The National tribune., 1892-03-03

Of be spcslys Tic is al present Surgeon OF the
National Military Home Montgomery Co..
Ohio. We have his permission 10 send yon
copy 81 The lcttcr.-N. ~. LATERGNE, Day
ton, @,
HrADorA rrERs 10Th W. Va.
AIPoNATToN CoURTHousE VA,
Aprii l6, 1860.
DEAR FrIgNns: We have just returned from
an expedition 90 lvnchburg, and are resting
for "a lrW l.Uufa Ht this most insignificant OF
Virginia coantry towns, hut town which wlll
live boo i.," history connected with tho sur
render ni thr remnant OF the great rebel army
OF Northern Virginia. Since this campaign be-
gan great md glorious victories have followed
each uthrr in such rapid succession, that here
IN the lbrafrr OF action we are lost IN amaze
ment 80 The overwhelming defeat that has been
the fata al Tie enemy st every point; and we
can hui ia ze the hero whose master mind
PLANNED and controlled every movement OF this
greatest afd most successful military comhlna-
tion o. modern times. j viii give you some
idea Of Che part played by our command IN the
movements
We crossed to tho south side Of the
James and was thrown ON our lines near
Hatchcr's Eun in time 10 take part IN
the skirmi-h of March 81 and April ], IN
which the l0th 18th, and 18th w. Va. Reel.
ments, com osing Gen. liarrs's Brigade, sui
fered severely. They charged and captured
every skirni-h line the enemy threw out, and
took positions so close 10 the rebel forts rs 10
completely silence every gun by picking of the
gunncrs. The 10Th W. VA held q skirmish-
line ncrc a,.n but with very little lass
On sunday morning, April D everything had
been arranged 10 charge simultaneously every
position along their lines. Al the given signal,
in our Front inc, Gen. Harris, with bis Virginia
Brigade. dashed on the dOuble-uuick for their
stronghold, Init before he had ueared 10 they
had hoistea The white Gag, and most Of the gar
Tis0n escaped. Ourwhole command then moved
rapidly inside of thcir line Of works toward
Petersburg and when within two miles OF that
place were greeted with storm Of shot and
shell that convinced them the work was not yet
finished lut b. was discovered that they had
q line of strong forts which ID was Immediately
arranged & the Twenty fourth Corps should
charge Tie Lieutenant General was on the
field and directed the movements IN person.
ln the published correspondence this division
has been Cutirciv ignored. from the fac, that
the writers Ucro paid correspondents attached
% other commands. Fort Gregg, which WAS
the strongest rebel work on the Petersburg de-
fenSe5, which was the key 10 the city, and was
manned hy 800 selected men, whose iustruc-
lions were q hold IL al at hazards; the capture
81 which n i Gen. Gibbons says In General Or
ders entities those who charged 10 10 place
by the side 20 the heroes Of It, Fisher"
The iori was FIRST entered by the Second Bri-
pa1e, and ts gallant leader Col Curtis was the
frst brigade commander in the woi Ks, aud the
surrender was made 20 him. This was the first
time titl5 Criuale-cOmpOsed OF the 18th W, Va
54th Pa .u3 pa III. Col Mulligans old reg-
mentl-W called into action during the fight
and The manner IN which they acquitted them
selves entities them 20 everlasting honor The
fort was charged from two directions, the Sec
ond Brigade forming the second line Of battle
on the part charged by them. The first line OF
battle WIS q brigade from the First Division Of
this CORPS. Which behaved uoby al vauciug to
the very ditch of the fort: but the firing was so
terrible and destructive they lay down IN the
ditch. The command was now given FOR the
Second Brigade 10 charge ia support and with
yell, like rrapprs they went 10 tho harvest
o. death over ground already thiczly stTewn
with The dead 81 the brigade which preceded
them, through storm Of grape and canister
that &. n.eH Die heart oi every observer 10 stand
still be- feat i5r the fate oil the brave men who
undauntCdly dashed onward while
Cannon iu front 81 Them.
