The National tribune., 1907-01-24
and Adventures

the advance division being reuuiref
each night to throw up breastworks iy
their respective fronts. On the 26tf
our coiumns prest onward, and leavins
spanish Fort, short distance to tho
ie1t, camped that night within a few
miles OF Blakeley.
rms was a feint, however from
winch the enemy may have supposed
tnat Biakeley was to be immediately
attacked, where's Spanish Fort was To
receive the first attention.
Accordingly, on the morning OF
March u, the Union camps were astir
at an early hour. and the army, turning
rear of Spanish Fort.
Gen. Carr's Division of the Sixteenth
Corps occupied the advance, and were
the first troops brought into action on
tnlS day. Spanish Fort was but a fe "
miles from the Federal encampment of
the previous night. As the Union forces
now approached it heavy skirmishir.
commenced at the front, the enemy ap-
Pearlng in force. Both corps were 1T
once deployed for a general ENGAGE
ment, and prest forward thru the thick
woods. across ravines and over bluffs.
the Sixteenth Corps holding the right
and the Thirteenth the left of the Union
army. Cos. A and d of the 95th Ill.
were deployed as skirmishers for that
regiment, which took active part in
driving the Confederates hastily back
into their Notifications. This artillery
opened fercely from both sides, and
soon the battle ragged furiously all alorg
the lines. By noon of the same day
the Federal army had advanced to with
in close range of the enemy's main
works, and the line of investment of
Spanish Fort. from the bay above to
the bay below. was made complete.
Matters Were settled down into a
regular siege from this on until April
following, when a general assault on
the Spanish Fort works was ordered
and gallantly made in the evening Of
that day, amid deafening cannonading
on both sides. The enemy had COM
menced evacuating, but the 95th lii.
were the first to enter the forts, known
as the Red and White" forts, in our
front, charging over and in
to those works, then directly to the
bay, all being on foot, where they took
capturing some prisoners, artillery AMI
commissary stores. Col. Blanden, COM
manding the 95th Ill. at that time, in
his written report made by him soon
to his brigade commander,
among other things said: II led my
regiment over the rifle pits in my own
front, and tearing away the
cheveanx def.ise in our own
charged the Red and White
forts. There were no other Federal
forces preceding my command in the
of these works, and I push
ed my line forward toward the bay,
halting at the place where the brigade
formed its line after the assault. II
afterward advanced to within short
distance of the bay, Co. B being de-
ployed as skirmishers. took possession
Of Fort Alexis, and placed proper
guards over all heavy guns in that
ceived long after midnight, I moved
my regiment back to camp. where it
arrived about a. m. on the morning
Of the 9Th, having captured two COM
missioned officers and 80 privates, pris-
oners of war, and a large amount of
The men generally returned
to camp that night. well loaded with
-four, bacon, tobacco, etc. found in a
commissary building which
had been hastily evacuated"
An Enthusiastfc Irishman.
During that night assault and ex-
perience, which, at the outset, seemed
4 very dangerous and hazardous move
ment, conducted as it was in the dark
ness, save only as the friendly moon
may have helped out little, several
hum morous incidents occurred, as we
moved forward to the bay, after taking
the first forts
1t turned out that few of our COM
rades became so enthusiastic that they
got ahead of the regimental line in its
advance to the bay. Notably, in this
regard, was one Jim Barry, a genuine
irish wit and good soldier of Co. f.
As we caught up with him he was sit
ing on keg of tobacco, under a tree,
and from the proud feelings which ami
mated his patriotic heart, voiced in his
peculiar Irish witticisms, he appeared
TO think he had captured the whole
and holding up and sa-
uting me with an extract from his
booty. he exclaimed: "Adjutant. will ye
nave a plug of tobaky?" The offer was
10 ludicrous that Jim" received no rep
rimand, and no arrests were made of
he few who outdistanced the regiment
on this occasion
In closing this statement, which may
nave become too lengthy, but which
nay be justified from the importance of
the campaign discussed, ! will add that
while the investment of Spanish Fort
was progressing, portions of our be- |
sieging army-namely, the Second Di- |
vision of the Sixteenth Corps and the |
First Division of the Thirteenth Corps
were withdrawn and sent to reinforce |
he troops under Gen. Steele, who had
arrived from Pensacola and was oper-
iting against Blakeley. On the 9Th Of |
April a general assault was ordered and |
made on that stronghold The troops |
which had taken Spanish Fort the night |
previous were at once concentrated near
here with instructions to act as q re-
serve to the charging columns, and soon |
he general assault commenced, and the |
Tort was carried by storm, without re-
Iuiring assistance from the reserve |
'orce. Between 1000 and 5000 prison.
,rs were here captured, and another |
arge quantity of artillery, small arms
and commissary stores. These events
the fate of Mobile. Forts
Spanish and Blakeley were her great |
points of guard. and when they sue
,umbed she must likewise surrender.
On the following day after the cap
ure of Blakeley the Mayor of the city
it to the military authori-
les of the United States 1t was occu-
pied by a portion of the Thirteenth |
Corps. and soon the Stars and Stripes
1oated in triumph over the BAY City |
IF the South" and all her contiguous |
'orts and defenses.-WaIes w. Wood, |
Adjutant, 95th ILL.,, Belvidere, Ill.
Providence Spring.
Editor National Tribune: / am much |