The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-11-14

knowledge of drill and the efficiency Of
my company. will say here that a good
part or those desirable qualities OF the
soldiers OF the regiment was due 10 hin,
IN MS zeal for instruction and his en-
couragement of study and practice. As
an Illustration will refer 10 the fac.
mat he was Instructor of the sharn-
shooters or carbineers, as thev wero
called or the First Rhode Island detached
lnliiua when that regiment was In service
Col. Sisson was also examiner of ofy,cers
OF the artillery branch OF the sorvico a.,
the department OF North Carolina. both
iisht and heavy; the examiners for the
infantry and cavalry were two regular
army officers, Gen. Palmer and C,oI
Amory.
Another case In point is n story that
was told In our regiment, and is true that
one or our young on-commlssloned orr
GERS went before the Casey board OF ex-
animation, having been sent TO WASHING
ton to be examined for promotion in tho
colored troops. The first question Gen
Casey asked him was what regiment he
belonged TO. His answer was the FYfth
Rhode Island. AS soon as Gen. Casey
nedTd the young mans answer he re-
sponded by saying II was not necessary
To examine him; that IL he belonged To
the Firth he was competent. The gen
eral had examined several men from the
regiment prior TO the appearance of that
young man before the board and all that
were examined passed; so the general
knew whereof he spoke.
since we first met in the field during the
strenuous timee Of 1923 our personal re-
iatlons have been most cordial. and for
that reason Col Slsson saw At 10 give
me recommendation TO the citizens OF
providence such as he gave me when I
was promoted TO the rank OF captain. He
was modest enough not to mention his
own services. and on that account think
IL my duty 10 say at this time that he de-
serves the gratitude OF this state az mrc,
rs any man who wore the blue, who went
into the service from II from 1861 IN AK
Col Sissons services alone I'm the run
ming OF the blockade OF the rebel hat-
teries on the Pamlico river, with HIS reyj.
mert I'm an unarmed river steamer the
escort on the night OF Apri ls. 1863. 10 IN.
relief OF Washington. d. C., where Gen.
John O. Foster commanding the depart
ment who happened to be there on a tour
OF inspection, and its garrison OF Sore
1000 men were surrounded by an army OF
about 5000 OF the enemy. IS an exploit
that will compare favorably with anv
brilliant dash made on either side while
the war lasted
Col, Sisson received some praise for Z,
including vote or thanks from our legis
lature, but no other reward, except a
silver present from one of the regiments
the Forty-fourth Massachusetts, he saved
from going TO Andersonville. and a na9
from tho same regiment presented 10
ours. There was ono other result Gen
Foster had tho regiment changed from
infantry 20 heavy artillery, because as he
expressed ~, he wanted a good BODY OF
men FOR garrison duty rot having men
enough 70 man the forts OF the depart.
meut
AZ tho present time. except IN IN,
OF few these events seem
90 be forgotten There may be some
reference made 10 1t once n year at our
annual reunions, but Col Sisson deserves
more than that.
30 not hesitate 90 say that col sb,son !
should have some substantial recognition /
for that brilliant chapter In his history |
and that OF the regiment
In referring 20 this incident IN his 1
career cannot be accused OF any atteupt /
~ self-laudatlon. which. ~ this letter was /
written hy some other OF my comrades
who took part IN the expedition. might be
suspected. | did not take part IA n be.
,ause ! wac home here IN Providence
iuder orders-not on leave of absence--re-
'ruiting. and only FOR ~ DAYS, IN which
lime I was % I've back again 60 my COM
psud. II was the only time ! Was away
rom duty with my company during my
crvice. and feet thet. because of that