The National tribune., 1905-11-23
S. Long. Commander. Gen. George A.
Custer Garrison, No. 2, Brooklyn, N. Y.
SPANISH FORT.
An Illinois COmrade Quotes From q Let
ter Written at the Time.

ter Written at the Time.
Editor National Tribune: It is now
over 40 years since the war Of the re-
bellion came to finish, and 1t has been
about rs years, at least, that / have
been a constant subscriber and reader
Of The National Tribune. During all
those years history has been written by
the boys, and "the half has not yet been
told" which Is a true saying. I have
been very much interested in the con-
troversy in the last few issues about the
capture Of Spanish Fort, Ala, and par
ticularly the story by ]. w. Lacock, SD
Ind, who alleges that the Sixteenth
Corps captured Spanish Fort, and adj
mits that "the Thirteenth Corps under
Granger, captured the Fort, but it was
at least three hours after the Sixteenth
Corps had captured it,
That, to me, sounds like a good joke
on the Thirteenth; very funny.
I have in my possession a letter, as
published in my old home paper in Illi-
nois, written at the close Of the siege
Of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely; said
letter making over four columns Of
matter in said paper, from which I
quote in part, referring to capture Of
Spanish Fort:
1.-THE men Of both the Thirteenth and
Sixteenth Corps made an advance and
entered the works.
1T was not q matter Of importance
as to whose command or what division,
brigade or regiment that were the first
to enter the works under the circum-
stances as they existed.
"The troops Of the Sixteenth Corps
were said to have been the first, but
those Of the Thirteenth were not be-
hind in coming forward. Throughout
the entire siege the men Of both corps
have worked and fought, side by side,
as only men and soldiers can. The
n m n
will pass into history as among the
most gallant and fearless of the war.
Gen. Granger, commanding the
Thirteenth, has labored throughout
with the most untiring energy and per-
severance, and the grass never grew
night, he was with his command, and
superintended and directed all the op-
erations in his power in person. No
man who knows him. and saw him
through only this siege. would for a
moment question his bravery or his
energy and ability. He was worthy Of
his brave command and they Of their
brave commander.
''To. Gen. Granger the impartial few
will attribute much Of the success which
attended this short, though important
and memorable siege.
"Gen. A. J. Smith and his corps also
share in the general honor. Always
and never flinching, himself and it have
well done their work, and verify they
shall reap their reward"
might go on and quote the entire
letter, but the above, I should think,
was sufficient to show to whom honor
should be due.
It is true 1.-The trials of soldiers life
are DER. its memory alone remains .
and to some that memory is terribly
thin, to my mind. What does it mat
ter, boys, who first entered the works
or who was first to plant the flag? All
were brave and loyal and obeyed the
command of their superiors.
claim the boys Of the Sixteenth and
Thirteenth Corps all had an active part
in the siege of Spanish Fort, which last
ed from March q to the morning OF
April 9, 1865, and what difference who
was the first to enter or who to leave
last? The victory was won-not by the
efforts Of few, but by the entire COM
mand.
with malice toward none and char
ity for all'-Sam Kutz. Co. D, 91st ILL.,,
Los Angeles, Cal.