, but pounded steadily away, and from
this same position dismounted and literally
ruined the four guns in our immediate front,
and We're pounding away at the next ones
above when the surrender took place on tie
9th Of July. We arc positive that with our two
guns we dismounted five rebel guns, but the
rebs made one tally by knocking one of ours of
the carriage. Now all ] have to say is that Com
rade Denmure cannot rob US of the honor due
Us. There are too many boys alive who arc our
witnesses, aud saw these scenes as they were
enacted. The comrade gives himself dead
away by stating how the rebel Captain ordered
railroad iron fired from the rifed gun at the
frigate Geucsce, for the entertainment Of the
ladies. / never saw the said boat within rifle
range Of the fort 1t is too silly to talk of firing
railroad iron from rife gun. 1t was never
done One discharge would forever ruin the
gun. Comradc WILDER Wcbber was correct in
every particular l know he was there from
the way be writes.-S. II. SAMUELs, Co. II, 1st
Ind. Siege Art, Cayuga, Ind.