The sun., 1897-05-06
GEN. .CURTISANSWERSAMES
HE TELLS THE LOYAL LEGION HIS
STORY OF FORT FISHER.

was Wounded Nearly m Hour Before the
Final Assault Was Nzado and Declares Thnt
Success was lmpossibIs without tho Navy.
Gen. Newton NJ. Curtis Of ORdensburg, N. Y,
1.-THE hero of Fort Fisher" who was attacked bv
Gen. Adclbert Ames Of Massachusetts, in paper
which tho latter read the famous battle
OF Fort Fisher at dinner of tho Loyal
Legion early in February, had an opportu-
nifty to defend himself last night when moro
than 600 members of the Loyal Legion gathered
at Dclmonico's to listen to his version of the
battle. which won for him so much glory and
honor. Con. Curtis told his story of tho battle
in a cold, concise fashion. lie did not
spare Gen. Amos, and when ho had do
mails to mako of statements made by
Gen. Aincs, ho mado them In most emphatic
fashion, The members Of the Loyal Legion woro
decidedly with Gen. Curtis last night They
gave him an ovation when he rose to speak, in
terrupted him dozen times with cheers and
gathered around, shook his hand, and congratu
lated him when he concluded.
1t will be remembered that Gen. Amcs was q
guest Of the Loyal Legion Mt its February ban
quet, invited especially to read a paper on the
battle of Fort Fisher. Rather unexpectedly, he
criticised Gen. Curtis's conduct in the
battle and virtually stated that the Cen
eral had boon wearing honors oil these yesrs that
did not belong to him. He intimatod that Gen.
Curtiss title, "the hero Of Fort Fisher" was
unearned and undeserved. stated that the
famous charge, the leadership Of which history
credits to Gen. Curtis, really led by
Capt. Albert Gallatin Lawrence of his
command, and said that Gen. Curtis far from
engaging in the final assaults which resulted
in the capture of the fort, had been
wounded and rendered unconscious Ave
hours before tho victory. The Loyal Legion
WINS all in uproar over Gen. Amcs's paper,
and there was "A scene when Gen. Curtis rose
and denounced him. referring to him as
" Gen. Ames with his craven heart" When the
excitement had subsidized somewhat 1t was
the same subieet et tbe next 70 banaus On
=, Gen. Amcs was not present last night. Con.
navy and tribute tpt1 to what he f called their
splendid work at Fort Fisher. Gen. Ames at
and told briefly the story Of tho first expedition
his his estimation, he said the fort could have
NY Ssy had landed and made consider;
reported to the committee in charge Of the con;
duct of the, war. Gen. Curtis said; that 1T had
investigation and Gen Butler was upheld.
Gen. Grant sent an officer to me" said Gen.
Curtis. ordering me to appear before him; 1t
Gen. Grant, but declined to do SO. having heard
that Gen. Butler contemplated making charges
against me of disobodienco Of orders in the face
Of the enemy. and not wishing TO be misun.
derstood. went to Gen, Grant when ordered
fort could have been taken by AM an assault. IS i
time. They were: Do you think tho fort could
can be taken now by an ASSAULT / replied in
the affirmative to both. Gen. Grant believed ns 1
did about the matter. and the second expedition
was ordered. 1t was commanded by Gen. Terry.
Gen Ames was to proceed on the Atlantic,
and an he sent word to Capt Gray: her commander
he might have no complaint, two sets OF quar-
tcrs. one on tho upper deck and one in the cabin,
were set aside for him TO choose from. But
Gen. Ames did not appear. and neither did Capt.
Lockwood. although all of the other officers
was seated III in my my qua quarters t when np an pofticer
brought sealed dispatches addressed to the
senior officer on the Atlenic @ to me declined
to Gen. :Amcs for whom they were evidently
meant The officer came back with word that
dispatches and found orders for the Atlantic to
leave at In the morning. We were to proceed
TO Cape Henry, where we were to open our
scaled orders.
AT the proper time we sailed; At breakfast
time ! sent an officer TO invite Gen. Ames
and that he didn't want to disturb him. OF
Capt. Carleton. OF his stan, brought the sealed
orders orders to , me net to declined to the
tnrb the General. j then N. Threatened @ a's, to
he went immediately. He started TO find Gen.
Ames: but In a few minutes came back with
opened the orders. and in accordance with them
% se miIGs off
Ing away without him. 50 that I could
OF this statement and got it. Afterwnrd Gen.
Ames requested Gen. Terry not to give mo any
poS and ss hs not s ns
to be responsible for anything that happened
if l had any command Gen. Terry informed
he had entire confidence in my ability. and that
he would send me orders. AppInuse:l
fort. asked me for my IDEAS s. on the matter.
told him / thought the second Division could
y fT he Sss ,os Ss * , h btn f s
to mako the assault II one was made
., On the morning Ing OF the 18TH Gen. Terry
to attack the west end of the parapet. He
my by pagn ns. ss'f' told Hpd him asked T was
90 he nan4y s h to aS The 1 %d nSs
were to pound 1t back, and when they could no
longer do that we would charge. II we did not
brigade to push us in. Gen. Terry ordered me
to carry out this plan;
Icn. Amos. Win tnc SecOnQ ana th1rd
BriRades. halted behind u.s. Capt. Lawrence Of
Cen. Amcs's staff wanted to go wi h my brigade,
and consented on the condition that he should
agree not to interfere with any of our plans IIc
went with us. and 1t would be serious imputa-
ticn on a gallant gentleman to say that he inter
fered and himself led the charge. Capt. Law
renee did not lead the first brigade. He fell near
the stockadc.
AT 4;45 o'clock we captured the seventh
and then came the word from Gen.
Amos to fortify our position and wait until tho
next morning to resume the attack.
pointed ont the two steamers loaded
with Confederate soldiers waiting for a
chance TO land. At the same time l sent back
for rein 'orcement. Gen. Ames sent mo spades.
threw them over the ,parapet to tho.
rcther. and at S:i5 s.Io o'clock that af.
ternoon we made the assault. You can
understand why / am accurate about thu |
time. ,lqen. Ames alleged that Gen. Curtis fell
wounded at 4 80 O'oock.l Shortly afterward / |
went out on the dune to survey tho sea bastian
and was shot twice.
Until recently no one has soon fit to suspect
wise than as have stated. But lately
tons. Tho Inclination displayed on a rN- |