The National tribune., 1904-09-01
NATIONAL WASHINGTON o. THURSDAY SEPTEMBER
lone. lSee Official History, Volume 46.

alone. lsee Official History. Volume 4s,
Part 3. Page 1867 4..T
Mr.. Swinton minimizes the force and
energy of the assault. lest his readers
should not be able TO understand how the
soldiers of the Ninth Corps whom he dis
parages. were able to defeat, the enemy and
recapture the fort without assistance. The
fact is that the assault was made by an
overwhelming number of ConfederateS un-
der Gen. Gordon with the skill. vigor and
courage for which that eminent General
and those in his command were justly re-
nowned.
WHY THE ASSAULT FAILED.
The assault failed. not because of any
lack of skill in planning or of energy in
making it. but because of the heroism. the
steadfaStness and the determined energy
of the Union soldiers in the Ninth Corps.
But the object of this communication is
not to tell the story of the Mine affair nor
of the assault on Fort Stedman. The Tor
mer has been told in part. at least. in the
report of the Congressional Committee on
the Conduct of the War, in the Official
Records of the War of the Rebellion. and
by articles printed in the leading publica-
the latter has also been told. in part only.
in the official records and by Mr.. George
L. killmer in the Century Magazine for
September. 1887. in a paper written by
Capt. Carter, of the Tooth Pa. and prob
ably in other publications. But no writer.
so far as | am aware. has ever attempted
to tell the story of the defense of Battery
8 in the conflict which ragged in the vicinity
of Fort Stedman after its capture by the
COnfederates, nor shall | attempt TO tell
the story here. 1t would be not ONLY an
interesting but thrilling story. could it
be related SO to convey to the reader a
correct impression. even of the strong
force, the vigor and persistence with which
repeated assaults We're made upon that
little earthwork. and the bravery. stubborn
ness and tenacity with which it was de-
Tended by mere handful of Union soldiers.
THE GARRISON OF BATTERY 8
consisted of battery of artillery Il can
not remember the number of guns and
the 10th Mich, numbering between 200 and
800 men. After the capture of Fort Sted-
man, the works held by the I'd Mich. to the
left of Battery 8 becoming untenable. a
number of the members of that regiment
were ordered in Battery .. These increased
the garrison by not more than 100 men.
For nearly four hours this insignificant
number of men withstood repeated and de-
termined assaults by the Confederates in
vastly superior numbers, Battery during
all this time being exposed to and receiving
the incessant fire of the "Chesterfald'' and
"GOOseneck" Batteries, the mortar battery
in front, and the guns of the Spring Hill
Battery, on the left.
In repeling the attacks on Battery O. not
only the artillery in that work. but also
that in Fort Mc(iilvery, rendered efficient
assistance. Maj. Koemer. commanding the
artillery in Fort McGilvery. had one of
the guns taken out of the fort and person
ally superintendent the training of this gun
on the enemy from point in or near the
City Point road and without shelter of
any kind. When demonstrated with for
thus exposing both himself and the gun. he
replied in his inimitabe German accent
and manner: "Oh, theeS is so much the
better place than in the fort" While aim
ing the gun Maj. Roemer was struck by
piece of shell, knocked down and severely
wounded, but continued in command until
the fight was over and came out as plucky
as ever.
THE REBEL STRENGTH.
On the morning of the assault on Fort
Stedman. and after the fight had ended 4
Captain in the Confederate forces who was
one of the prisoners taken by the 10Th
Mich. informed the writer that the column
making the assault on Battery 8 consisted
of two brigades. He stated that after the
capture of Fort Stedman these two bri-
gades were ordered to move to the flank
and rear of the right of our line, clear the
works to McGilvery and take the fort by
assault from the rear. While it is evident
that these orders would have been difficult
to execute had Battery 8 been slencad,
captured or abandoned, still, it goes with
out saying that Battery 8, being an in
closed earthwork with guns in position,
could not be passed by. and that the plans
of the enemy relating 70 our right failed
at the outset through the inability of the
COnfederates to capture this work. AS ex
pressed bv the Confederate Captain refer
red to, 1--WE got along well enough unit we
got to this rise Indicating Battery 81
where yo'uns sort of discouraged u.s.
In view of the facts in the case the
statement Of Mr.. Swinton that Battery o
was abandoned by the Union troops and
captured by the enemy is cruel injustice
to those who with courage and endurance.
repulsed every assault Of the enemy and
for long hours faced without finching the
terrible storm of lead and iron hurled npon
them and came out unscathed. as we'll as
to those who bravely died in that unhis
toric earthwork. and thus earned their
right to a Nations gratitude and Ma
tons reverence as long as time shall en-
dure.-GEO NJ. BUCK, Co. c. Goth Mich.