The National tribune., 1903-06-25
VICKSBURG.
In the crater-Marching Into the City.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Seeming
ingIy, Comrade Wellman is claiming all
the Vicksburg hills for his regiment. Com
rade Crummer's article in The National
Tribune March 5, is good history.
There is no doubt in my mind that the
45th LII. led the march into the city. Col.
w. B. Strong unfurled the Flag from the
cupola of the old Court House. The 45th
Ill. was not the first, however, to enter
the Crater, when Fort Hill was blown up,
June %, 1868.
Capt. Harry Almons, Co. 1, 31st ILL.,,
commanding a detail, was in readiness to
charge into the Crater with spades and
shovels Immediately after the explosion of
the mine, his position being in the main
for every fourth man to take a spade or
shovel and charge into the excavation,
should one be made by the explosion. The
Captain himself distributed the ''imple-
ments of war;" it falling to my lot to be
one of the shovel men," When it came
my turn to receive an implement" from
the hands of the Captain, l looked him
straight in the eye, ignoring the proffered
tool. Although no words We're spoken,
the Captain understood that his offer was
respectfully, but firmly, declined. The mat
ter was easily compromised, however, as
Thomas Hoffman voluntarily took my place
and a shovel, thinking he had soft
snap" When we charged into that ''hell
hole" we soon learned that neither
spades" nor shovels were trumps. 1t be-
coming hand-to-hand conflict, spades and
shovels were more useful as clubs" than
for other purposes. l side-stepped shell
that struck near me, and was interested
in the manner in which Hoffman, my sub
stitute, utilized his shovel. He covered
the shell with sand, carefully smoothing it
down, and, to my great relief, it failed to
explode. In the heat of the melee Tom
Moore called to me, saying: Murphy, that
- reb is holding my bayOnetE l yelled
to him: Pull the trigger, quick!' Prompt
ly acting upon my suggestion, he pulled
the trigger and kept his gun.
The 45th Ill. calamity came to our as
sistance, but they were only in the way,
there not being room in that hole in the
ground for a whole regiment. A piece
of shell struck me in the back, and soon
thereafter rebel with revolver shot me
in the neck, knocking me down. The
Captain ordered Comrade Stickney and
others to carry me to the hospital. In
passing out, l saw Gems. Logan, McPher-
son and Leggett near the Crater. When
L went out it was after nightfall. My
wounds not being mortal, prevailed upon
the Surgeon not to send me to the rear,
as l wanted to accompany my command
into Nicksburg, which l felt assured was
upDH llc eve vi SuEGcLuel.
While temporarily lncapacitated for
duty, l obtained a pass and made tour
along our lines, inspecting the works and
viewing other scenes of interest. l visited
the ''Pemberton Oak" July 3, and on the
glorious Fourth saw the Johnnies stack
their arms. l then reported to my COM
pany for duty, but was told that was not
able to march into the city. l insisted,
however that l could endure the march,
on1 iaut Moora 1atailn5 a man Tn clOSa-
ly accompany me and render any needful
assistance.
Having marched in all right, 1 was in
line and saw the Flag of the 45th Ill.
planted upon the Court House.
1 neglected to say, in the proper place,
that the charge into the Crater was a
blunder. Not more than six Johnnies were
buried by the blast, one cOlored man be
ing blown into our lines. An Illinois regi-
ment was sent in with cartridges too large
for their guns. The 31st Ill. lost Lieut.
Col. John ID. Reese, and many wounded.
Gen. Grant, however, said the loss was
scarcely worth mentioning.
l cannot deny that the Minnesota reg-
ment was detailed as guards, as On July 6
was ordered home on furlOugh, the doc
ument signed by Gen. Logan, including the
| words, Never missed a march or a bat
tle."
We all admit, of course that w. T.
Clark, of Gen. McPherson's staff, was en-
efficient officer and gentleman. He could
not have been otherwise while member
of the Generals military family.
The cOmrade who claims that the
"White House" was between the lines is
correct up to May 20. On that date the
building. sometimes called the Shirley
House," was included within our lines,
and was never afterward beyond them.
If COmrade Wellman served through
the Vicksburg campaign he is one of the
Nations most hOnOred sons, and there is
no need of his attempting to add to the
luster of his name, or that of his command,
by plucking laurels from Logan's Third
Division.
Where are the comrades of the 23d
Ind, and the Zone hundred and two
dozen'-124th III?
A comrade asks: 'Who threw the
hand grenades from Fort Hill during the
fght?" Maj. Stolzebrnnd rolled six and
12-pound shells over the bank, exclaiming
the while: "Cut dot fuse dree seconds!
How do dey like dot?" He was Chief of
Artillery, and doubtless none of the "boys"
has forgotten his ire-red whiskers. Boys.
the hills are still there. Come down and
look over the ground.-T. C. MURPHY,
NJ. D., S1st ILL.,, Enterprise, Miss.