The National tribune., 1889-09-19
PLYMOUTH AGAIN.
Comrade Brown says the I'd Mass. II. A. was t

C0mrade Brown Says the I'd Mass. u. A.. was There.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your last
issue | rend with much interest and pleasure
the account of the battle of Plymouth n. g.,
April IL TO 90, "a. by Comrade Slaybaugh, I0lst
Pa. My pleasure, however, was somewhat
marred by his omission, for some reason or
other, of the I'd Mass. IL. A. from his list Of the
organizations which participated in that fight.
Comrade Flint S5th n. Y, in his article of
the 1st inst, also omits the 2d Mass. III. A.
Two companies of the I'd n. G. native troops
were also there, and were captured, and many
afterward shot as Buiaoes"
Now, il has been my impression all these 25
years past that was present at that hght--in
fact. very much present. The guns in all the
forts, large or small, were manned by members
of Co.'S q and ii OF my regiment. Tuesday
morning. shortly after the sinking Of the South.
field by the ram Albemarlc, was directed TO
take charge OF number of men and proceed 10
the Bombshell disabled and sunk by the enemy
the night before) aud bring of small Wizard
gun from the bow, which was still above water.
This was accomplished in safety. although We
were but short distance from the ram, aud
could easily have been rendered uncomfortable.
The gun was put in position in Fort Williams.
but was Of little account. Many daring acts
were performed in this fort on the 18th aud
both, some Of which came under my own per-
sonal observation, and worthyo of mention.
Private JAS. Smith. of Go. q. 2d Mass. III. A.,
a half.breed Indian. from Webster, Mass, was
No on one OF the 81. FOUNDER Coumhiads
IL Was almost sure death on Wednesday morn
ing, April 20, for man TO attempt 10 load
gun, for in so doing he was obliged 10 expose
his body in the embrasure and draw shot
from some Of the swarm of sharpshootcrB Turk
ing behind the stumps la front Of the fort. At
about 10 H. IN. on the day mentioned, as Smith
WAS about 10 step in front Of his gun 10 load H.
a spent shell with fuse burning landed within
five feet Of him, and about the same distance
from Serg't Benz. f. Baxter, Of the same com.
pany, who is now dead Baxter cried out
quickly: Damn 1t, Smith pick IL up and
throw j. overl y aud sure enough over IL went,
the shell exploding "a second later. injuring no
one.
Inside Of an hour Smith was torn 10 pieces
by shell exploding in the mouth Of his gun,
and thus died as brave a man as ever drew
breath. But am afraid I'm writing more than
] intended 10 show Comrades Slaybaugh and
Flint that the I'd Mass IL. A. was thar or
tharabouts"
Capt. Ira Il. Sampson. Of my regiment. who
IL still alive, think, was In command of Fort
Williams. Lieut. III. l.. Clark, OF Co ii. with
% men, was In the 65th rcd0ubt so.caiied
from tho fact that IL was built by the s5th
n. Y. J, and he afterwards received a bayOuet
wound in prison. Lients VIM. Hamilton aud
Rob't Sinclair did good fighting with handful
Of men in the two redonbts on the left Of the
line. Lieut.. ii. Z. Hoppn. who had charge Of
| the big gun In the river f0rt-BatteFy Worth
also belonged 70 our regiment.
/ knew many OF the l0lst Pa and 65th n. Y. !;
| found them 10 be first class soldiers and good
fighters. Hope 10 hear from any OF the :" Ply
mouth Pilgrims" whenever they are disposed
TO write.-GEo. o. BROWN, Co. q, Cd Mass.
II. A., Washington, ID. g.