The National tribune., 1903-06-25
BATTLE OF THE CRATER.

BATTLE OF THE CRATER.
Capt J. Q. Adams. 30th U. s. C. T., Refutes
tho Charge That Ofiicers Of Colored Regi-
ments Were Drunk.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the
issue of June II Comrade Peter Z. Mil
Ter. Co. +, 5lst Pa, makes the statement
that at the battle of the Crater the otfi-
GERS of the colored troops that came I'M
der his observation. were drIIak
/ was an officer in the Goth u. S. Col
ored Troops. Our regiment led the Col
ored Division in that charge. | was there,
and was wounded. l did not see a single
officer of cO.ored troops i'll the slightest de-
gree under the influence of liquor. l was
a temperance crank, and had previously
canvassed the following colored regi-
ments: Col. Wrights. 9th; Col. Stearn's $,
39th; Col Halls, 43d Col. Perkins's,
10Th; Col. Campbell's, sd; Col. Russelrs,
2Sth; Col. Brass's, 29th. and Col. Ross
31st, all regiments of Gen. Ferrero's Col
ored Division, and l did not find drink
ing officer.
OF the regiment to which I had the
honor to belong, % officers are still living,
and not n drinking man among the lot;
not only that, but each is Il trusted and
time-honored citizen.
Our Colonel, Gen. Delavan Bates, is
living at Aurora, Nebr. He has been
Mayor of that city, and holds important
positions of trust
Lieut-Cnl. ii. a. Oakman was born
and still lives in Marshfcd. Mass. He
has been member of the Massachusetts
Legislature, is Seectman of that town,
and holds a position i'll the Boston Custom
House. Maj. a. J. Smith. 1906 North
Eleventh street, Philadelphia. Pa, is a
retired merchant and Christian gentle
man. Adjt. G. Il. Sanders, Lowell, Mass.
is a prominent physician and valued citi-
zen. Surgeon a. NJ. Peabes, Auburn,
Me-, has practiced medicine in that city
since the war, and has acquired wealth
and fame. Capt. ]. G. Butler, Oswego,
H., went into the ministry after the war,
where lie is still engaged, preaching to
Presbyterians. Capt. ii. Il. Howell, Me
dina, n. ", did the same. Lieut.. S. w.
Edgerton studied theology after the war.
and for a long time was Chaplain Of
Sing Sing Prison. Lieut.. S. X. Goddard,
Omaha, Nebr., went into the ministry.
Lieut.. Alonzo Plummer took up law, has
n fine practice in Benton Harbor, Mich,
was Mayor of that city, Director of the
First National Bank, etc. Lieut.. G. NJ.
Allen took up law and now has large
practice in Denver, Col. Capt. Edwin
Melaney settled in Neponset. ILL.,, bought
a farm. and is n wealthy and hon
ored citizen. Capt. Geo +. Woodward,
Lowell, Mass, is sedate. courteous
gentleman. Capt. D. e. Proctor, Wilton,
n. H.. is n successful merchant; has
served in the New Hampshire Legisla-
ture, and in 1891 was Department Com
mander Of New Hampshire. Capt. An
drew Davidson, Cooperstown, N. Y, was
Deputy Commissioner of Pensions. pro-
prietor of the Cooperstown Republican,
and recently placed in charge of the Sol
diers' Home. Bath, N. Y. Capt. Chas.
n. Swift. 81 John st, New York City.
ness firm. Capt Eben Whitney, 119
Main street, Elizabeth, n. j., has been
in the mail service since the war. He is
n pronounced advocate of temperance
and exemplary Christian gentleman.
Capt. Geo. A. Herbert, Mount Vernon,
n. Y, is the buyer for large silk i'm
porting house, and spends. most of his
time in France. He is man of strict
integrity. Lieut.. Free S. Bowey, 2123
Howard street. San Francisco. Cal
Qately deceased, was locomotive engi-
neer since the war and was known as
writer to every reader of The National
Tribune. Lieut. J. f. Bowen is Post
master of Central Falls, r. /. Lieut..
Frank BarrOws, Sharpsburg. Md. is Gov
ernment Superintendent of Antietam
Cemetery. Lieut.. Ira Il. Quimby. 322
'lDSS StIttt. NaSS.. Is dll'l al
ways was q temperance worker and ex
emplary Christian gentleman. Lieut..
Gardner o. North, G5 High street, is
leather merchant, and. like all the other
officers has no use for liquor.
These men are all moral in fiber. gran
ite in nature. They We're manhood's no.
blest types: the nobility of life; nobility of
manhood. fashioned into characters be-
yond criticism, and especially that Of
drunkenness.
/ served few days as Post Adjutant
at Camp Birney, Baltimore, Md. where
some of these regiments were raised, and
in n letter (still preserveU to my home
said:
"The officers of these regiments are
the finest body of young men mentally,
morally and physically, that / have ever
seen collected together. They would do
credit to West Point as cadets"
In another letter, dated Feb II, 1864
(still preserved:
Il was examined yesterday by Carey's
Board and passed for First Lieutenant
in the first class. The examination on
tactics and general information was very
severe. 1t was conducted by Col. Living
ston, of the 10th n. Y, and Capt. ]. +.
Moore, of the 9th Wis. The physical ex-
animation OF the Surgeon was also very
carefully performed, who sale. co,orcd
troops needed better officers than white
troops. j. q. ADAMS. Captain Goth U.
S. Colored Troops, Boston, Mass.