The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-22

knocked the carriage off the pintie so that was
useless. They then lost heart and when they
saw US coming over ran round by the huts and
the rear of the big traverse, 10 help their COM
rades on the side next the river, where as yet
no one had got in.
In what order the other II regiments got in
side the works ! do not know, but 90 know
that the first three men to mount the parapet
of Fort Harrison were, respectively, Otls Cope
land, who was killed; Lieut.. Johnson and i,
al Of the 5Sth Pa. The first man in the fort
was Johnson. and the first flag on the works
was the blue State flag of the ISSth Pa, which
l carried there. The col0rstaff of the 58th
had been shot in two at Petersburg. 1T was
spliced, and again shot in two outside Of the
fort, so that the bearer rolled the flag around
the two pieces and carried it over his shoulder.
Notwithstanding it did not make much show
that way, we had
EIGHT COLOR-BEARERs HIT THAT DAY.
Col. Roberts, who was detailed to command our
brigade, got out Of a sick-bed to 90 into this
action. I never asked him why be chose our
regiment to lead the brigade and so guide the
DIVISION but be has asked me what ! thought
of his hating the brigade 10 breathe before
making a rush. / think it was q good idea,
knowing that the 5sth was in front; pause
like that could not be made with every regl-
ment.
The names Of the commanders Of the First
and Second Brigades have been mentioned often
by writers about this action, but Col Roberts,
who commanded the Third Brigade, is entitled
TO more prominence than they. FOX he com
manded the guiding brigade and the one that
first entered the fort. Some Of the reports
speak of hesitation as the column neareG the
/ fort and Of reforming the men, etc. Whatever
+ there was of this was IN the First ana Second
Brigades. There was nothing Of the kind
/ needed in the Third. at Cold HarbOr in 1864.
after the disastrous charge Of June B. the 55th
! Pa. was picked out to charge and retake q rife
| pit In front of the enemy's main lIne-the
/ regiment numbered then less than I50-which
/ a regiment of more than double its numbers
/ had been unable to hold. First taking the caps
] of all its pieces, it charged and took this pit
! and held ii from early morning until relieved
/ at 1870 at night With this regiment in the
I front. and Col Roberts III command, the Third
/ Brigade did not need any reforming uatil after
/ the fort was entered.
Whatever question may have been raised al
/ the time as to who first entered Fort Harrison
/ was settled shortly after the action Gen
/ Weitzel who took command of the corps after
/ the fight settled the matter. Years after, il
writing a letter to one who had been hI'
superior he said l have always since Spoken
/ OF the 5Stb as the best Pennsylvania regiment
I ever had under my command"
The only two line officers mentioned by
Gems Ord aud Staunard in their reports
were Lieut. johnson and /; land this wa
/ because of our having been first in. with three
wounds EACH The 5sth had 926 men in action
. iucludiug drummer boys and stretcher- bearers
/ The same number to each regiment would haV
I made the Division 2,112 strong Und0ubtedl.
some regiments had less than 226 and other
. more The official nominal lists OF killed aui
wounded show as follows: