New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-16
HEROES OF PORT HUDSON.
NEGLECT OF CONGRESS TO MAKE GOOD
GENERAL BANKS'S PROMISES
The Tribune

Sir: While all OF us are greatly interested in
everything which appertains brave boys
the front IN actual warfare. we should not
refuse 10 recall the bravery exhibited by our same
class OF boys in ate Civil War
Now. In writing the history OF the l56th Regi'
ment New-York Volunteers-soon to he published
i have come across an episode in regard 10 the
capture Of Port Hudson. where a "foriorn hope
was called for; and In responding to which call so
much energy was displayed that it seems TO me
f. should be remembered and recalled. II for
other purpose than 10 show that our vo'un-
teers' were then as n0w both willing and most
enthusiastically DESTROYS 10 go TO the front
The clrcumsia nces under which the loriorh
hope" organized were as follows:
In 1853 when the batteries at Port Hudson were
playing havoc with our men and 1t was perceived
that some heroic effort should be made 10 silence
their guns Il was resolved to call for volunteers for
this purpose The General in command dd not
wish or rather nesitatcd. 10 order any OF MS men
to attempt the herculeau task OF capturing the
post SO ne asked for such Of his men u no might
be willing to act a "forlorn hope NO sooner
were his wishes mad, known than some nine hun
drcd OF our men once responded Many OF
these are now dead but number stih survive
1t was indeed fororn hope. since none 81 'he
volunteers expected to come back alive Yet II
cannot be gansad that very many OF them as'ue
from their patriotism. volunteered in pursuance OF
the following order Issued by Genera, y T. BANKS
calling for volunteers for "A storming party to as
follows
Headquarters pepartmSenit - OF the sor Tg'
Before Port Hudson, La. June d. l'>'
General Orders 80. 40 ...-.,,,,.,es the
The commanding General congratu.ate;S ode
troops before Port Hudson upon the 80 is con
vance made upon the enemys works, an" - -
hdent OF an immeciae ana 81, pdints upon the
threshold OF his fortihcatons. one more ADVANCE
tha; yic'G5y 5oS me6 the Of tR
~. a
a thousand men. vindicate the nag o. .iT irni
and the memory OF us defenders wiz nav
Orrsrs who lead tho column OF victory ~ -. .d,s
% ther services by promotion and every T,nges
and soldier who shares It's Ills A1tg the first
r,d sycces. o.. the campaign Of 1853 for the rec
dom o, the Mississippi. His name Will De P'''s0 80
general orders he roll Of hou"r -o,or, the
Division commanders VII al L., one" - voIrnteer
for his service in order tha ne organ za,io" ~,
,he column NAV he comp,e,e,a %ceenor,l HANKS
TpfrrTWNRp p IRWIN. Assistant Adiutani -Genefa.
"Actuated only by patriotism and d~sfe 10 ~
NJ duty and help crush the Reoellloh wiz ~
- o,a n, the survivors OF this forlorn hope ! No'-
,,,,eored for this w.rk We were ors"h"'' anu
NJ, into n separate camp and were known As
,hs .Foriorn Hope or stormng column ana "-'e
daily exercised tn the duties tnAt VIZ 4" B"
ouired OF us awaiting only The sigma LOT Assault
A,t vet will Il be believed that congress UP ~
,n,s day mas never taken the first step '0"a'N
a-r,.i,g ont OF rather making good. the promises
., Genera Banks? l. this not on me same pan
with which all the promises Of Donsress ~.
csr,e into existence have been iuIhIieo' 80
-, ro,,,e n monument 20 Commodore Decatur.
