The National tribune., 1905-12-21
THE
CAPTURE OF FORT TYLER.

CAPTURE OF FORT TYLER.
omeial Records SHOW That the 7tA Ky.
49, Cav. Was There.
Comrade H. II. Talbot writes from
Charlottesville. Ind, to say that he has
produced official records to show that
his regiment-the 7th KY. Canvas in
at the capture Of Fort Tyler. Ga. the
statement Of Capt. II. M. Billingsley to
the contrary Notwithstanding. Comrade
Talbot says 1.-The official records must be
accepted as historical facts. The sew
| eral officers reports from which I quote
are taken from Series 1, Volume 40,
First Official Records of the Union and
Confederate Armies. Wilson's Raid
Gen. McCook, commanding our divi-
sion. says in his report, pages All and
AIS: ON the 18th Of April Col. La
Grange. with his brigade. appeared be-
fore West Point and carried that strong
position by assault. / inclose reports OF
my subordinate commanders
"Col. 0. H. La Grange, who COM
manded our brigade, in his report, dated
Macon, Ga, May 4, 1865, says: On
the morning Of April IL the brigade en-
| tered Montgomery, the 4th KY. having
| taken possession at daylight. After
passing through the city the 7th Ky.
Cav. encountered 700 of the enemy UNI
der Gen. BufOrd and drove them eight
miles. capturing three stands of colors
and 80 prisoners. At 1880 p. m. on the
| 18th the remainder Of the brigade ar
rived i'm front of Fort Tyler The 1st
Wis, I'd Ind. and 7th Ky. advanced and
dismounted.
1.-The ditch being found impossible,
bridges were prepared and sharpshoot-
| ers posted, and when the charge was
sounded these three detachments vie
ing with each other, rushed forward and
entered the fort. Two u. S. flags (regi-
mental colors) captured by the enemy
(Tyler's Brigade, c. S. Al near Eto-
wah Creek, Ga, were recaptured by
the 18th KY. Cav. at Fort Tyler, Ga,
April 16, 1865.
Signed 0. H. La Grange Colonel
Commanding, Second Brigade. First Di-
vision
1.-THE part quote from Col. La
Oranges report can be found on pages
"col. Lamson, 4th Ind. (Capt. Bill
lingsley's regiment), in his report, on
page 432, says:
"'At 2 o'clock on the morning of the
1eth the best mounted men of the regi-
ment, in company with the I'd Ind,
marched for West Point. The regiment
charged into town under fire of the
enemy's guns securing the turnpike and
railroad bridges, and then the post after
a short, sharp contest surrendered to
the remainder of the brigade
This report of Col. Lamson was writ
ten few days after the fight. Had he
i'm that short time forgot the gallant
special detail made to Capt. Billingsley
by their commander, and did not honor
him enough to report it?
Nov, let us see what the commander
Of my regiment says in denial Of that
positive assertion Of Capt. B., made in
ment was not at the capture Of Fort
Tyler
ITO be brief, our first Colonel, John
K. Faulkner, was wounded at Frank
lin, Tenn, and died afterwards Of that
wound. Our Lieutenant-Colonel, w. w.
Bradley, was wounded just four days
before the fight at Fort Tyler, SO Maj.
A. S. Bloom was in command Of the
regiment. His report was made at Ma
con. Ga, Nav 2. 1865. 1 quote in part
from the record (page 1857 to showthat
all our regiment was there and did BUSH
ness in that little gun play. He says:
ON arriving in one mile of West Point
was ordered to prepare to fight on
foot. Il dismounted and formed the reg
iment, and then was instructed to en-
gage the enemy on the right Chat
placed our regiment between the 4th
Ind. and the f0rt). When we got with
in so yards Of the fort I ordered the
men to commence firing. Immediately
afterwards I placed sharpshooters near
the fort, which had telling effect. COM
pletely silencing large piece Of artil-
lery on the right of the fort. After a
fight raging furiously for over two hours
1 was directed to charge the fort.
ordered the men to prepare themselves
with boards to cross the ditch. This
being done and everything ready, the
brigade bugle sounded the charge,
which was promptly repeated by my
bugler. My men obeyed the command
nobly, crossed the deep ditch around
the fort on boards, climbed the parapet
and went over into the fort, capturing
been previously captured by the enemy,
and assisted in capturing its garrison.
(Signed) A. s. Bloom, Major, Command
ing 7th KY. Cav, Second Brigade, First
Cavalry Division
Now, can my good friend and oom-
rade. Capt Billingsley, say that my regi-
ment, the 7th KY. Cav, was not at the
capture Of Fort Tyler?
"Comrade Biehn, Of my regiment,
made the claim that he sounded the
last bugle charge Of the war; and you
have said most positively in two letters
that neither he nor his regiment were
there
II saw the remainder Of this fight
from a house-top where a detachment
of sharpshooters Of the 7th KY. Cav.
were stationed to shoot at anything
that moved in the fort. I saw Gen. Ty-
Ter on crutches make a last valiant eff
fort to rally his men Just before he was
shot to earth never to rise again. Forty
years have passed. With the long lost
years many Of the dear comrades that
fought side by side with you and I lie
asleep today in their 'windowless pal
aces OF rest You and l. my friend,
stand, as 1t were, in a graveyard Of
memories. What little rank and honor
got in the army came largely from the
support of the brave comrades that car
ried the gun, and out Of the love and
comradeship I have for those that are
alive today and for the sacred memory
for those that have passed down and
out through the pearly gates, shall
stand by all while life lasts and shall
demand justice and honor be given
where 1t is due"