The National tribune., 1892-09-15
FOR SIMMONS'S EYE.
A Comrade Takes Exception to Some of His
War History.

Comrade Takes Exception to Some of His
War History.
r BEGAN to read the articles in your
paper contributed by William Simmons
Past Commander National Association
of Naval Veterans, Philadelphia, Pa,
with a deal Of pleasure, but after reading
the second paper June 49,, l stopped.
Here was something that knew about. and
made up my mind that il William Simmons
didn't know any more about the rest Of the
4" Naval Squadrons" than he did about the part
that tho North Atlantic :" took in the Burn
side Expedition, or that he hadn't read up any
better, why, it wasn't any use wasting my
time reading what he had to say.
Then comes the issne of August %, and in
that my friend William Simmons, this time as
Corresponding Secretary, Gulf Squadron Sur
vivors' Association, Philadelphia, Pa, pitches
into another of your correspondents, Mr.. C. d.
Brigham, of Washington, ID. c., because c. d.
b. had referred to Gen. Butler as commanding
the New Orleans expedition. lie says Capt.
d. G. Farragut commanded the expedition, and
| embrace this opportunity of entering my SOL
emn protest against any effort to rob the navy
of any honors to which we are entitled, and
/ sincerely trust that the writers Of war litera-
ture, to whom your columns are open, will
confne themselves to the truth the whole
truth and nothing but the truth"
Shake William them's Just my sentiments.
Now, after reading this latter squib, and
Shaking" with William, I'm just going to
try to show how ignorant, careless, and un-
scrupulous one of the writers of war literature
to whom your columns are open can be and
is; and Pm going for VIM. Simmons, p. c. n.
A. of n. v. In this article of yours of June
16 he says: The expedition entered Pamlico
Sound Jan. 90, 1862, and two days afterward
the troops under Gen. Burnside, were safely
landed. and all the arrangements made for
combined attack on the Confederate defenses."
know the troops didn't land until Feb. Z,
and then on Roanoke Island. He speaks of
&" Burnside's troops under Gems. Foster and
Reno" and does not mention Parke at all.
There's gall in this next quotation: "A de-
tachment of gunboats Of the North Atlantic
Squadron, commanded by Capt. s. c. Rowan,
took possession of New Berne II. c., about the
middle of March, 1862, and captured l3 loaded
vessels"
Well, William, where was Gen. Burnside and
the others-Foster, Reno, and Parke and about
10000 troops-aH this time? We're they looking
on while this detachment Of gunboats took
possession Of New Berne and the "13 loaded
vessels? By the way, there's nothing like
being accurate about those "13" vessels. /
think there was another on the stocks, not quite
| finished.
But the "galliest" of all gall is displayed in
the following statement, quoted exactly:
| State of Georgia, Gcmsbok, and Chippewa
commanded by Capt Samuel Lockwood, capt
ured Fort Macon and other defenses guarding
the entrance to Beaufort, N. c."
Shake" again, William; you are one Of the
writers of war literature, to whom the columns
of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE are open, and Of
| course you will conine yourself to the truth,
| the whole truth and nothing but the TRUTH
| of course you will.
Now the truth is that the four gunboats
named above did not capture Fort Macon or
anything near il.
March %, 1862 Gen. Parke demanded the
surrender Of Fort Macon, which was refused
| by Col. White, commanding the fort. The siege
| Of the fort was undertaken. and on the night
OF April % the batteries OF eight and 10inch
mortafs and the siege guns were in position
| for firing. Shortly after sunrise April 25 the
| firing began. and about o'clock p III. the
| enemy hoisted a white aag and firing ceased,
and on the morning of the 25th at $50 a. M.
the fort and garrison surrendered to Brig. Gen.
JOHN g. Parke.
Here is what Gen. Parke says about the
part the navy took in the bombardment:
Owing to the high wind and rough sea it was
| impracticable to communicate with the block
aiding fleet our intention of opening fire on the
morning of the 25th. AS soon, however as the
commanding officer, Capt. Samuel Lockwood,
! discovered our movements, he brought all his
vessels into action, and for time attracted the
| enemy's attention to such an extent as to
greatly facilitate the officers in charge of the
mortar batteries in correcting their range aud
| length Of fuse; but owing to the extreme
roughness of the sea the feet was compelled to
| withdraw"
And here is what Col M. J. White C. S.
army, commanding Fort Macon, says: "At 6
a. m. Oh the 25th the enemy's land batteries
opened upon tue fort. and at $50 a. m. their
| vessels. consisting of three war steamers and
| one sailing vessel, commenced cross fire with
rifle and ll-inch shell. The fire from both
| directions was Immediately returned aud at 7
q. m. the ships retired, one disabled and two
others in damaged condition"
1t looks to me as If the navy didn't capture
| Fort Macon.
| hope everybody will take heed to the SOL
! emn protes! of my friend William Simmons, of