The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-09-10
SPANISH FORT.
What Wisconsin Soldier saw OF the Siege OF No
lille

Of March 10 read with pleasure a story told
by a eomrade OF the Doth H., which occurred
at Spanish Fort, near Mobile, Ala. IL brings
wildly 10 my mind my experience while there.
] belonged TO Co. i, Slh Wis, Second Brigade,
Second Division, Sixteenth Corps The corps
was commanded by Gen. A. y. Smith. the di-
vision by Gen. John Macarthur, the brigade by
Col Hubbard. Of the 9th Mimi, and the sth
Wis by Col. Britton.
Our position, as well as can reeollect it. was
very near the extreme right Of our forces
around Spanish Fort. Tho Sih Wis. was in
front Of the parrot gun on the rebel left
wing in the fort nearest the bay, / think. /
am writing this from memory, aud don't eK-
pect TO narrate all the details for % years plays
havoc with an old soldiers memory, especially
when he is suffering from an injury OF the
spinal column which has ineapacItated him
from manual labor for over Is years, said in
jury being the result Of service for four long
years.
On the Goth of March, 1865, We drove tho
rebel pckets i'm our front inside Of Spania.I
Fort about l p. m. In driving them in what
occurred 20 me happened. Our company was
ordered ont as skirmisheTs. and went forward
over hill in full range OF the rebel sharp
shooters, as well as the batteries. While adj
vancing over this hill / received two bullets
through my blouse, so took shelter behind n
tree. Soon two bullets struck tho tree.
looked around the tree TO sec if could find
ont where they camo from, when two more
came close to my head and grazed he bark on
the tree. BY this time ! had located my enc
my aud fired. Thinking this a too much ex-
posed place, | reloaded and went forward with
yell down the hill aud up the next toward
the fort, being covered by stumps and logs
from the enemy's fire. Others Of my company
were with me, and we advanced on the rebel
pickets or skirmisheTs who ran inside the
fort. ! advanced up 10 the stump where had
seen my rebel friend when he was firing at me-
and where directed my shot, and behind the
tree heard someone Eroan aud say Oh, my
Cod" / crawled around so | could see, and
found a wounded rebel. | asked him il he was
much hurt, and he replied that ho was shot
through the body. and was bleeding internally
lie asked for water, and / put my cantecn on
my gun aud pushed il around 10 him. as did
not think it safe for me on his side Of the
stump, IL being so exposed 10 the fire OF their
sharpshooters
lie took drink. which revived him some
for which he thanked me. Wo exchanged a
few words from our respected side Of the stump
/ say respected, for / tell YOU | respected my
side, the way bullets were flying while the
rain came down in torrents When my rebel
friend again asked for water / repeated the
same operation. By this time nc began to re-
yiye, and asked 10 be taken 10 the rear, where
he could see a Surgeon. ! told him if he was
able TO get 10 my side OF the stump would see
If ] could get him TO the rear. He rolled
around, and got hold % him and got him on
my shoulder the best could, and spread his
white blanket over us both. aud thus we start
ell TO the rear, while the rain kept pouring
down. lie assured me his friends would not
IRE on his blanket as we were going back. We
passed the tree that / was behind when fired
at the rebel behind the stump and he said that
the man who shot him stood behind that tree.
did not tell him was the man. for ut that
moment "A rebel bullet passed through my
friends white blanket, which made him lump
and yell. asked him if lac was hit and he
said no, but thought was
Ii so happened that neither of us were
struck, aud We soon got out Of range. | de-
livered him 10 those who took care Of the
wounded, and he was taken back OH a stretcher
while j returned 10 my post behind the old
stump aud got the Tebs gun aud cartridge. box
He had fixed his gun so that it was OF no fur
Their service. He told me while taking him off
the field that cOmrade who was with him had
left him as soon as he was wounded. and ran
inside Of their fort. which accounted for the
two bullets that went through my blouse.
found IN his cartridge-bOX a small hook Of St.
Johns Gospel, with his name OH the hy-leaE
which was +. b. Watkins, Sergeant, Co. b, LIST
Ala. State militia.
After taking possession OF these articles and
corn-dodger and hunk OF pork from his
haversaek, | moved to the right behind a tree,
where could get "a standing position and not
be exposed to the enemy's fire. and still bo
within good shooting distance of the fort.
stood there and fred whenever the portfolio
was opened. remained there until it was so
dark that could not see 20 shoot, when | was
relieved. My gun got so hot that day that the
rain had no effect OH it, II was perfectly dry
all the time was behind that tree. used up
100 rounds OF ammunition before being re-.
lieved. with what effect could not tell.
In the following month Of August, while
stationed az UniOntOwn, Ala. was walking
around the depot and looking into n box-car
discovered man dressed in a rebel uniform
| opened conversation with him, and learned
that he was there as an agent for corn from
some Of the Counties north, where Gen. Wilson
had raided aud destroyed the crop. learned
from him that he was i'm our front on the skir-
mish- line Al Spanish Fort +. b. Watkins, my
rebel friend, was his partner. He told about
shooting at a Yank behind a tree, and said the
Yank had killed Watkins; that he left him
and took TO the fort for safety. lie also said
that they lost six GunDers that day while fir
ing the gun mentioned by the 18th Ill. man
from the fort.
After he had told me all he knew about the
battle hc said +. Ii. Watkins's parents lived in
his neighbOThOOd, aud they had not heard any
thing contrary TO what no had told them. Then
he told me Watkins had a very nice lady-love
at Selma, who was grieying at his death.
When had heard his story related to him
what knew about Watkins. lie listened with
great interest, and said possibly lac still lives.
lie would report IL 10 his parents and to his
lady at Selma. Right here let me add that
after the surrender Of Spanish Fort / went to
our hospital aud found Watkins. He was so
changed did not know him. His wound was
not SO bad as at first thought, aud tho Hospital
Surgeon said he was out OF danger.
In the month Of September following was
detailed to escort darkey and his wife 10 tho
Ost-Marshal at Selma. and had 10 wait un-
I'll the next day TO return. / made inquiries
about my rebel friends lady-lovo (her name
has gone from my memory. found Where she
lived, and called on her. and told her my story.
She felt pleased To learn that there was hope
that her lover still lived. She entertained mo
handsomely, aud expressed her joy that tho
war was over, complimented me for what had
done for her wOuld-be husband. The feelings
that were aroused between Us / will leave the
reader 10 guess.-G. X. AMEs, PleasOnton, Kan
The sth \. \. Heavy.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Kindly give
a brief history nT IN. 9Th y V II oLo,.;,,