GafU8u 90 the left 81 tirrn,
Canon 90 The right 81 them,
Au4rVcd end numbered
So desperate indeed was The undertaking that
the General commanding, concluding, perhaps,
the work mmcguable 10 assault with The force
engaged ordered the column 10 halt
This lammand reached Col. Curtis In the
heat o. ,iae charge while on horseback He was
Ralopig back and forth, encouraging his men:
but he taIuE Hg The fort could 10 taken. made
little effort 30 halt the column, new determined
on going taTUugh, and they dashed onward.
When they reached the parapet OF the fort ID
was found 20 difficult % ascend, that temp0.
Tnry halt was made Tor the men 10 breathe.
They Ue.g now under the enemys cannon
were subject only TO a fire Of musketry from
the garrison, which they returned with ggOr.
A. few moments and they began the difficult
and portions task Of climbing the parapet. and
in this way sHlayul the true hor0ism Of brave
men. a Haaa-iO-hand conflict eusued. Our
men iu asc udUg could not use their guns. and
Dr. some instances threw pebbles aud sand into
tie faces 0i Tho enemy 10 blind them Serge
Adams. o. q %. l), tOlOr-bcaTcr II the 10Th W
Va, hfu already fallen, severely wounded and
OOrpl Logst0u, 20. q, seized the co.ors aud clam.
bering mp lHe parapci amid the ringing shouts
OF his comrades planted tho old tattcred ban.
ner-thc tr-. upon tie rebel strOughold-but
was almu instantly shot dead.
Tho colgrs were caught and held in fhell
place now by Lieut. Mont. Curtis, acting STAFF
officer, vino lad gone into the charge IN Tn,
front rank Of the regiment and brandishinr
bis sword. chcOrcd the men onward He es
capped Uuhurf, bot with two bal ct holes tbroupl
his cou' Do wos at this juuc'ure the brav,
Lieut. Caldwell, Co. &. IN advance Of his men
EprauG ofnT l1 parHPcl into the fort and wa
bayoncira % death before his men could shield
him. Tie .oldicrs "a gap being now made
poured ln from every direction, aud after ,
Short hrudt5 hand conflict within the fort h
wat surrendered 10 Col Curtis, commapdin.
the Second y gade, who was amungthe Grst I,
enter
How acr9or tely the rebels fought 10 rcnuls.
The attack tlr.r SO killed out Of a garrison o
500 hghiira % "a fort iH an action of less tbal
two hourt duration, bears fearful testimony
and tha' .l- uas iaeir only hope Of even Ten.
pOrarIly cHrcl.IHg Grant Is movements Is eyidcu
from tic flg bat Gen. Leo Immediately Tic
PHphcd Davis that Richmond aud Peter
burg must b. Cgacualrd" The loss OF Tie III
w. Va. Iu iIf.s short action was 10 killed au
ig wounded
Where Glib behaved with such disliuruishc
Ealiauiy q would be- ui nst 10 mention indi
Nidua. cHs.s in the absence Of field officer
the f.flul.It Was Jed la the charge Jy Capl
brlaiur Uf Co h Who was decidedly the brag
Get 81 ihe brave" Hnu here, As cvCryMher
else, was DOB .lp ihlClesl 81 the fight Lieu
John bric-1 Acting Aejuiant, noted lor couI
age and DASH. received q painfui but not dan
EerOuE WGuad .u The wrist.
hftCr the }Urrrd evacuation Of pefrreh,r
Use began OTIS retreat towards Iynrlbnr,
We followed ulm lcisurely uutn the stb !
April, wien We iound q necessary for on
corp, iaen ai Fafmy.lle, % mako a force
march % support the cavalry which WAS en-
ocav0ring 10 cat Oh l5ees retreat Hg marrhe
during the day aud night - miles, aud wen
into camp at midnight, 90 start again afte
three hours rCst AZ daylight tho thunde
OF cannon began 10 be heard la our front. tn