St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-15
MAI. JOHN ID. BLACKS GRUESOME
ENTERTAINMENT OF THE
LOYAL LEGION.
TALE OF THE BLOODY ANGLE
RELATED BY ONE OF THE SURVIV-
oRs AMONG OTHERS WHO
WE'RE THERE.
CARNAGE THAT COST MANY ME-
ytfS
Thousands of the Best Blood in Both
Armies Going Down In Line
of Hattie.

The companions Of the Loyal Legion gath
cred in large numbers last night at the Ryan
hotel, where, after partaking Of their Gus
| tomary supper. they enjoyed listening to one
OF the most interesting papers read before
the commandery in some time, Maj. John d.
Black, of Valley City, N. D.. the author. re-
lating "Reminiscences of the Bloody Angle"
| Maj Black described in graphic language the
dramatic and thrilling incidents Of what is
| conceded to have been the bloodiest battle Of
the civil war. The paper was replete with
interesting details and personal experiences
of the author that greatly enhanced the ac-
count. The fact that Maj. Blacks regiment
was part of the brigade commanded by
Gen. John f. Brooke, who was then o col
onel, rendered the story doubly interesting
to the companions
At the outset Maj. Black explained the or
ganization of the Union forces in the Vir-
ginia campaign Of 1864, as follows:
"The campaign of 1854 opened with the
Second and Third corps consolidated. The
nrst DIVISION, under command Of Brig. Gen.
Francis G. Barlow, and the second, under
Brig. Gen. John Gibbon. were composed of the
old Second corps, and the mournful thought
comes to me that only within the past few
weeks these two gallant soldiers have passed
away. Brave among the bravest honorable
beyond reproach. their heroism in many of
the blood!est battles of the war had won for
them not only the love and esteem of the
men under their command, but the admira-
ton and commendatien of their. superiors.
The third and fourth divisions, under the
name OF the Second corps, were commBlded
by Winfield Scott Hancock. The first divis-
ion retained its old organization of four
brtgades commanded , respectively by Col.
Nelson A. Miles. Col. Thomas A. Smyth, Col
Hiram L. Brown, and last, but not least,
colonel whom We in this commandery, de-
light to honor now as Gen. John r. Brooke"
Maj. Black then proceeded to describe the
battle Of Spottsylvania court house. The
night march over unknown ground was de-
tailed and the subsequent capture of the
Confederate works by the first division, with
over 1000 prisoners, among them Mai. Gen.
Edward Johnston and Brig. Gen. George H.
Stewart. Gen. Robert e. Lee narrowly es-
capped. Maj. Black pictured the awful scene
of carnage that followed the capture of the
works.
tNow 1t was Lees, turn, and he did here
what he did at Gettysburg-attempted the
impossible. For Hancock's veterans were
there to meet him, as they did on that memoir
able Sd day Of July, 1863. Then was seen
the wisdom Of Barlow's formation. for we
had men enough in the captured works to re-
pulse any attack that might be made against
them. Five times within ten hours did Lee
hurl masses Of troops on our front, but each
| time they were repulsed with great slaughter.
Often the breastworks only were between the
contending lines, and the men on either side
would push the muzzles Of their guns over
the works and fire directly in the faces of
each other, until the dead actually blocked
the way Only at midnight did Lee cease to
hurl his gray masses on Hancock's front,
and su1lenly retire into his lines. And when
| morning came, and we looked out over the
works, we saw what was seen nowhere else
during the war-men lying, six and eight feet
deep, almost to the top Of the works, and
sloping back, hiding the earth from sight
ten to fifteen rods. The captured guns were
literally covered with the enemy's dead. There
was not tree nor bush which was not cut
by the flying missiles. Red oak twenty-five
inches in diameter was cut down by mimic
balls alone"
Among: the interesting personal reminis-
| cences Maj. Black told Of the meeting of Gen.
Hancock and his distinguished Confederate
prisoners, Gen. Johnston and Stewart. '"They
were brought UP to Gen. Hancock,
| who. in that courtly manner Of fiis,
extended his hand to his old COM
| rade and exclaimed: Gen. Johnston, I am
glad to see you.' Gen. Johnston took his
hand and with tears coursing down his face
death to me- With kindly smile Gen. Han
cock answered. This is the fata Of war; gen.
| eral and you must not forget that you are a
| soldier He then turned and as cordially Of
fered his hand to Gen. Stewart, who drew
| back and remarked, Under existing circum-
stances, sir, cannot take your hand Quick
| ly came that soldierIy bearing and manner
that had won for Hancock the title Of su-
perb, and as quickly the retort, Under any
other circumstances sir, 1t would not have
| been offered " ,c.t-e
| Maj. Black pointed out that 1t was that
| days work that won for Col. Miles and
Col. Brooke their promotion to the rank of
brigadier generals.
In conclusion Maj Black said that he had
| in his possession a relic of the battle that
| he would take pleasure in showing to the
companions. 1t was tho headquarters flag
Of the First division, Second army corps, that
| followed Gen. Barlow through the Wilder
! ness, and under whose folds went down
| from the 5th day of May to the 1st day Of No
vember, 1925 officers and men in killed and
wounded and taken prisoners.
AS the flag was held up to view the COM
pany cheered it Justify. When Maj. Black
had concluded his paper, vote Of thanks
was extended to him, and in speaking upon
the motion, Gen. Brooke said that, like Maj.
Black, the general held the honor of hav-
ing belonged to that famous command, price
less. He paid feeling tribute to the bravery
Of the Second corps. and eugolized Gen. Han
cock and his brother officers
Col. John H. Keatley made a short and ap-
prcpriate speech, and Gen. E. c. Mason, who
was also in the carnage at the Bloody Angle"
related few personal "reminiscences, vividly
Illustrating that the spaces between bullets
were few and contracted in that fight.
The commandery then adjourned to meet at
the West hotel, in Minneapolis, on the even
ing of May 2. when the annual election of Of
ficers will take place.
At the business meeting of the commandery
prior to the banquet, Edgar NJ. Hoover, of Lit
tie Falls, Mimi, was elected to membership
of the first class, and C. M. Griggs, Of st.
Paul, was elected to membership of the sec
ond class.
Among the guests present were Maj. John
Simpson. U. s. A; Lieut.. Dean. U. S. A.;
William G. Pierce, c. A. Severance, DR.. J. E.
| schadle. DR.. S. G. Cobb, Prof. ]. R. Jewett.
Music was furnished BY ]. F. Merrill. Will
I lam Delafeld and Rukard .Hurd.