The National tribune., 1907-05-02
SOME HISTORY.
Gen. Lee Resigned to Help Garry vir-
Einia Out Of the Union-The I'd Iown's
Charge ut Fort DonelsOn.

GINA Out OF the U01OR-The I'd IOwn'S
Charge ut Fort Donelson.
Editor National Tribune: was much
interested in the article by George E.
Jepson, printed in The National Tribune
Of Feb. %, condemning the eulogy or,
rather, the terms Of the recent eulogy Of
Charles Francis Adams on the occasion
Of the anniversary of Gen. Robert E.
Lees birth. But Comrade Jepson made
a mistake in saying that Gen. Lee re-
signed from the United States Army
when "word came that Virginia had
voted to secede from the Union"
A Secession ordinance was passed In
the Virginia Convention April II, 1851;
Gen. Lee resigned April 10, but 1t was
that resignation, that the Secession or
dinance was voted upon by the people,
and then there were thousands Of votes
against the ordinance, the western part
of the State voting sclidly IN opposition.
Had Lee remained loyal until the latter
date 1t is altogether probable that Vir-
ginia would not have seeded. The fact
that Gen. Lee was commander of the
State forces of Virginia, organizing to
levy war upon the Nation, for a month
preceding the day fixt for action at the
polls, was a tremendous factor in carry
ing the State out of the Union, and 1t
also had great influence in other South
ern States that had not yet seeded. The
impression generally prevails that Gen.
Lee event with his State" but when
he resigned from the old Army his State
was as much in the Union as were Mas
sachusetts or Minnesota.
In that same issue of your excellent
paper is printed a short article in the
picket Shots" department, by Sergt
Silas Flourney, giving an account of the
I'd Iowa at Fort Donelson, and correct
ing an error as to who led the charge
that regiment there made. 1t has been
stated over and over again that Gen.
C. F. Smith, the division commander,
galloped up the hill in front of the
charging column. Gen. Smith, a noble
gentleman and soldier, was with us, but
he kept his place, which was in the
Immediate rear OF the column.
The value Of the service our regiment
rendered that day was shown by the
fact that when, after the surrender, the
troops began to march into the works,
an order was issued by Gen. Grant halt
ing the various regiments in order that
the I'd Iowa might be put in front, and
Gen. Halleck telegraphed to AdJt-Gen.
Baker, at Des Moines: 1.-THE I'd Iowa
proved themselves the bravest of the
brave. They had the honor of leading
the column in marching into Fort DON
elson."
And 1t was no boys play-that charge
that was made on the afternoon of Feb.
Is, 1862. One-half of the men in our
regiment which were in the attack were
killed or wounded. Color Serg't Harry
Doolittle was struck by three balls. The
flag was then taken by Color Corp'i G..
8. Page, who was instantly killed; then
Corp'l ]. II. Churcher took the flag, and
was wounded in the arm, necessitating
amputation; CorpI H. E. Weaver. the
next on the list, was MORALLY wounded,
and CorpI ]. W. Robinson was so Sc
verely wounded in the face that he was
compelled to drop the flag. This left
but one Of the color guard. Corpl " r.
Twombley, a lad of 10, to pick up the
flag as it lay upon the ground, knowing
that every one of his predecessors had
been struck and that he doubtless would
be the moment the colors were raised.
But he did not hesitate; he knew his
duty and did 1t and, fortunately, got
thru alive.-John T. Bell, Lieutenant,
I'd Iowa. Oakland, Cal.