The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-11-24
FIGHTING THEN OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
SPANISH FORT.
Col, Geddss Tells what Troops were FIRST
Inside the Rebel Stronghold.

ish Fart aikc2ma lie says tlIat iucHl-
Der of the l2th Ill.,, who ei>ined TO kuew all
about IL, stated that the 95th iil- Was the frst
regiment that took possession '.f said Fort. By
implication, at least, Comrstie Bowman SAYS
his reein.e,.t. the 18th H.. was the Brst inside
the breast works.
Permit ne TO give yon what ! know to be a
fact. The Third Brigade, bird Division. SIX
teenth CORPS ~ss commando by Col James
T. Gedaes. e7h Iowa. and consisted Of that regi-
ment the slst. losth, ard 12iih III. The posi-
ton of this brigade at the Investment OF Spanish
Fort was on The extreme right. the Sth Iowa
being on the right OF the brigsde, which eccu'
MED sort If valley or wide ravine. AT this
point our Ii e of breastwoiks was about three
or four hrnaf-d yards from Re enemy's niain
line growing less toward the extreme right.
Between Us and their line were parallels, APP
proaches. etr.. protected BIZ formidable chevaux-
de-frise. ans as ne afterwards learned, by tor
pedos.
For several days this brigade had been under
most Calling fire from the eEriuy's gun boats in
the hay W. cii constantly dropped immense
shells right in midst. In lie meantime Col.
Geddes had superintended ihe digging OF an
approach fresn the right OF la; iiae down the
rayines side. istersily. to the foot OF tho hill,
on top of which nss the enemy 8 main line OF
breastworks When the work was discovered it
Of course drew heavy fire: bat the workers
rolled along shove them. As they dug, gablops,
thus in a im~ssEre protecting themselves. |
swice visited this work with Col. Geddes and
Capt Scott. Of the sth Iowa.
Gen. Carr and myself had already visited our
most airsnc-d parallels, running and rolling
from one str1oach to another, drawing quick
and sharp FIRE begged the Gsuersl-to retire,
or st lexst =" lie Low" but 30 was determined
TO take necessary observations, snd did 80 at
the constant risk OF hill life.
On the e.. OF April Col. GadGes gave me-
Al I l. Il. H. lad laA,N
maturing 1t was to place t~o companies of
his regiment in the approach, which had been
dug down TO the very extreme end of it. They
were to lie lew; the besiegips force 10 open a
heavy and determined fire along the whole
line, under cover Of which these two companies
were to dash for the breastworks. supported by
the regiment aud brigade. snd, IS emergency
dictated, hr general assault OF the whole line
Col Gedaes requested me la lay this plan
before Brig. Gen. Eugene &. Carr. command
ing Third Division, on whose STAFF was an
Aid. I did so. Gea. Carr seemed impressed
with IL, but with necessary caution was at first
disinclined 20 favor 10, fearing the sacrifice
might be toe great. At ali e7ents, he sent his
compliments n Col. Geddes hv myself wishing
TO sec him. Col. Geddes returned with me,
laid his plan lrfare the Genera, fully explain
ing it. Gen. Carr was convinced of its FEAST
bility. We rode to Gen. A. J. Smiths head
quarters, snd Gen. Carr convinced that splen-
did, dashiug oil fighter, ard his approval was
given. Theice we went to Gen. Candy, who
also gave his assent and the necessary orders
were issued.
The bon1bardment com meneed promptly at
,. m, ATTii g, 1865, and was terrific. The
two mpaH;.s OF the 9Th lava made the pre-
concerted dash. rot to the breastwcrks. fol-
lowed by the regiment ard brigade cheering
leudly and the assault became general. First
Lieut.. Vineyard, of Co. G, Sih iowa, was the
frat man top the enemys works, his gal
liant boys after him; & boy himself. he led,
did not follow. 4 brave, hsndseme fellow, he
was instantly sbot down, bis dying words,
Don't wal: for me, boys; &c shead!" There
and then he gave up his life, bat the boys went
On, and Spanish Fort was won.
