The National tribune., 1891-08-13
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Wisconsin Comrade Tells How the eth Mic
Captured Fort Malone

Captured Fort Malone.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: | have been
much amused by the controversy going on in
your valuable paper Of late between different
comrades concerning the last fight az Peters
burg, April ., ls6j, and think COmrade Buck
has come the nearest the truth and justice Of
any; but there are some points he does not
hit, and as Lieut.. Campbell and others have
claimed the honor Of leading the attack on
Fort Malone, and being the first in the works,
and planting the first flag, etc, beg leave to
give my version Of that action.
In the first place, the rebel works around
Petersburg commenced on tho Appomattox
River, on the right, and extended in half
circle around, toward sundOwn, on the left, and
were over II miles in extent. The attack was
made by the Ninth Corps (Parko's) on the
right; then the Sixth Corps (Wriehts). then the
Second (iianc0ek's), the Fifth tWarTen's), then
the cavalry lSheridan), on the left; so the 9th
Mich nor any other regiment, did not do all
the fighting. The 9th Mich. belonged to the
First Brigade, First Division. Ninth Corps, the
other regiments being tho Sth Mich, 37th and
3Sth Wis, 5lst Pa, 10th n. Y, and Col. Sam
Hartman, Of the 37th Wis, commanded the
| brigade and that is how il came 20 DO called
Harriman's Brigade. Col. Bintli1, Of the 3sth
Wis, was in command Of the Third Brigade, and
Lieut-Cul. Pier. of the 3sth, was in command
of the Tooth n. Y.
NNAs A''AA4Ahs ANiA hAiik AuAN - AuohNlIbhb Wa
to be made and that his regiment the 35th,
was to take part, and being anxious that it
should acquit itself creditably asked and OBJ
tanned leave TO 70 aud lead it in the assault.
The 3Sth was silently moved out Of camp
about 3 o'clock in the morning Of April .. and
moved about a mile 10 the left behind the
works TO the left of Fort Sedgwick known as
Fort Held, where we found the 37th Wis, Sth
and 9th Mich. aud the lO9th n. Y, who had
preceded US. Tho point to be attacked was
Fort Malone, directly opposite and which our
boys had christencd " Fort DamnatOu." Col.
Hartman, in preparing for the attack ordered
the 9th Mich. 10 form In front and lead the
attack. Their Colonel (Waite) ordered his regi-
ment TO fall in, but not a man would move. Their
officers ordered, eXhOrted, threatened, aud even
| tried TO force their men TO fall in, but not a
man would move. Finally, Col. Hartman be-
coming discouraged, turned TO Col. Bintlin and
said: Colonel will your regiment leadf"
think they viii, SIR" the chivalric Colo
mel replied: "3sth, fall in, was the command
and in less time than it takes to tel it every
man was in his place, and thus the assaulting
column was formed; the 3Sth in front, the 9Th
Mich. about 10 rods in rear, aud 109th ", Y
about the same distance in rear Of the Sth
| Then the 9th Mich. aud 9th Wis were ordered
TO remain where they we're until the assaulting
column should carry and hold the fort, when
they were 70 move out and oblique TO the right
aud carry portion Of the works to the right
/ Of the fort.
Col. Hartman, after making all these prepa,
/ rations, turned tho command Of the assault
| over 10 Col. Bintlff. who turned the immedi.
/ ato command OF the 3Sth over 10 Mai. Roberts
| but led the attack in person at the head Of his
regiment. The leading regiment having &c
clear It's way through the euemy's abatis and
/ chevauX-de-frise. Of course were somewhat re
| tarded in their movements, aud those follow
/ ing gained on them, so that the three regiment,
/ were over the works almost together, with the
/ 3sth little ahead; aud as the 3Sth had NJ
colOrs, the 9Th Mich. was the first 10 PLAN
their colors on the captured fort, followed i'm
mediately by the 109th y. Y.
| After the fort had been carried the 27tl
Mich. and 9th Wis. according 10 orders
moved out and obliqued TO the right. aud car
Tied a portion Of the works tothe right; anC
after awhile Il cannot say how long, the color
bearer Of the eth Mich. came over the paTape
OF the captured fort with his cOlors still en-
cased. Lieutenant Of the 35th asked hin
why lie did not plant his colOrs. He rcplieC
that the 3oth being the first in the fort, tina
/ honor belonged % them. But Mai Roberts
Z coming up ~ this time and requesting him 4
| raise his cOlors, he proceeded TO do 50. This i
4 the manner in which tae 9th Mich. captured
| Fort Mahone-N. J. MARBLE, Private, Co. K
Beth Wis, Friendship, Wis.