The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-20
Col. William Lambs, Warm Words Of
Praise for His 6aIlant Enemy.
SERVICES OF GEN. NEWTON NJ. CURTIS
His Lion Like Courage nnd Reckless
Bravery ut tho Capture or Fort
Fisher Graphic'De.criptlon OF the
Famous Fight-Testimoninlt to the
President.
(New York SUM-

Colonel William Lamb, chairman OF
the Republican State Central Commit
tee Of Virginia, who was the Confede-
rate commander Of Fort Fisher filed a
statement with President Mckinley to-
day that is an important contribution
to the discussion over the Fort Fisher
fight between General Curtis, Of New
ork, and General Ames, OF Massachu-
sets. Colonel Lamb appeals for the
recognition OF General Curtis services
to his country and says:
AS the Confederate commander of
Fort Fisher, was witness to the skill,
the courage, and the inestimable SER
vices OF General Newton NJ. Curtis to
his country. My fort commanded the
last gateway to the South from the out
en- world. and for months the supplies
or arms, ammunition, food and clothing
mad successfully passed the largest
blockading fleet the world had ever wit
messed, supplying the Confederate
forces with absolute necessities So i'm
portant was this gateway to the South
ern cause that General Lee sent mo
word that If the fort fell he could not
feed his army.
While desperately wounded and a
prisoner In Chesapeake Hospital, and
surrounded by Federal officers who
were disabled In the capture of nv fort
learned what the published records of
the War Department have since proved,
That 1t is due to the patriotic peftinacity
Of General Curtis that the attempt to
capture his Southern stronghold was
not abandoned, with all the serious con-
sequences OF such q course, and that the
former expedition, recuperated and
strengthened, was sent back with such
celebrity, that I had had no ADEQUATE
time to repair my damage. and instead
or being notified OF the impending blow,
| had to announce to General Bragg the
temperance of the American armada
before my works."
Colonel Lamb then describes the con-
dltion Of the battle, and adds
Selling the flag Of his old regiment.
the 1920 New York, General Curtis led
the desperate charge. and before he
planted 1t triumphantly upon the ram
parts he had received four serious
wounds. my rifemen killing or wound
ing every officer Of that gallant regi-
nent. Simultaneous with the capture
or my left salient, the sailors and ma
rines were routed with disastrous loss.
despite the entreaties OF the fearless
officers who led the naval column. Then
all or my force not stationed at the
guns were hurled upon Curtis and the
longest and boodiest hand-to- hand
light OF our war followed, it's horrors be-
ing enhanced by the fatal fire OF the
navy into my ranks. So unexpected
ana desperate was the resistance of nv
garrison, especially after I had turned
three heavy seaface guns upon the Fed
erals in the fort, that those not lead
by Curtis. instead Of overWhelm-
ing us with superior numbers. halted
ana commenced to intrench. Curtis still
led MS men upon the ramparts, assist
ed Dy the navy. gradually surrounding us
and pushing us out Of our works until
receiving two frighTul wounds, losing
All eye and portion OF his scalp at the
base of his brain, he was dragged out
Tor dead. but not until he had refused
to retire and had rendered the recovery
or the fort by It's garrison impossible,
without the assistance Of Bragg, which
never came
While would not detract from The
ABILITY or courage Of any Of the officers.
army or navy, who captured nv fort
and garrison on the evening of January
10th. 1863. yet 1 feel in common with
my officers and men, that to General
curtis, whose giant form towering
above his men made him a conspicuous
object to his foe, more than to any one
else on the Federal side, is due the en-
trance of the works and their fall after
SIX hours hard fighting on that event
ful winter night. To the persistency
OF General Curtis and to his courage are
due the earlier termination Of our dread
full struggle by many months, with all
the lives saved and human misery
stopped and for this alone wearing his
Congressional medal the Victoria Cross
OF the Federal army. he Is deserving
or Inc highest recognition at our hands.
Il have come to you Mr.. President, of
my own Folition The only intma-
tion General Curtis had of my Intention
was when had him asked If he desired
anything at the hands OF your admins
tratlon, to whose success in November
last he so zealously contributed when
ne modestly said if you should see fit TO
make him director OF the Pacific road
1t would he most acceptable Before
calling on you I asked my friend, Sena-
Tor Plat, Of New York, If it would
he agreeable TO him to have me ask a
position for one Of his constituents, and
he SAID he would be pleased to have
General Curtis recognized in any way.
isnt 40 not think you should charge
inc appointment Of Gen. Curtis even to
the great State OF New York; he belongs
ana should be charged to the whole
Union, which he did SO much to pre-
serve"