The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-01

y Nov. 10. in Ticket SnotS, IN reply tt
Serg't Carney, states that 1t was lm'
possibe for any q as, even Col. Shaw with his
nolored troops. o. the 9Th Conn, 10 enter Fort
Wagner July j, 1853. Scrg't Miller must be
badly mudcltd-
In the first place, the eth Conn. was in the
charge on the li,i. Of July, but not on the 18th
1t was the 9th Conn. (Col. John l.. ChatiieIdl :,
which had tic le:ti of the right; tke 5ith Mass
(colorcd} Col Shaw. the center. and the .jd \.
n. Iieut.. Col. Bgtel, had the lead of the left.
Other regiments followed in their urdcr IN
close column by company, all under CON mand
of Gen. Strong with ai.-Geu. Q. A. Gilmore
as DEPARTMENT Commander, with headquarters
on Folly Island.
/ can prove " hat / state by men who are
living aud by n u h0 were INSIDE the tort that
night and also tv the reports of tie rebels.
and claim thai | KNOW about much as any
living man ofthat uUwritten history o: what mad
hapnened inside 90 Fort Wagner on that terrible
might OF July is Ioj3, from the time we entered
the fort about dusk and the hour Of l o'clock
in the morning; ;iia exact time when that small
band Of 90 men. including some OF the braycst
non couun issionoi officers, aud five com
missioned officers, including myself were
captured inside the southeast salient OF the
fort-taken al the Point OF tue hayOaet: by
the bows OF the 9th Conn: taken. ALTER Ge.enu-
ing their uusitiGa t.}i all ammunition Was goae.
even that which was taken from the dead and
the wounded, Gere,I;ng two distinct attacks
made by the reitcls TO drive out, and IA
which they lost Cap. Ryan, killed, Nj David
Ramsey mor;ally and LieuLCol. Sinpkins
severely wounded besides other casualtes ard
the capture of Cap;. Mcdonald by The boys
of the 9th Conn.
1t was I who seat little plucky Irish Mac
ESQ called by the boys, of Co. q, 9th Conn,
now living in New Britain, Conn, with the
captured officer, about IL o'clock that night,
int 1fnn nd 4 SAY
TO deliver the prisoner at headquarters. and
tell the General TO forward TeiBfoTcements at
once, as we could, with assistance, hold the
fort till daylight, as the rebels were ready to
leave the island. We were so informed by
Lieut-Cnl. Bcdel, Of the Sd X. H., who was
captured ia the early part of the charge, while
leading his regiment, and being taken into
their bomb proof.
The prisoner was delivered safely in our line.
but the achievements did net come. We bad
the fort in our hands, and blame Gen. Gilmore
for our failure TO keep it, and wrote him 50
after the war. By sending him II pages Of
legal cap closely written matter, giving bin
description; hut it looked as ii he didn't like
my pointing ont TO him his blunder, as he
never made any reply.
He was also invited to the dedication Of the
monument t0 our Colonel ia Waterbury, who
died of wounds received while standing close
to me inside the southeast salient OF tue fort
with one hand resting on = large swivel gun
standing about the center Of the salient, giving
directions. Bat tic General id not make his
appearance at the dedication. He was then
living IN New York or Brooklyn, and il was
the general impression OF the boys that he was
afraid TO face them. knowing that be had made
blnnder by which we lost about 1,50e men.
The rebels alone buried from 700 TO 500 in
one DITCH. besides the loss OF the fort and un-
tod misery during SIS days for those who
MN fha nf mo-.
starved 70 death.
i have written los pages Of legal cap on this
uRKEittSa history inside OF Fc:t Wagner, and
on the 5SS days OF prison life, with the ipten-
tion Of having it printed aud sent out among
the boys, but on account of shostness in funds
j have delayed il. / have also accounts of
Southern writers, giving q oescT! ptio8 OF Fort
Wagner, July Is, I56S. ] am afraid that an
asking already to much space IL yoar paper, or
else would quote some OF their writings on
the suigeCt, 10 convince ComraGe Miller. when
he stated that no one could enter Fort Wagner
July Is 1868 thu, he was wrong.
Why, Paul Hamilton Eayne, a Southern
writer, speaking about the charge on Fort
WagEeI, july il, 1863. after giving the black
regiment, be calls il. not very Gstteriag
compliment, showing the hatred for the coiored
soldier trying 10 show tie contrast between
the white and colorcd race. SAYS: Then a
grand deed. what tie old Northmen would cali
deed Of Geering-do, was performed by the
ever-dominant Caucasian race. .he thought of
which, as ] ITite, quarter of century after
its occurrence. here ia the tranquil Indian
Summer, makes my heart beat and pulse throb
tEEHltG5sy. Across the narrow and fatal
stretch before the fort, every inch of which
was SWEPT by hurricane of fre-z bosom of
destracfion-ihe 9th Conn, Col. John L. Chat
field, charged with such undauated resolution
HBon the southeast salient that they succeeded,
in the very face OF hell. in capturing it.
Then he goes on and tells how they charged
on Bg. how we killed Capt. Ryan. wounded
Maj. Ramsey from the top Of the bombproof
and magazine. and how fresh troops reached
the island and came around their right and
came IN IN front of US from where we expected
our Teinforcements. All this, which is from a
rebel sonrcr, corresponds with what / wrote
out scne years ago in my pamphlet, written
from memory aud personal observation.
Get. Tallisfero's official dispatch from the
fort 10 Gen. Dcaaregard in Charleston TALES
with my time when In rear OF the fort near
Telliatcro's tent aud was placed in line by an
officer ou the right. ] ran along the line and
counted 81 zen AID Eve officers, and on return
ing along the line / cautioned every man in
ease OF an examination TO keep mum in regard
70 our forces and strength ] consulted, by
ibe aid OF Il ight from the large tent nav watch.
aud IT Was ass O'Clock a. IA, and Gen. Tallia-
5ero's dispatch is also dated o'clock, saying
lie Yankees have surrendered"
From that date TO March i, 1865 call the
most miserable part OF my life, say nothing
about The silent suffering during the last 81
years from the result OF prison life. People
Say yon tnust forget and forgive. and don't
know IL ] can do either, bat do know that
can't forget. Now. if COmrade Miller wants
any more proof as to being inside the fort /
can furnish it, Before close 1 will say that
would more than be pleased to hear from any
cemraGe living v he had a hand in that nights
scrimmase, and especially of tall Sergeant Of
the lV9th y. y. whose name nor company do
not remember. aud who so bravely, fesrlessiy,
and Jointly with Serg't Wunck (starved), Corp'l
Schrof, Ridden, Irish Mac, and number Of
Others followed my instructions and silcaced
that sally OEt gun that swept the moat filed
with cur dead aud wounded.-RUDoLPH kcsT,
Lieutenant, ca. II, 9th Conn, No. Is Ann
streel, Bridgeport, Conn.
Thu SECOND CORDS