The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-23

W seems 70 be fair and yet it will be
scanned by many eyes. One need not
be surprised at minor inaccuracies
who has ever sought to write continuous mar
rative of any war history. Hence. only indi-
cate IS such the fact that In the charge closing
in upon Vicksburg the 18th Of May. 1863, no
one is credited to the 99th III. wounded.
saw man from this regiment who was near
me get crushed arm by mimic ball on that
day. Ills name at this moment | have for
gotten but il could easily be ascertained. If
the official accounts omit this, " so much worse
for the official account"
do not report the man as the only one pos
sible, but as one that / saw and knew of his
absence afterward for some time on account of
his wound. If none of our brigade First, Ben
ton 81 received hurt on that day they must have
been sngularly fortunate.
Nor will some of us ever believe that it was
about ID minutes later (than the charge of the
Second Brigade, Cars Division, with the gall
LIANT Griffithl that Benton's and Burbridge's
Brigades assaulted their front. Badeau. and the
book called "The Patriotism of Illinois," /
think speak of Bepton's Brigade as being
+" fred by the example of that Second Brigade"
etc, and ] suppose the historian here follows
that beaten track But here again / person
ally saw that magnificent charge (of our Sec
ond Brigadel and personally saw those pris-
oners leap over the fort on our side, which Sergt
Griffith captured; and this WAS after our own
first repulse. Lying on the hillside just under
the rebel line of works, | can never forget the
suspense and intense interest felt as / saw those
boys n blue rush forward. finally coming up to
the fort where Griffith did his heroic deed.
No ! cannot admit that we-at least the first to
go on that front OF ours-were any ID minutes
| behind; instead, we must have been five min
| utes ahead Of all others there. Now, that Sec
! ond Brigade was the kind TO fire up any soldiers
/ BY their daring but ii happened on this occa-
sion that we saw it after the life had been
knocked out of us as attacking party.
Nor do think that Capt. White emulated
Serg't Grifith's action either, for. though it
/ was a little later than our own. first onward
movements ] believe that he went in On his
own account, busy with the foe just before u.s.
1 There was plenty of daring on that day. 1t
/ was Just lying around loose Nobody specially
got il from anyone else This is matter of
! opinion, of course, but what have referred to
| before ] claim to be q matter of fact.
VIII you permit me to say TO the many who
wrote me personally during the time | was
sending you my yanquishing Vicksburg,"
| that / appreciate their kind words, and have
had in mind some of their suggestions. But
| / have been so busy otherwise as to debar some
| of the work desired.
But j think myself / shall never be quite
| satisfied till give another twist at the back
bone" which was broken so many times in
the rebellion. For / believe that it can be
demonstrated judged by effects produced, that
Of all single campaigns, Vicksburg deserves
the credit Of the biggest break in it, though. as
have always held, both Vicksburg and
Gettysburg are to come in for the final crash
of that piece of anatomy. Let me. add tina,
Capt. Stafford. of Batavia. H., lin Logan's Di.
vision in 1853 has recently visited Yicksburg
In conversation, all too brief he yet told
many things of interest, among them that dis
tances did not seem SO great between points as
they did in 63. Naturally! For didn't it take
longer TO get over them then than it would
now?
The coming of the train upon which hat
to go. closed a conversation that it is here my
object to ask. very earnestly. the Captain to con
tinue in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. Come
Comrade s., tell us of that battlemented city
how it looks in these piping days of peace
Thousands will follow your account with inter
ested eyes.
: And give a copy Of that picture you hav'
} of Logan's assault on Fort Hill, for THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE to reproduce.-C. A. HoBBs
99th H.. author of the war poem, Vcksburg,
! and "Vanquishing Nicksburg," ETC., Delavan
: | Wis