The National tribune., 1891-07-16
FORT GREGG AGAIN.
A Pennsylvania Comradc Insists That II was Taken
by O,bOrn's Brigade.


by O>bOTns Brigade.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: For the past
year or more have been reading from time to
time articles from various writers who were at
the capture of Fort Gregg, who make the Rsscr-
ton that their immediate commands are 10 be
credited as being the first 10 charge and capture
the Aforesaid fort. Now TO the numerous
readers Of your valuable paper, and who were
az the capture of Fort Gregg on the % OF April,
1865, but who have not as yet written their
version Of the assault and capture Of Fort
Gregg have no doubt il must cause a smile
10 play over their countcnanccs as they read tho
article by tlai. Stowits, Of the Tooth y. u, and
the various other writers who have made
similar claims for their respective commands.
in the issue Of May s, 1890, Frank Fooio, OF
the isth Miss, gives a graphic account oi
the march of his command from the How
lett House battery opposite the Dutch Gap, on
the James, and by his description of the same
il was nip.and-tucl which would get 10 Peters
burg frst-the troops under Gen. Malone or
the troops led by Gen. John GibbOn, OF the
Twenty fourth Corps Foote claims the capture
Of Fort Gregg by the 10Th W. Va. Naturally
enough for him, as the 18th W. Va. were mostly
Son' hCru men. though loyal 10 the Union, ana,
90 use the uariancc of the court, lie would give
thcm The benefit of tho doubt; but emphatic
ally rriutc all claims that have been made SO
far. with The except ion OF the statement 10y Com
raGc Chick, of the -5th Pa, in the issue Of the
Sih of january. He has given a true version
OF the action at Fort Gregg, and 10 would be
hut a repetition Of the same for me 10 20 into
details, Tor ] would fail 10 improve on las state
meut or 30 IL justice. Comradc Chick has very
rrtcntiyc memory OF the charge aud capture OF
Fort Gregg especially as to where lac makes
mention of Lieut. Sprouts supporting the flag
Of the Both III. on the fort during the action. i
WAS in the trench Immediately under where
Lieut.. Sproul stood on the parapet OF the Tort
like statue OF adamant, after several brave
boys had fallen ia trying 10 keep tire ilag up
while in the trench. Licut-Col. l.. Il. Hughes,
Of the lg3th Pa, was on foot in the trench. and
came around the corner Of tie fort where was
standing against the parapet. ] was shot
through the right elbow, aud was weak from
loss Of blood. lie was trying 10 get dry gun,
or one not shattered.
lie finally procured ono, but had some dill
Guilty 10 obtain cartridges. Ny cartridgc-boX
was struck, while charging upon the fort. ty a
piece OF she'll AID forced around 10 my left side
with such force that thought the shoulder
strap supporting the same was a buzz SAW going
through my neck The Colonel managed 10
ret hs fingers into my box with difficulty, aud
obtained some cartridges, which he was not
slow in using. had 10 step close - Capt.
Murphy whore he fell mortaliy wounded, and
j have recollection Of Lieut.. McMuliCn'a death,
all Of whom Comradc Chicl: makes mention Of ia
his article. Hon. j.. n. Jones the present Post
master Of Scranton, Pa, had his leg shot of
few PAGES from me Ia that memorable charge.
While in the trench "a member Of Go. j, lJ9th
Pa, named Hess, asked il / had seen his
brother. pointed 10 where a cap was floating
on the water and told him that / thought IL
was his brother lying dead under the water
where the cap was. / may possibly be mistaken
in the name
Aud now, as a finale 10 this controversy as TO
who charged and planted their cDlors on Fort
Gregg FIRST, assert that Gen. Grant ordered tic
charge rs distinctly rccollcct Gen. Grant and
stat riding along the line, aud they halted NJ
the edge Of the creek or SWAMP, aud viewed the
action until the forts final surrender Then
they rode OF along the line. The charge aud
capture q Fort Gregg was made rs Comrade
Chick states aud cannot be cOntraliCicd Gen
Grants own statement, in his Memoirs, Vol. II.
page 400 should forever set the issue at rest. II
was captured by the First Brigade, commanded
by Gen. Osborn. Of thc First ID vision. command
ed by Gen. Foster Of the Twcnty-fYurih C0Ips
commanded by Gen. John Gibbon. Col J. C.
Briscoc Of the l9J,h Pa, died &c Park Place,
his brothers residence, New York. think the
year be died was l-67. | think IL strange that
snme cutcrprising cOmradc or artist has not
ere this procured some photographs OF the site
or what remains, Of Fort Gregg. Some artist in
Petersburg could be procured by some one near
~ hand, rs the same has been done ia similar
cases Of various battlcfeds. There are plenty
Of the old vets who participated in the action
az Fort Gregg who would be eager 20 obtain one
Of the same at any price aslcd.--MICHAEL
DUNN, Co. g., lJ9th Pa, Archibald, Ia.