The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-17

ment in the capture Of the fort on the 9th, only
two days previous.
have ALWAYS understood the Second Bril-
gade. Second Division, Sixteenth Corps, was
made up as follows: 14th, 9th and SD Iowa,
Dist Mo, 10th Kan, and Sd Ind. battery. Col.
Hills's report informs US Tin substance) that he
received orders at 10 a. m, April 9, from Gen.
Gilbert brigade commander, " to hold his regI-
ment in readiness to move at moments no.
tice. At / p. N. he was ordered to proceed to
the outer line of our works to relieve the
pickets there on duty. AT 2 p m. he had re-
iieyed the old picket and was holding the line.
Fifty men of the 10th were on the reserve-lIne
already and at 8 D. this detail joined him,
and at the same time he was further strength
ened by detachment of % men of Co. B, 9th
Iowa, Lieut. Simms Thus reinforced, he occu-
pied the entire front of the brigade with
force of 14S men as skirmishers. His general
instructions were to advance with his right
retired, drive the enemy from their pits, draw
the fire of the main line, and should he be ex
posed to too hot fire, to take advantage of
whatever cover offered, lie down, and wait the
arrival of the main line" He says:
1.-THE final movement commenced at $50 p. M,
the men eaping over their works and advancing
on q run to the cnemy's first line of rife-pits,
which was abandoned with little resistance as WAS
also the second line. While descending the slope
to the rayine which lay in my front. the enemy
opened CALLING fire with artillery and musketry,
which led me to look for shelter in the ravine ac-
|
enfilading aud affordng no protection. For this
reason no halt was ordered, our safety depending
on breaking through the works on my left as soon
as possible; if not then at any point No one in
the line returned the fire, but each devoted every
energy to reach the works soon possible.
Climbing over fallen trees they cleared each line
of abatis and scarcely noticing the ditch, mounted
| the parapet poured through the embrasures at
the recoil of the guns, and their line was broken
Turning the left of my line (which after entering the
| fort. became column to the right 1t swept down
upon their flank with little resistance, their men
| throwing down their guns and surrendering, and
! officers waving white handkerchiefs and deliver
| ing up their swords"
At this point Col. Hills says that he found
| that the skirmishers Of the Thirteenth Corps
| had not connected with his right, but had
made an interval of about so yards, and having
a greater distance to pass over had not yet
reached the works. Pushing farther to the
| right he found that his right had already capt
| ured the center fort and infantry supports on
| the right, and that he was unable to give the
| exact number or rank of prisoners taken by his
command, as the success of the assault depend
ed upon its being quickly followed up, which
was done, leaving his prisoners and trophies in
other hands; but in justice to his command he
cannot fix the number of prisoners at less than
800 (being an entire brigade and two batteries),
| 800 stand of small-arms and equipments, and
1 nine pieces of artillery.
| The report closes with list Of casualties,
the first name reported as killed being that OF
| Sergt George Dalier, brave little German,
who was my tent mate for over two years.
While l was not present with the regiment on
this campaign, feel that have no more right
or reason to doubt the presence of one brigade
| at least of the Sixteenth Corps at the capture
of Fort Blakely than / have to doubt the pres
ence of the Sixteenth Corps in front of Atlanta
or that of Hoods army at Franklin, both OF
which seem to be tolerably weIl-assured facts
in history. While believe this, believe the
Thirteenth Corps had something to do at Fort
Blakely also, and that their work was we'll and
honorably performed.-E. II. GREGG, Co. c.
10th KAN Abba, Iowa.