The National tribune., 1896-08-20
MAI. ROEMER.
The Passing Away of Gallant Old Artil
lerymRn.

Another of the old heroes has been trans
ferred to The great majority on the other s,de
Mai. Jacob Roemer, the commander OF one OF
the most famous batteries in our civil war, died
last week at his home in Flushing. Long Is
land. and was buried on Saturday, July 10.
with all military honors. When his death be-
came known the flag was placed at haif-mast
on all public buildings and the State Armory
of the 27th Separate Company; also on many
private residences. This battery was actively
engaged i'm 81 battles and engagements, ana
fought from Cedar Creek to Nickshurg and
from there to the Tennessee campaign and
crowned itself with glory at the siege oil Knox
vile. At the close of this campaign IL was
ordered North. and Joined the Army of the POI
tomac, under Gen. Grant and fought through
the Wilderness. SpotIsylvania, Cold Harbor,
and Petersburg campaign TO the close oI the
war. On A pril 3. Isis. the last shot was fired
ON that city by Mi. Rormer in person. There
being M res ponse, he ordered no more firing and
en- short time il was discovered that the eon-
tedrrates had evacuated the place.
1t was at the siege OF Knoxville that Roemer
won great honors. Fort Sanders was the Key
to the position held by our forces under zen.
Burnside. Ii was thought impossible TO hoia
the place. and preparations were mare LOT
retreat. Roemer's battery. with Benjamin s.
occupied Fort Sanders, and this was the MAIN
object of Gen. Loncstreet's vigorous attacks,
spike his guns, shoot his horses, and get away
with his men. This order he deliberately re-
fused TO obey, and calling his men around
HIM. announced his intention of holding the
fort to the last man. They replied win
shout. and every man took his place to do or
die. Iougsireet soon charged, but was driven
hack witn terrible loss. Another aud another
followed. and with the same result. During
these charges, so close al times were the conf
t.ta harR ,cmer m OF his shells
TO 10 seconds and rev them over the WORKS 10y
hand among the rebels The carnage WAS ter
ribie hul Roemer aud his heroic hand iougnt
und ismay ed. and. to the surprise oil Zen. Durh-
side. held the position. and there was no re-
treat. In this battle the 18Th n. \. TOOK an
active part. In comrlimenting Roemer zen.
Burnside ordered that the flag which waved
over the tort should be presented to Roemcr.
saying that The man who had SO bravely de-
Tended II should possess IT,"
THIS flag, known as the Knoxville nag, mas
covered the coffin of every member OF The bat
terry that has died since, and last IL covered
the remains OF the hero TO whom IL was
awarded Had he not succeeded he would
have been Conrt-martlaIed for ulsubedience Oh
orders and losing hIs guns
Mai. hoemer WAS wounded seven times, one
of which never healea. The Surgeons de-
mauded that the leg be ampntated. hut he
threatened TO shoot the first one VINO APP
preached with a knife and saw, am officially
sd, ed he leg, bnt it source OF pain and
mIsery at lines and 10 the DAY oi his death
had TO he dressed dairy. He Was possessed OF
great vitality. anu in spite OF wounds aud age,
he managed to get around about as lively as
We'll men. pleasant feature of the lunerai
was the attendance OF Gen. Franz Sigei, under
whose command he fought his first battle AT
Cedar Creek, aud next At The second battle OF
Bull Run, ana whose friendship he had en-
joyed ever since. There are now hut three of
the old field comrades OF the Majors iefi-Gen.
Slgei. Col. Treadwell. and Maj. Curtis Bracket,
the latter OF whom was uuavoidatIy absent.
The funeral was attended 10y Geo. Hunts
man Post, 30 Commander Brown. and y large
delegations rom every Post III Queens County.
New York aud Brooklyn were also represent ed.
The 9th Separate Company. National 6uard
attended in fuli uniform, aud Formed the mr.
ing squad at tue grave. Rev. DIR. smith, Eris-
eopal. oficlaled at the house. aud At The grave
the ritual OF the Grand Army OF the Repu bic
was effectively periormed 10y the officers al the
psf. After the voliey over the grave. lights
out" WAS blown by the bugler of the u. 5.
Army at Willett's Point, and the brave old
hero was lett alone in his glory.