The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-02-26
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
At Fort Gregg.

vile, y. Y, having seen the statement by Com
rade Leach, of the 18th w. Va, in which he
says that Dandy's Brigade. Fosters Division,
Gibbons Corps, did not take Fort Gregg. the
writer agrees with him; but when he says
that the fort was taken by the 18th W. Va,
and the 23d ILL.,, he makes a misstatement.
And when he says that two brigades Of Ord's
command. AS stated by Gen. Grant, could
not be used around a small fort be might
make the marines believe it. but an old sol
der never. He further states that all were
ordered TO halt by some fool when within 10
rods of the fort, but the writer thinks the rebels
compelled them to halt, as il was little too
hot for them. When he says that there was
not another man Of any command in the ditch
around the fort, except the 18th w. Va. and
23d H., he makes false statement, for the
writer was there, with the rest OF the First
Brigade, First Division, Twenty fourth Corps,
commanded by Gen. Fairchild.
N. Hooper, Co. G, 18th Ne, Machiss, Ne,
thinks the account of Mai. Stowitz Of the capt
ure of Fort Gregg incorrect, and would ask the
Major il he remembers the 100 picked men
from the 18th Me. who acted as sharpshoOters
TO silence the big gun at the fort before the
charge was made. The writer was one of the
sharpshooteTs. The Major is also mistaken as
to the composition Of the Third Brigade Of
Fosters Division, Twenty fourth Corps. 1t was
composed Of the Tooth n. Y. cath Mass, 10th
NJnisB anu AlLu Ms not tUo OH Me- III staten
by the Major. This brigade led the charge on
Fort Gregg, and was supported by two brigades
from Ord's command.
The GAR. Must DIE.
G.. L. Camp, Adjutant Garfield Post, %,
Athens, Tenn, in regard TO the communica-
tion of q cOmrads of Dodge County, Wis, in
which he suggests admitting sons Of honor
Rbly-discharged soldiers TO the Grand Army,
says that he does not see how they can be con-
sidered In any other way than as sons Of vet
Grams. lt has been truly said that there is no
other organization in the world like the G. AR.
Other organizations keep adding to their num-
bers as young men grow mp to fill the places Of
the old ones who die out; but when the last
old soldier is dead the Grand Army ceases
The writer thinks there are bat few soldiers in
the Northern States who do not belong to Posts
but it is not the in East Tennessee for there
are many who are not yet members There
is considerable number who cannot read or
write, and it is very little satisfaction for them
to belong to anything they cannot understand
the workings of.
Good for tile Yerm0nters-
r. r. George, Co. ID, 9Th Vt, Adrian, Mich,
having seen an article which said that the
Sixth Corps was not the first to break the rebel
lines near Petersburg, April 2, 1865, says on the
night Of April 1, which was as dark as pitch,
tho order came to fall in and march over the
breastwOrks toward the pcket-lins. After
reaching the picket they formed in line Of
battle and the Vermont Brigade was ordered
to lie down. About o'clock on the morning of
April signal gun was fired which babe them
form for the first dance, the music 70 be fur
nished by tho participants. They were ordered
TO pay no attention to the rebel picket, and not
gun was fired until they got to the abatis
The rebel picket did not SEQ them until they got
within 20 feet, IL being so dark. While getting
through the abatis the rebel main line opened
on them with telling effect, and the solid fame
from their breastworks lit up the country
around they could see Whers they were
going They charged and took the works, and
the writer does not think tkers was any rsgi-
ment ahead Of his in that charge The writer
was slightly wounded in the breast aud came
near being bayOneted by ths rebel, but men,
Der OF his company brought his gu a barrel down
on the rebels head, aud the writer can hear
the sound Of that gun-blou until this day.
! The fight did not last long at such close quar-
ters, for some Of the rebels threw up their
hands, while others ran like racs-horsss. The
brigade moved on until they reached the South
Side Railroad, where they tore up the track. II
| was glorious victory, aud the Yermonters got
there for certain.
Comments and Corrections.
ID. W. Light, Co. NJ, 9th Ohio Cav, Chanuts
/ Kan, thinks COmrade Hobart has forgotten
about HerbeTt's old Sighting Fourth Division,
as they did not go to Bolivar until August OF
| September, 1868. The writer has faint recol-
lection OF the troops going on the trip men
toned, but cannot figure out whore the Third
/ Brigade Of the Fourth Division came in He
il right, however, about whipping Price at the
| Hstehie, but is little of about the command
ers for Herbert commanded until the infantry
charged down to the river, when Ord super
seeded him The first and second battalion
of the regiment was with Herbert's Division
from the day before the battle until Grant
started for Yicksburg the first time, and he
/ fails TO remember but two brigades being in
the division, one commanded by Yeatch aud
the other by Lauman, and if the cOmrade was
in the Third Brigade the writer would like to
know who the other brigade commander was
| A. Randolph, Co. A, 10th Pa Cav, Apollo
| Pa, thinks il about time 10 give the old SOL
diers rest about the batteries that fought in
the Peach Orchard at Gettysburg, as he thinks
| that history and the monuments erected ought
10 settle the question to the satisfaction Of all
concerned.
l.. l.. Shophardson, Co. C, Ist Mass. III. A.
Second Brigade, Third Division, Second Corps
Brockton, Mass, says II may be new to some OF
our readers that his regiment was not in the
Second Corps. He would like to correct a
phrase in his communication, which should
read. Although my regiment was in the Sec
| ond Corps"
William Duncan, Captain, Co. d, 18th U. s.
G. T., CarbOndale, Kan, says that Capt Ben
singer. 18th u. s. @. T., is mistaken regarding
the eolored troops at Nashville, as there were
two brigades, one commanded by Col. Charles
| X. Thompson, composed Of the 18th and 18th
u. S. G. T., and the other of the 14th, 18th and
Tooth U. S. C. T., under Gen. Morgan. The
writer does not know about the fighting of the
other regiments, but the 18th did as good fight
| ing aud stood up to the rack as well as any
troops he saw during the war.
Il. (. Magee. MOntmOrsnci Ind, notices that
when comrades undertake to describe what
did not take place in their immediate presence
| or depend upon Others for information they
generally make mess of it. Comrades should
| be careful to state only facts. In this connsc
tiOn he calls attention TO Sherman's Memoirs
| Book 2, page $50, where he attributed the
capture of a certain Gen. Young to the forces
under Gen. Corse at AllatOOna on Oct 5, 1864
The writer Is sure the General is mistak en-
| and asks that comrades of the Lightning
Brigade" especially members Of the 4th u. s
| Cav, tell who really did it, and when il wa.
done. For evidence contrary to the Generals
statement, he refers to the history Of the I'D
Ind, page 4O6.
GrouIs.
A. ]. Norman, Logan, Iowa, says the Pension
Office will tell you that you do not need an
attorney; that you will be assisted with youI
claim by the Bureau, and not hindered. The
writer knows Of an instance where q comrade