The 9Th issz was frst In the ener1y's works
captured msny guns. stores provisions, etc.
The regiment was under the Immediate COM
mand OF Lie.t-CoL William b. Bell, who acted,
M ever or many hsrd-fongLt felds, with con-
spicuous Judgment and esllsrtry, as did all his
officers and mea. The brigade supported
splendidly, ard With great cheers. splendid
intrepidiiy spd dash showed that they were
etill IKE heroes Of Yickshury and ether cam
psigns. The fsct lie it was hard TO stand up
against A. ]. Smiths command. The old man
and his troSia we're irresistible But let me
give what ST eye witness says:
For nearly an hour the bosabardnent con-
tinued before Col Geddes judged it expedient
60 move, and the sun was just sinking below
the western horizon when the signal to ad-
vance was given. Instantly the men of the
9Th Iowa sprsBg to their feet, and the two CON-
paniee Of gEirmi.hcrg, followed BY tie entire
regiment threw themselves among the fallen
and matted timbers, and urged their way as
rapidly as possible Gcross the mouth of the
ravine. loud shout from the rest Of the d.
vision, as IL tia whole were about to charge
distracted tho attention OF the enemy, while
the bold advance Of the 9Th Iowa seemed to
strike him with dismay. From the extreme
left Of the rebel ride-pits hesvy FIRE was
poured upon our boys It Was just here that
Lieut.. Vineyard, the gallant leader of Co. @,
9Th Iowa, fell dangerously wounded. Some OF
his men halted q moment where he lay. Pay
ne attention 70 me- he said 20 ahead!' The
frightened rebels. seeing the hoys still clamter-
fng over the breastworks, and not knowing
what force there might be behind, threw down
their arms. Three hundred were made pris-
oners he spot Others retTeaied rapidly to-
ward the center Of the fort, and line Of battle
was now formed by the enemy to check the
further advance Of our troops into the fortress.
For more than 300 yards the brave 9Th fought
iu way towards the encmy's center; but it
wss now dark, and in oleIiencs TO orders
the victorious Hswkeyes halted and con-
ftructed line Of rise pits. Over GC0 prisoners
fef into Cur bands besides large quantities of
y.
9Th Iowa should be permitted 10 inscribe on
their banner. First at Spanish Fort"
As q cUDFads who had Eve brothers ia Iowa
regiments. would rather Lose ny right arra
than detract one iots from the xell-non laurels
Of sny colsrace Cr regiment. The writer was
ssoleier in the LIST and G. Iowa from April,
1851. 70 Nay 1866; from Wilson'S Creek, Aug.
20. l6Gl, 10 Spanish Fort, April G, 1865, with
such "iacidentas thrown ia IS Shiloh and
ficksbure. Let me say, therefore that the as
ssult aud capture Of Spanish Fort Was con-
eeived and planned by Col Geddes alone and
sxecuted i.y his regiment primarily, supported
By the 81. Old and dashing Illinois regiments
Of his hri@sae. followed up By Canby's whole
army thea present. 1t would have been q
"cold day Tor this county had the Iowa,
Illinois iia;ana, Wisconsin. and the other
splendid Western troops ever FILTERED. Shoulder
70 shouI1.i taey we've irresasiio.e. aud, IN fact
Ike the iarlrr or the Ten essee Of which they
had been part, never knew defeat!
The wt..l! dCcs not claim i.uch, and seldom
fushes in;' Print, but in justice and truth be
does ave. std declare, from personal knewI
edge, that ihe Sth Iowa as Lie very last Il
leave the freEt OF the line at Shiloh, $50 o. ~
April ., loo2. and the first in Spanish For
April s. IS55.
In reference TO the part the -sth Iowa took a
the latter place. i would refer TO Gen. A. J
Smith, the beloved OF his command 10 Gen
Eugene A. Carr . hero of two great wars anf
many Indi-n campaigns. q poi.hed soldier ant
gentleman TO Maj. Bluford u i;son of Illinois
Assistant Acknowledgement an Csrr'. STAFF VIII,
was present with Col. Geudcs during the as
GnT "a 1t ! 4