The National tribune., 1902-06-12
Capture of Fort Gregg.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: | have no.
ticed the controversy between members OF
the independent Division of Infantry that
came from the Valley of Virginia to the
Army of the James, on the north side of
the James, about eight miles below Rich
mond, and Joined the Twenty-fourth Corps
about Jan. I, 1865, to take the place of
the troops that went to Fort Fisher. The
division comprised the following regi-
ments, and was commanded by Brig Gen.
John w. Turner; First Brigade, Bath
Mass. 10th Ohio, and 123d Ohio com
manded by Col Andrew Potter; Second
Brigade, 23d ILL.,, 54th Pa, and 18th W.
Va, commanded by Col. VIM. b. Curtis;
Third Brigade, 10th w. Va, 18th w. Va.
and 18th w. Va, commanded by Col.
Thomas NJ. Harris.
Maj.-Gen. L. o. C. Ord took command
of the Army of the James about the mid
die Of January, 1865, relieving Mai. Gen
b. f. Butler. Maj.-Gen. John Gibbon
commanded the Twenty-fourth Corps.
The First Division of the Twenty
fourth Corps was commanded by Brig
Gen. Robert S. Foster, now living at In
dianapolis, Ind.
The First Division during the Appomat-
toX campaign was composed as follows:
First Brigade, Both H., 62d Ohio, 9th
Ohio. 199th Pa, and detachment of the
S5th Pa, commanded by Col. Thomas O.
Osborn;
:. The Second Brigade had been taken to
Fort Fisher
Third Brigade-10th Conn, 18th Me-,
and Tooth n. Y, commanded by Col
George b. Dandy.
Fourth Brigade-sth Me-, Goth N. Y.
18th N. Y, 15Sth N. Y and 18th Pa.
commanded by Col. Harrison S. Fairchild.
The First Division, with the Independ-
emit Division OF Twenty-fourth Corps, and
V-(y 70
ored troops, of the Twenty Fifth Corps.
started about shutdown on Monday even
ing, March n, 1855, from the extreme
right OF our line north of the James River
below Richmond, and marched to our left
at Hatcher's Run about 20 miles, and re-
lieved the Second Corps on the morning
of the 18th, and went on the firing line
on the front on the morning of April 2.
When the Sixth Corps broke through the
lines in front of Petersburg we started
to their support, double-quicking a good
part OF the way, passing over our works
and the rebel works, which were deserted,
gong in the direction of the Appomattox
River above Petersburg and joining on to
the left of the Sixth Corps, finally coming
out IN front of two strong earthworks
about 500 yards distant, where we were
halted, about 10 o'clock in the forenoon
The fort on our right front proved to be
Fort Gregg; the one to the left front was
Fort WhItworth. We were going toward
petersburg from the southwest. We kept
our position three or more hours without
a shot being fired by either side. About
l O'Clock p. m. Gen. Foster was ordered
to assault Fort Gregg with his division
Gen. Grant, in his Memoirs, vol. 2. mage
4aO, says Fosters Division made the as
sault, supported by two brigades from
Ord's command, and the battle was des
perate. Gen. Grant was looking on when
the assault was made. The First Brigade
or rosters Division, commanded by Col
Thomas o. Osborn, led the assault.
The fort was commanded by Lient. Col.
D. II. Duncan, with about 300 men mis-
sissippians), who made most heroic re
sistance, losing over 80 killed; the remain
der, except about 30, were wounded.
The casualties on our side were aboui
800 The loss of the 10th Pa. was 81.
OF which 70 were killed or MORALLY
Murphey, Co. d, and First Lieut.. Robt
Mcmillan, Co. l. The loss of the 3gtl,
Iii. was about go killed and wound
ed. The FIRST flag to reach the for,
was the flag of the 39th Ill. The Colo
Bearer fell as he reached the ditch (wa.;
thought to have been killed., and First
Lieut.. Oliver Sproul, of the 189th Pa.
grabbed the colors, mounted the parapet
and planted the flag.
l recognized the Lieutenant, and sup
posed the flag was the colors of his own
regiment. After the fight he told me il
was the flag Of the Both Ill. The Color
Bearer recovered, and I heard from him
about IL years ago through The National
Tribune
Maj. James q. Dandy, Of the Tooth N.