The National tribune., 1908-06-04
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades Along the Whole
t~@ Line.
Spanish Fort and BIakely.

James E. Ehler, SID Ind, West
Bridgewater, Pa, says that the Six
teenth Corps did not capture Spanish
Fort nor did the Thirteenth Corps help
to take Fort Blakely. A. ]. Smith was
In command at Blakely, and not Gen.
Steele. Col. Charles d. Harris did not
command the Third Brigade of the
Second Division. 1t was Col. EDWARD
Wolfe, of the SD Ind, and the brigade
consisted of the 17sth N. Y, saith N. j.,
the SID Ind. and the 9Th Ill. Battery.
In the latter part of March the brigade
got into line in front of Blakely, and
began to throw up breastworks on the
vest side of the road leading into the
fort 1t also bun. I fort close by an
unfurnished log house. This was called
Fort Main, after the Lieutenant-Colonel
of the SD Ind, who was the engineer
of the works. Capt Moore, of the 9Th
ILL., Battery, put his battery in the fort,
and some of the SID Ind. helped pull
the guns up by hand after night and
during a hard rain. About the 1th OF
April they discovered that the Johnnie;
We're bringing up a big siege gun TO
knock their little fort to pieces, but dld
not succeed Capt. Moore took his pet
gun, as he called it, a six-pound rife,
and in three shots knocked the big gun
out of service. There was lots Of picket
firing all along the line pretty near
constantly, and April 9 orders were re-
ceived about 9 o'clock to fall in. Lieut.
Col Main said that Richmond had been
taken, and he wanted to take Fort
Blakely. The brigade formed in three
lines and about o'clock in the after
noon orders were received to advance.
The 17Sth N. Y was in the first line
and the SD Ind. in the second. When
they arrived at the fallen timbers they
were ordered to charge, and not stop
until they got inside of the fort. The
flag of the 178th N. Y. was the first to
the works, and that regiment was badly
cut up. They struck three regiments
of young Alabamans, who called them
selves the LIST, I'd and Sd Ala. Ladies
Reserves. Young as they were, they
fought like devils. They at first did
not want to show any quarter, but when
the second line came over the works
the job was ended.
Concrete Examples.
Frederick Hart, Co. K, 9Th Mich.
Cav, Hastings Mich, writes: 1.-The pro-
hibitive provision of the widows pen
sion bill that cuts off widows pensions
rights at midnight of June 26. 1890, is
a "shot from the rear" In the days of
our war whenever and wherever the
Copperheads secured control of any
legislative body or administrative office
they did all that they could to harm
or hinder the soldiers and their fami-
lies, and such efforts for our injury we
got into a habit of calling "a shot from
the rear" The purpose to dictate to
veterans against their marriage is only
the survival of that Copperhead dis
position to fire shots from the rear.
/ have a wife who would wholly sacri-
flee her own comfort that she might
contribute to my comfort. No man
could have a kinder wife or one more
helpful but she is my fourth wife, and
we married since 1890. She knew when
she married me that she would not be
pensionabIe if she becomes my widow,
and her labors in my behalf are GER
tainly not devoted to purpose to live
in luxury upon IS or s12 month after
my death. 1t does not at all intensity
my love for the flag or my admiration
for our Republic when reflect that the
Government holds my wife in SO much
contempt, and entertains for my own
services in war SO little gratitude that
1t stands with corrugated face ready to
snarl- if my widow, broken by
her toll in my relief, petition for a pit
lance from the wealth / helped make
possible and secure. i have knowledge
of a veterans widow, now ~ years old,
who is crippled for life, having since her
husbands death suffered a broken arm
by a fall. When she married the vet
eran-since 1S90-7she was strong and
able. They lived together in harmony
and in the happiness of the industrious
poor for IL years. She kept his home
attractive and him in comfort. He had
no pension at first, but later got Sc q
month under the act of 1890, to which
she added-which she more thar
doubleday washing for neighbors
cleaning their houses, weaving their rag
carpets and by other toll. He was sicl
and disabled long before his death, and
consumed what they had accumulated
for she had to remain with him anc
thereby cut off her own earnings. Now
she is incapacitated, and Sulloway de-
nounces her as an adventures.
The sultnna.
Comrade Abraham Smith, Co. C, It'll
I'll. Cav, writes from Pleasant HILL Mo.
under date of April 81, 1908: Just 4:
years ago tonight ] was on duty IL
Memphis, Tenn, and about midnigh
saw the Sultana coaling and start VI
the river, after which / lay down on {
porch near the wharf and went to sleep
from which / was aroused about or !
o'clock by great noise, and learned
that the Sultana was destroyed by ex
plosion. The rescuers were already a
work, and rescues continued till noon
-
aboard, nearly all soldiers going hom'
from Southern prisons. The rescued
numbered 550.''
John K. Pattison, 18TH w. Va, Por
Orchard, Wash, comes to the defens
of the Rev. Father Sherman against hi
critics by quoting from Gen. Sheridan
Memoirs, where he says: LAS / con
tinnad at a walk a few hundred yard
farther / was fixing in m,
mind what should do. My first though
was to stop the army in the suburbs o
Winchester as it came back, form
new line and fight there, but as the sit
uation was more maturely considere,
a better conception prevailed" Com
rade Pattison believes that Gen. p. II
Sheridan was the greatest military ge
MUS CT the civil war, and it does not il
the least detract from his fame to sa
that when suddenly and Unexpectedly
confronted with a most appalling dis
aster ne walked his horse for a fey
hundred yards ito give himself time L
think''-time to reject his first thought
and upon more mature consideration I
adopt better one. which resulted in
complete and decisive victory unde
circumstances unparalleled in history.
The 9Th Wis.
the 9Th Wis, held in 1901, have bee
printed in a handsome pamphlet, wei
illustrated with portraits. The mai
feature of the broshure is a very inter
esting paper read by George Il. Engle
Jr, Chicago, Ill. before the Loyal LIE
gion, relating to the part taken by tn
regiment in the battles on the Kappa
hammock. The claim is made that sine
the invention of gunpowder there ha