% LAFAYETTE TO General Marion; 70 tha' on,e'
~, rbo licked" into shape by discipline '"e
American Army-Baron Steuben-and hha'y -
wsshiugfon Votes cheap ana mus 9"'
,ha, think the presen; ovation 10 "Oo'V
who deserves all the rewards Congress can CIV
,u, 20 Use an expression-lt Is slang ph'aS'
az memorials TO Decatur. Marion La'aye"e'
s,.uben Washington. etc. ar 80 .snoT'"'
:, the senate reqor, No. 2.iil. LIN Congress '"'
following report was adopted. m'h,'o" '''
show that the brave FoFlorn nope o. ~ 49,.
son receiyed AZ least recognition But no" no"'"
Il sounds , .. a.
Your committee however before comlhs 10 ~ ~ -
co-li,-Son ~ 20 The merits Of the measure ah9 -
VIE" o1 o. and fnyy reaured Of tho organization were
exceptional and The order spence u" ~. RsbeIiion
Seemed ~ advisable 70 refer the BIZ 70 me s wH
Tonar,ment FOR Us opinion thereon ana tor S. S
4, A.. might be in its possession ana ne
reuIy 81 ne Secretary OF War WIN tns repcl -.
ths Adjutant Genera Of the Army, VIZ" ~ Cenera;
fanks and statement ~ me ot 20 hs-ato an
pe gn ' and made par, Of this repo, It app aRps@Is
mat IN resp9nse egt hundred ana nine hundred
S-Ss~s - the Nineteenth Army corps pull'.''.s
rendered lhe7 ,Fet were detached FOR several
v.-ks rom their proper commune ~ ,r,o a
1870 ., two haitalions and eighteen coflgHn'r7
urS due conlp lenent OF ofHcers ana H-caSssf,,I
sdIIy, q, thelr especial. important ana FERROUS p
duty and that Tho unenticpatteu on,ure OF Vicks-
b.rg alone prevented 80 az least a''''p'u W.
Yoar committee ho mat as Is Slamed oar9y
s.-,tce a seG and expected o. thiS ,'' ss
was eEcepoh&S eT r even aficr Years TO
30 media promised by the cot 80 riv ne
o., ,hn Department q the GUT amos, on
10 snur OF the moment. when tnr , ~ hattie
II ar "a. u,,ie n any time 70 weigh ne aooi1'o M
personal risk no ef the movement I}ut
80 Port Hudson stormng psr,y No. knew IT,
object and had amp 81. ,.' de,e-rn,n'rR a. 20 hts
,,r.id.r al chances before n'., - gr,vifv ~
duty In the msi lsIen; got in face thereof and
- m. general depression .nc! t y and June H.
n-i' a thousand men ouereI tn, h reTf attack:
were 70 insure no Su ,or The worst. disposed OF
e-octs wrote f.rewells 20 KIN ano
and foT Hgsi y ne order TO cad the sdyance
ILL., beyond expression the suspense '''''7
more trying eyery aAE be- found me variou- general
In s',u go, ~ r regard 20 medals 81 honor vi ~
oiH.l7 80 said general orders 30 ~ 80, oDS
Genera! BanKs; issued during the late war Your
ocrnrnittee believe that TIE iey, 70 The tudE
ton on he secretary Of War. ana mar re 80
nf 'i such medals viii only BE T for the haz
me ga storming party and lad IN houTy g nd so
arious pr.aoJ,Iess FOR the assault 20 lonk an -
on ana nd we're prevented By the sgrFsnGer sn
the actual assault ana ana r. TeP2 nassage
To conclude. It does seem to me ana 20 " ,1
10 r'no vent throughout the late Civil war |
that is mos, shamefu that f eng e Gaf i Por
ms JUST CARR yourself back 10 that time 80 ST.
bnw then A. now. the papers wcr' time ru could 6e
s nerGG OF their And YET Now
srcss ~ -, kaiiava that while Hobson mas cWuu, ~
can S.roes OF Port Hudson, yet n snor' nsrat
the ne - fear experience the Same net
ne WI, rb;cb from time INN morial mas U"r'' ."
ccSharscterstlc OF republics ,,,r,u T STONE
Mount Vernon July 1895