New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-05
TROUBLE AT THE DINNER.
A HOT DISPUTE AT THE LOYAL LEGION
MEETING.
GENERAL CURTIS REsENTs GENERAL AMEs's Ac-
COUNT OF THE CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER
AND REFERS TO THIS PERSON. WITH
AN AUDACITY AND A CRAVEN
HEART" CAUSING GREAT

HEART" CAUSING GREAT
EXCITEMENT
The good fellowship that usually prevails at the
dinners OF the New-York Commandery Of the Mill
tary order OF the Loyal Legion marred at
the one on Wednesday night by an incident that
was as unexpected as II was painful. The prnci-
pals in the affair were General a. A. Ames, OF
Massachusetts, and General Newton NJ. Curtis.
who represents Ogdensburg In Congress, both Of
whom prominent members OF the order and
who distinction In the General Ames
was the guest of the New-York Commandery at
Wednesday nights dinner. He read paper which
he had prepared describing the battle OF Fort
Fisher. General Ames was second I'm command
under General Terry In that struggle. and General
Curtis In charge of brigade. General Cur
It's as Is well known played a particularly gallant
part In the storming OF Fort Fisher. He was the
first to lead the charge against the stronghold of
the Confederates. and got so close to the works
that one OF his officers actually captured the flag
which had been shot from its pole over the fort.
As a member OF the Loyal Legion said yesterday.
this was proof that could not be gainsaid that
General Curtis within an ace OF capturing the
fort at his first onslaught At critical moment
General Curtis sent for endorsements. but the
message was brought back to him that aid could
not be given TO him. and consequently he was
forced TO retire from his position The assump-
tion OF course. remains that, had the reinforce
ments been hurried 10 the nelp Ol "
would have captured the fort at an early stage
NJ tho storminy and have saved the loss of life
IN tho MANY hours OF fighting that were afterward
necessary carry the fort
General Ames. however. in his paper on Wednes-
day from Inquiries made yesterday by Tribune
reporter sought 10 belittc this contention, %d 10
show tina, General Curtis had not great hand
In the capture OF the fort az some maintain There
was a decided Discrimination among the members.
IN descrihe to refer 10 exactly
what led no to the trouble But there is no Ques
ton that General Ames stated that General Terry
had given him (Ames) charge OF the land forces'
and instructed him to use his own judgment as
TO the best to capture the fort. Then' IL
seems General Ames at some length and not too
nodest,v p,cturcd his own part in the battle. He
der,ded the claims made by General Curtis $
friends.
How was II possible. ne is reported to have twice
asked for a few hundred men 20 have taken tort
that was stronger than the Malakon? The battle
Of Fort Fisher began o'clock in the morning, but
tho fort was not taken until 10 o'clock at mgnt.
Then the sneaker pointed out that General Curtis
.as s,ruck down by bursting shell at 4;So in the
afternoon leaving the inference III the minus Oh
hearers than General Curtis after all could claim 10
particular share in the successful termination or the
engagement.
IN ons mart OF his paper his references 10 General
Curtis were so direct that General Wager swayhe
ose IN his place and called for Three cheers for
General Curtis" The appeal was responded 10 with
great heartiness Nothing disconnected Genera
Ames kent on In the same strain. not always giving
General curtis II was said. the courtesy OF his title
hut referring 10 him only as Curtis and display
inc throughout a spirit, as one listener SAID INA
was easily apparent was somewhat hostile 10 Geherai
Curtis -, ,,.u -. ,ho n,nar n,,,ch
uneasiness was percep b!e among the members, ana
as soon "a General Ames mad resumed his seat there
a,.re calls for General Curtis 1t was when the
later responded that the untoward incident referred
70 happened Genera Curtis, referring TO General
Ames's contention that the latter had conducted the
sorming OF Fort Fisher and was responsible for its
cantnre said substantially: 1T Is somewhat re-
markable that only at this time. when General Terry
aTrer living years after the battle has been DEAD
Some three or four years, General Ames should
claim now the glory Of that battle. General Terry
has been dead three or four years, and now this
nerson with an audacty and a craven heart
PCenera Curtis got further. Instantly there
q tumutuous uproar, the members sprinsing TO their
Seet and every one apparently speaking al the same
moment When General Porter at length restored
nrder General Curtis apoogized 10 the members for
the length to which his feelings had carried him
II was manifest that the sympathies OF the members
were with General Curtis. and 1t Is understood that
AT the next meeting OF the commandery he VIII read
a paper giving his own version OF the storming OF
Fort Fisher.