The Portland daily press., 1898-09-08

ana 9th Corps in June. After these
struggles the 9th Corps gradually
stretched out and relieved other troops
along this portion of the line
Next on the left of Fort Sedgwick and
near the Jerusalem Plank Road, was
Fort Davis, at o more comfortable dis
tance from the enemy, and the Union
lines gradually stretched out their coil of
works and forts south ward and westward
of this point. Gen. Parke occupied the
front line of works and some protecting
the rear from little south of Fort Davis,
north to the Appomattox, east of Peters
burg. For many months 1t had been q
hot place around Fort Sedgwiok, known
as Fort He'll. The Confedeartes had forte
and redams near the Jerusalem road that
swept the approaches in every direction,
and Others back of these that could fire
right over them. In this vicinity was
Fort Malone, Battery 2s, or Fort Damna
ton, SO called and other batteries, all
trained to repel assault 3 ort Damnatio
was neariy opposite Fort He'll. There
mucn doubt as to which was Fort Dam
nation, but the writer gave Fort Malone
that distinction, although located official
" 400 yard, south of the Plank Road.
General Grant started his last campaign
the end Of March, 1865, and issued an or
der to have every corps commander along
the line assault the enerly's line of works
at q. m, April I'd. The 31st and 3Sd
Maine had been conso idated and made q
regiment of twelve companies. 1t WAS to
this regim ent the writer =, oelonged. Il
was doing duty on q strong picket line to
the left of Fort He'll.
The paper then goes on to give Gen
Parke'S formation or the 9th corps, and
his plan of attack along the Jerusalem
Plank Road. AS 10 p. M, April LIST, the
guns of Fort He'll opened lire, and with
10, tho fra ri
night. Such roar Of artillery the writer
had never before experienced, and Capt.
TWitchelI of the 18th Maine battery at
Fort He'll stated that fifty mortar shells
were thrown into the fort that evening.
At 2 n. IN. our brigade, under Gen.
Griffin, was put into column OF attack,
the storming party seiecteu 20 lead the
MES of the 31st Maine: Comps q,
Lieut.. W. Fl H. Ware, Company H.
Capt. Z. p. Beals, Company l., Capt. A.
d. Brock, together with the forces of
fusilers, all under Capt. Beals, the senior
officer. Behind the storming party came
the brigade in column By battalion, 179th,
N. Y. 31st Me-, 9th N. a., "a Maryland,
18th VT, 1s6th N. Y, with 56th Mass. in
reserve. The orders to the storming par
ty were to march on the low call passed
along the line, "Four O'Clock and all Is
WE'LL" Capt. Beals says he never expected
to emerge alive from the assault. He
said to his men, "You all know the place
we are to attack. All / ask is for you to
follow me; if l run you may run, but
don't desert me-" The paper then goes
on to state how the storming party went
silently on, almost unable to see more
than few feet before them. When the
enemy's picket intreuchmepts were
reached they were surprised. At the
double quick the storming party made
for them. The rebels opened fire as we
S. q. Kimball. fell. shot through the
body. The rebel pickets retreated and
we kept onto the plank road where our
orders sent us. Then at the double quick,
a charge was made on Fort Damnation.
The shot and she'll crashed through the
party, the men were falling, but the
charge went on until on the margin OF
the cheveaux. de-frise the line was halted
to straighten it out and take breath for
the final assault. The light had come;
there was no concealment. The support
ing division couldn't be seen.
In front of us doomed up the formid-
able fort belching forth murderous fire
the very object of ATTACK 1t seemed as II
an hour had passed when orr ears caught
the Union war cry. and we knew that
the charge was on. As they appeared in
the distance the storming party and
pioneers orawled up nearer and cut away
the distractions of the chevaux do frise;
separated the logs, and turning the
sharpened stakes the other way, and dis.
connecting the wires, made room for the
column front to enter, and then pushed
forward to the fort. But we found
big trench just outside of the fort, full
of water into which some of the mon fell
and were drowned. We then ciroled to
the left and after sharp struggle, as
sisted by the troops Of the main column,
we forced our way inside the works.
Many prisoners and cannon were taken,
and the latter turned upon the enemy.
Capt. Beals was struck by piece of shell
on the shoulder, ana was unconscious for
quite time. Then hs picked himself up.
and while passing through the fort found
the roll of the SD North Carolina, which
he retains as souvenir.
Gen. Griffin in his official report, after
speaking of the storming party and COM
some of it's officers says: 'Of
this gallant party of 1Os men, composed
of Companies 9, Fl, and L. 8lst Me.
Vols, five were killed and thirty-two
wounded The loss of the 3lst Maine was
rs killed and wounded, besides Ave cap
tured or missing. The total loss of this
brigade in killed. wounded and missing,
42l, and of the division 722. Lii Col.
jor Bolton were both wounded, and the
command fell to Capt. Reyes. President
Lincoln visited the sick and wounded at
City Point, where they were sent, and
did much to cheer and console them.
Capt. Beale's paper was not only we'll
written, but well delivered, and at It's
conclusion he was loudly applauded. At
the suggestion of Major Melcher, the
by rising vote, expressed
its thanks to the author of the paper, and
requested him to furnish copy of it.
for the archives of the organization.
SPANISH WAR DISCUSSED.
Commander Tilden said that when the
last meeting of the commandery was held
Dewey's victory at Manila had just been
reported, and the country was looking for
news from our other fleets, which have
since given good account OF them
selves. 1t gave him pleasure to announce
the presence of DR.. M. 81. Simons of the
battleship Iowa, of which Fighting
Bob" Evans is commander.
DR.. Simons gracefully responded to the
hearty reception rendered him. He said