The National tribune., 1909-11-04
THE CHARGE ON FORT HILL.
gssG
Ewing's Brigade Flag Was Placed on
the Parapet. IL

Editor National Tribune: 10 your is
sue of Aug. 10 find communication
from Comrade J. W. Sapp, entitled
THE Charge on Fort Hill" SAs 1 was
a participant In the siege of Vicksburg,
wish to call the comrades attention
to some errors in his article. I am
aware that after so many years 1t Is
hard to remember all that occurred in
those stirring days, for something was
happening at all times just then.
My regiment was the goth Ohio. We
were brigaded with the S7th and 47th
Ohio and 4th w. Va, and were the
Third Brigade of the Second Division,
Fifteenth Corps. Our brigade was COM
manded by Gen. Hugh Ewing. SO We
were in the same division with Com
rade Sapp.
The comrade has erred in the date of
the inclosinS the rebels in their works.
being the 18th instead of the 18th OF
May. 1868. The unsuccessful attack
which he mentions was made on the
10th, not the 18th. My regiment was
in the second line as support during
this fight.
He speaks of the charge on Fort Hill
on May %. My understanding has al
ways been that Fort Hill, originally
built by the Spaniards years ago, was
located nearly a mile to our right. on
the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi
River, and near where now is located
the National Cemetery. He is right
about the fort we assaulted on the 22d
being located on narrow ridge and
on road leading into the city. This
road was called the Graveyard road,
from the fact it passed the city ceme-
terry The fort was called by the Con-
federates Fort Defiance.
There was fort located just n short
distance from the Shirley House and
something over a mile TO our left. to
which we gave the name of Fort Hill.
as it was located on high knob, but
l am ignorant of its correct name.
Now for few words regarding the
assault of the 22d: A forlorn hope,
consisting of about $50 men. a number
of them being of my regiment, were
detailed to carry timbers and planks
to bridge the ditch at the base of the
fort. This body of men were COM
manded by Capts. Groce and O'Neal, of
the Goth. On arriving in the ditch they
found the timbers too short, and as a
result they had to remain there until
after nightfall. our brigade. flag was
planted on the parapct of the fort,
where it remained all day, nOtwith-
standing the rebels made repeated cf-
forts to capture 1t, but We're prevented
by the severe fire of our troops a short
distance away.
My regiment followed Immediately
)
of fours, there being no room to deploy
regimental front. 1t got within a short
d stance of the ditch, but was COM
PEELED by the heavy fire of the enemy
to desist and seek shelter where it
could. The first two companies of my
regiment suffered severely, tho my COM
pany. being further back in the line,
had several wounded but none killed.
which seemed providcntiaL,
In 1905 l visited the Nicksburg bat
tleground. I found Stone q few feet
from the foot of the muHnd of earth
showing the remains Of Fort Defiance,
designating the point the 2Oth reached
in the charge 1t IS hardly necessary to
add that we didn't take the fort that
day. The 37th Ohio followed imme-
diately after the 30th in, that charge.
so | infer that the 80 men the 'comrade
makes mention of as a "stormifig party"
were Incorporated with those from my
regiment r y 7ttf j.
Immediately after. the I'D our. brj-
gade threw up works across the road
about 300 feet from the cpcmy's fort,
in which works we remained until the
surrender.
The fort in our front was mined and
Gen Grants report, would have been
rcady to explode, which, according to
Gen. Grants report, would have been
done on July had not the surrender
occurred priOr to that date. If Com
rade Sapp will procure a volume writ
ten by Francis Vinton Greene, Lieuten-
ant of Engineers, u. s Army, entitled
THE Mississippi" he will find good
history of the campaign. | did not
read Comrade McElroy's description of
the campaign, but have no doubt it was
excellent. Would like to hear from
other comrades In regard to this So
called Fort Hill matter.->L Hardn'ait,
Sergeant, Co. I. 30th Ohio. New l hila-
deInhia n