The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-31

F 5ssss i 4 r. y sss CT + +
X sSsseeyf fHW n, the mines, on the rail.
SMSS4@5SSNN 4-z2HS roads, on the prairies
NNss--<f ( >\A8gs.7 on the water, and in
III q l-:1z9 every place where en-
HEf9 J[T1E/ HLS ergy, enterprise and
H. A. ~ Nh push ere required
y IS III XS%3lfN You will still find men
IN HkHH' k1F51HH of a. ]. Smiths COM
LIZ ID ING mand pushing forward,
~ 4.Lsssx7S forging ahead. and al
X@~A.1zzz s :s1'ss sr. s:'r as..,' .:s
- there" as was their
- -sA-A-=i-A-@ won't in 63. Ca and 60.
Many eyes are growing dim. many hrows are
growing wrinkled and old, many hearts are
sore: but still they falter not but in
the battle Of life, as in the battles for
their country. they press on and on, deter
mined, unless they fall, TO reach the goal of
victory, and as comrade after comrade. either
from age or exhaustion, drops from the ranks,
they still close up and still push on to the end.
So, doing our duty ever and always. we accept
the situation. and. as Comrade Tinker remarks,
we lay no claim TO having done any marching
or fighting suffering for our country, but
rest satisfied with a consciousness of duty well
done, which we know is reward enough where
only self is concerned.
But when our children, perchance our
the great war, We answer with pride we were
of a. J. Smiths Corps; we turn to history TO
show the record of the gallantry of that corps
and what do we find? In many instances
nothing, in many more worse than nothing
misrepresentation or Justification; for proof of
which look on page 673 Of Prof. {. NJ. New
mans Encyclopedia of American History and
Biography. and read his version of the
capture Of Fort De Russey. his information
having been obtained, in all probability. from
the official records. as would in no case &C.
cuse the learned Professor of wilful falsiGca-
ton.
Bat read tho number-here it is in full:
"1S6i, March l4th.-Ban&s's part of the Red
River expedition was at last ready, and on the
10th of March left Eicksburg for Shreveport.
On the approach of the fleet to Fort De Russey
Taylor determined 10 attack the land force be-
fore aid could come to IL. Accordingly on the
Hath Of March lie moved out of his intrench-
ments to attack the Federal rear Gen. Frank
lin, the Federal commander. seized the oppor-
tunity, refused battle, and slipped into Taylors
lntrenchmcHts, capturing large amount of
munitions Of war and ordnance stores, and
over 800 prisoners. Meanwhile the feet passed
by uumolested. and on the following day seized
Alexandra, $50 miles up the river"
Comrades how is that for history? The idea
that Bankss forces under Franklin left Vicks-
burg on the 10th Of March captured Fort De
unmoiesied to Alexandria, will certainly be
news To the brave boys of the navy as well as
the "web-foot" infantry of a. j. Smiths com
mand
Boys Of the navy! Wake up; speak up. and
tell Us OF the gallant part you took in the re-
duction Of For; De Russey and the land forces
OF the Sixteenth Corps viii confirm your truth
ful statements: for well do we remember your
heavy caanOnading. and the fierce replies from
the leayy guns OF the fort, while we were
making investment for the assault.
Dick Taylor Offering Gen. Franklin battle
and being refused. is good one: Gen. Franklin
nor his forces not being within a hundred miles
Of Fort DE Russey on the 14th of March, 1864.
But camp rumor did say at the time that
about one week after we captured the fort Gen.
franklin did approach it. lombard and cap
ture it, but the writer always considered this
rs only camp rUmor until the above account
was read in Professor Newman's history But
still it must be camp rumor, for surely Gen.
Franklin would not assault lombard and cap
fure an empty fort for the simple purpose of
filling out page of history.
But now permit me to give the actual facts
ot the case, as ] was present and participated in
the whole transaction. On Sunday March b.
1864. the Sixteenth Corps, under Gen. A. J.
Smith, landed a; Simsport, on the Atchafalaya
b miles from Fort DE Russey. and sent out
force to reconnoiter. The writer was with this
formed line Of battle and advanced forward to
some slight rebel works; found them aban-
dobed, seemingly in great haste, as we found
their cCrnhread, cGrumeal. skillets and other
camp courage scattered around in great con-
fusion. Here the opposite OF what Professor
Newman records happened. We offered Dick
Taylor battle and he refused our offer but be-
gan movements at once to get behind the works
1t Fort DE Eussey ahead of u.s. To prevent
this we returned Immediately to Simsport,
cooked our supplies. packed up and silently
moved OUT on the shortest road TO Fort De
Russey, some five or six miles thus getting the
start Of the enemy.
On Monday morning, March II, having
breakfas,cd on bareback and coffee we moved
out rapidly az daylight bound for Fort De Rus.
sey. Gen. Dick Taylor's forces were on a par
ailel road, making all speed for the same point
Now commenced one Of those rapid, long and
tenacious, as well successful, marches for
which D. J. Smiths command was noted, and in
consequence Of which they were often called
the Moring Reserve" All day, with the
most perseYering efforts, both columns moved
pcrsistentiy for the common goal. cloud of
dust denoted TO each column, Union and rebel
the progress the other was making but our
forces having the inside track finally distanced
their competitors arriving at the fort frst az
Rbout o'clock o. m
With his usual promptness Gen. Smith began
the investment at once The garrison of the
fort a. first misto0k our forces for Walkers
Division, q Iaylor's army, as they were look
ing every moment for this division TO arrive
and assist in defending the fort But they
were very soon rndeceivea. Gen Smith, with
the able assistance of Gen. Mower, Col. Shaw.
and other equally energetic officers, soon had
the Investment complete
MeAnwhite the garrison had discovered the
true character OF their approaching visitors.
and opened with a tremendous cannonadinp
from the fort with artillery, some Of which had
been captured from Union gunboats the wear
before. All this time the gunboats were hound
ing away on the river front of the fort, which
was covered with railroad iron, so placed as to
cause the shot and shell from our boats TO spiu
up perpendicu .arly in the air 10 great hight
As soon rs tie investment was mplete a
general ud vance WAS ordered and amid a per
feet storm OF shot and shell and OF mUsket- balls
the whole line closed in on the doomed fort
and when near enough rushed in AT a double
quick. capturing the complete outfit Of men,
munitions and all.
Now, rs this was all done by the Sixteenth
Corps, where does Gen. Franklin come in as re-
corded in the learned Professors encyclopedia?
is II n fact as reported in our CAMP az the time)
that about week after we captured the fort
Ger. Franklin did approach the place, did
lombard and capture Fort DE Russey. or is il
all a mistake? But lift is all a mistake. where
did Prot. Newman obtain the data for the arti-
Gle in has encyclopaedia?