The National tribune., 1888-08-02
Snsnish Fort and Fort BIskeIy Again.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: AS nearly
every soldier that was at Spanish Fort and
Fort Blakely can tell their experience, | Will
rise in meeting and speak right out, even if
it hits somebody's corn. Some of the boys, and,
in fact, most of them, write from memory.
Now, COmrade PennOck, in a late issue, places
the divisions wrong, and Comrade Burrows IS
wild too in saying that the Third Division oc-
cupied the works in front of the Second Divis-
ion. The facts are about like this: On the
9th day of March Gen. Cars (Third) Division,
Sixteenth Corps, marched through the woods
in a northwest direction, under the guide of
rebel deseTteT, who piloted US until we came
to the road, when the 9Th Iowa was second.
The 124th III. was third in the line of march,
and your humble servant, with detail from
the division, was proyost-guard and marched
between the first and second regiments. When
we came to the road the Wisconsin regiment,
In advance, faced to the north and started up
the road, soon found the rebel pickets and drove
them across bayou, and held the bridge
through the siege. The 124th III. formed line
of battle and faced up the road when Gen.
Smith rode up and said: What regiment is
this that is so - smart ?" Col. Howe saluted
and said, 1.-The hundred and two dozen Illi-
nois." Gen. Smith then gave the order to
about face, and that brought our regiment in
line Of battle, with left in front The provost
guard were thrown out as skirmishers on the
right Of the line. We advanced in a southwest
direction short distance when we came TO the
reserve post of rebel pickets. Then it was a
f0ot-race 10 see who would get to Spanish Fort
first. When the last rebel went over the works
our skirmish-line was not over 100 yards be-
hind them, and then, great guns! didn't they
open fire upon Us In a second every man was
out Of sight or behind stump or log After
dark the 10th I'D. was moved to the west and
lay next to the 5th Iowa, who occupied the ex-
IRENE right; then the 33d Wis. was on our left.
On the afternoon of the Sth day of April, by
orders from Gen. Smith, all the guns on the
line opened fire upon the rebel works. After
bombarding the fort for four hours, the 9Th
Iowa marched in column along the bay when
the tide was out inside the rebel works. formed
line Of battle and threw out skirmishers, ad-
vanced up the hill and the 124th III. marched
IN the same way that the 9Th Iowa did, and
was the second regiment inside of the fort,
Comrade Burrows 95th H., notwithstanding,
who says it was in the early twilight. 1t was
after p. %. when the Sth Iowa went in
and the bornbardment on our right ceased, and
the 9Th Iowa and 124th III. went inside the
fort along the bay when the tide was ont,
under the hill or ground that was covered with
water five or six feet deep when the tide was
! IN. There were no works there and no rebels
in sight. The fort was taken without orders
/ from Gen. Candy and he did not know of the
capture until an Orderly was sent, who routed
him out Of bed. The next day we marched to
+ Fort Blakely, and that was taken by charge
and the next day Fort Tacy and Fort HugeI
were taken. The sand batteries surrendered
when we went on our way to Montgomery
/ Now I have fired and viii fall back until some
other one shoots his wad, and may be I'll come
/ again.-A. NJ. GURNsEY, Co. e, I24th H., Tay
] lar Npb