The National tribune., 1892-02-11

pccIally when d appears ia journal 50 IN
lucutial and c1usDicuOusy loyal 10 the GAR
as is TIT national TElBUSE.
he writer was 40 Fort Gregg, and so cir
cumstHnCed as % see the whole Of that mag
nIaceut display oi military attack aud defense.
Ho was ou detailed duty that day as clerk 10
the Acting Assistant Acknowledgement OF the
Fourth Brigade, First Division, Twenty fourth
Corps Lieut. Jos. T. Palmer, jr. lie stood by
lHe side 81 that officer, portfolio in hand,
Through all that cvcuttul forenoon, aud can
testify from personal knowledge
First Of all, then, who made tho initial
charge upCD Fort Gregg Undoubtedly the
First Division of the Twenty fourth Corps.
They charged like heroes bound 10 win. or,
name would pluck one little leaf from their
wel-w0n wreath of fame. Yet, history de-
mauds the truth aud all Of the truth. The
First Division reached tie ditch aud there il
paused, checked ~ the awful Ere poured forth
by the enemy. Down around the Fort they
sprcad themselves loyal line OF blue, with a
back ground from tHciT own rides Of bclching
iITe and smoke. Then il was that an order
came to the headquarters Of the Fourth Bril-
gude 10 assist ia the attack. For this purpose
Col. III. :. FgircHld, Of the s9th n. J., com
iuanding the brigade, detailed two regiments,
his own lthe ssh N. " aud the lJ-th
n. u, 10 do the work, holding his ether three
regiments IN reserve. Tie writer saw that
charge also. The range was poiut-blanS
throughout. Before they went 100 yards Maj.
/ ircmaine, commanding the b9ih y. Y, fell
MORALLY wounded aud almost al the same in
slant Lieut.. Ed. Riley Acting Adjutaut Of the
! l51th \. Y, met the same fate.
These regiments reached the ditch. and
minglinE their strength aud enthusiasm with
the men Of the First Division, the day was won,
and the last stronghold Of Petersburg was
covered with the Stars aud Stripes
So much for Fort Gregg As tie writer saw IL.
But one or two errors remain TO be corrected.
! The Fourth Brigade. aforementioned, consisted
Of five regiments. They were as follows: The
/ l5-th, the ll-th, aud the 18th n. y, the 10Th
/ Pa, aud the sth Ne.
Al the battle Of Fort Gregg, Col. Fairchild,
/ Of the sJth n. y, was not with his regiment.
1 lie was in command Of the Fourth Brigade.
Il The -JJh n Y WIS that day commanded 10y
1 Maj. Iromaiue. lie was killed, but Col Fair
. child was not even wounded, aud still lives in
The City Of Rochester y. Y.
In your issue OF Feb &c you state, over
/ Editors signature that Mai. Trcmaine, Of s9th
was killed near Fredericksburg, April 2 1865
lie was killed on Sunday morning "a Of April
1863 but in front Of Fort Gregg. Petersburg.
The Lieut.. Palmer dr., referred 10 above wai
one Of the handsomest aud braycst young oil
GERS IN the army lie came home brcycttca fol
mentorioua service, a Major Of u. :. volunteers
and now lives IN the City Of Brooklyn, holdini
an honorable ana lucrative position in civil liG
under another magnificent man aud soldier
Col. Fairchild's Immediate predecessor in com
mand Of that fighting Fourth Brigade, Fis
Division, Twenty fourth Corps, Breyet Brig.
Gen. james J0urdan
These comrades can furnish all the facts con
corning Fort Gregg; for they, aud the mel
whom they trained % be soldiers, got there
covered with glory and blood.-Rcy. j. DUD
LEY FERGUSON, CX private, l55th y. Y. SCOTS
willie, N. y.