The National tribune., 1890-09-04
THE FORLORN HOPE.
The Survivors OF that Band Want JustIce

The Survivors OF that Band Want Justice.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The members
Of the Port Hudson Forlorn Hone Association
arc already deeply indebted 10 you for courte-
sizes at various times and are duly apprecative
of your efforts in aiding US to secure Justice
withheld for more than quarter of a century.
For some years past we have been endeavor-
ing to secure from Congress the fulflment of
promise. a contract in effect, made with US
by duly-authOrzed representative OF the
Government the highest official in the Depart
meut, at crisis whom failure on our part to
respond TO his urgent appeal might have es-
sentially altered the condition of affairs aud
greatly delayed the military operations in that
section. We fulfilled our part Of the contract
and have been vainly calling on tho Govern
ment to redeem their side Of the bargain. For
IL was nothing else, as any fair-minded, I'M
preiudicCd man who reads General Order No
~, Department of tho Gulf June l5 1863, will
freely acknowledge, Twice tho bill giving us
Justice has passed the Senate, in which, il has
generally been supposed there lie some ability,
only 10 be killed ia tho House Military Com
mittee. For timo we were in doubt as 10
whom we were indebted for these repeated
failures, but are 10 no longer. The Arst i'm.
preston would be that the representatives of
The Lost Cause" who are now in Congress
would continue TO oppose us as they did during
tho stormy days OF the civil war. But We eau
not permit such gross injustice to bo done them,
for they are brave aud loyal now as then,
honorable opponents aud true men, who, seeing
the justice Of our claim, have openly espousod
and warmly Champonod our cause.
We have learned. 20 our great dismay, that We
have been slain In tho house of our friends."
IL Ia no longer a matter Of question that wo owe
the delay OF justice to the secretly avowed
hostility of certain members OF the GAR
members Of the Military Committee of tho
Of De, ,gayf
only on narrow, personal and most unworthy
grounds. Thus far their opposition has been
confined TO the Committee room in which they
have buried our claim, and whore they pur-
pose IL shall be quietly killed, as IN former
sessions. But wo do not submit 20 this course
any longer, and propose 10 exercise our rights
rs citizens, IL they are denied as soldiers.
We call upon this committee to answer q few
questions:
Is it true that you have received scores of
letters from members Of the GAR. protesting
against our claim because we fnade no assault
on tho works at Port Hudson2
Ia 10 true certain of you have objected because
1t would be making invidious distinctions?
IL 1t true that one Of you opposes US because
the regiment under his command, who did
some brave fighting at certain time, has not
received medals?
Assuming these questions TO be answered
allow us tho right of cross-examination and
reloinder. Does not the act of volunteering
for and acceptance of duty include and per-
feet the entire sacrifcef Does not the soldier
complete his surrender of self whom he places
himself in line for assault. as we did on the
morning OF July 4, 1852 is there nothing ia
the majesty of readiness the power of prepara-
ton That there was in this case has been
plainly testified to by the men who preferred
surrender to capture. And IL such letters as
alluded to have been received and used TO
prejudice our claim, we demand that they be
produced aud put in evidence, that their writ
ers may be known, and their credibility duly
examined. This is our right and We demand
it,
In answer TO No. 2, "Invidious distinction
was made by the acceptance of our services for
Ii desperate forlorn hope in itself an invidious
distinction from the fact that 10 was tho only
one called for by General Order during the en-
tire rebellion, from the troops of the Nineteenth
Corps, aud We consented to give our lives for
tho others, who also consented that we might
The promise was openly made TO all. Why did
they not coms forward2 That there was no
fennsylVania troops In the Department of tho
Gnit was unfortunate, for they are brave SOL
diers, but 1t certainly was not our FAULT,
and we should not be made TO suffer for it.
To No. s. Was there any promise made TO
your regiment at the time of the desperate
lighting for which you think they should be
decorated? lfsO, We will join you in your at.
tempt TO secure Justice. If there was no such
promise, what claim have you that every other
regiment, every other soldier has not?
The fact is, VIC have made "a fatal mistake In
trusting TO the sense of justice Of comrades. We
should not have haZarded our cause by making
them It's arbiters. One year ago this association
debated tho question fully, and declared most
ehphatically III favor of taking the stand which
was surely right-that Of claimants and not as
petitioners. That We should demand settle
ment OF claim, and not seem to DO pettIoning
for benetaction. Our bill should have been
referred to the Committee on Claims, whore IL
would have had an early and an impartial hear
ing on It's merits, and We ask nothing more.
All we ask is that we have "a hearing in the
House, and We do not fear for the result. But
this Committee does not do this, or they would
have reported before now. Is it not their duty
to do this2 We now demand that they will re-
port one way or the other-we don't much care
which, rs the question will finally be settled in
the House, whore We feel perfectly willing to
rest our cause. If they do not do this at an
early day, we will ask our good friends in the
House-and we have many thereto ask that
the bill be recalled from tho Military Commit
Tee, who VIII not do il justice aud referred to
the Committee on Claims, who will deal Justly
by 1t, and in whose hands il rightly belongs.
In behalf Of the Port Hudson Forlorn Hone
observation-disclosures N. SCOTT, Secretary. 10
Warren Place, Boston, Mass.
To act on tho liver, and cleanse the bowels, no
y