The Washington herald., 1909-05-09

Petersburg, Va. May S.-Rising sixty
feet in the air and casting its shadow
over the haIlowed ground around Fort
Malone, the Hartranft monument. TO be
unveiled by President Taft on May 1s. IS
one OF the most elaborate. imposing, and
expensive ever erected IN Southern terri
tory by Federal veterans.
II was raised by the State Of Pennsyi-
vania 10 commemorate the heroic deeds OF
Gen. John F. Hartrsnft and the third
division OF the Ninth Army Corps. Army
o. the Potomac. which he commanded
during the siege Of Petersburg This di-
vision was composed chiefly OF Pennsyl-
vania soldiers. The Ninth. commanded
by Gen Burnside, was the crack corps
Of he Federal army in Virginia. and such
confidence was repcsed in the leader and
the men that il operated for some time
independent Of the Army OF the Potomac.
EnIIsted as Colonel
Gen Eartranft was born in Montgom-
cry. Pa. on December Is. IS30 and was
admitted to the bar IN his native State IN
1850 When the call 20 arms rent the air
in 1851 he entered the Federal army as
colonel Of the Fourth Pennsylvania Vol
unteers. which command was brigaded
with the Twelfth Regular Infantry and
Fifth Massachusetts Militia, the brigade
being commanded by Col " 3. Frank
In. Of the regular army
At the battle OF Yicksburg. where Col
Hartrenft commanded the Fitty-1rst
PENNSYLVANIA Volunteers in Gen Fer
rero's division. the Pennsylvania dis
tlnguished himself by gallant conduct
under FIRE. and after having temporary
command Of the first and third divisions
or the corps, was made major general
and permanent commander OF tie last
named division.
Greatest Victory NJ Fort Steadman.
The most notable battle in which Gen.
Hsrtranft and his gallant men figured
was at Fort Steadman on March .. 1855.
Here Il was that they imnortalized them
selves. and by. converting defeat into vic
tory made themselves subjects OF COM
rnendatory general orders from Mai Gen.
John G. Parke, who had succeeded Gem
Burnside as commander OF The Ninth
Corps
On the morning OF March . the Con
federates led by Gen John 3 Gordon
captured Fort Steadman while the Fed
eraI forces were stiH asleep. Gen. Cor
don and his 1O0 picked men entered the
fort without the discharge OF a gun. At
sunrise the daring COrfederateS. flushed
with success. started TO capture another
fortifcation IN the rear Of Fort Stead
man whose position commanded The gar
TlsOn already carried
This charge on the part Of Gen Gordon
was repulsed by the Ninth Corps, and
the Third Division. under Ger. Hartranft,
delivered a counter charge. which result
CO in the retaking Of Fort Steadman and
the capture Of several thousand prison
ers- At sunset the Federal line had been
re-estabiished and the Third Division
filed the breach Of 100 yards made by
TIE COnfederates before sunrise
Was Governor of Pennsylvania.
AT the close OF the war Gen Hartranft
returned 10 Pennsylvania. and was at
toruey general from 1S65 TO 1S6S lie was
governor Of Pennsylvania from 1S72 tol
1915. and died October i. ISS9-
On the east and west sides OF the mOnu-
ment are inscribed the enlistments, killed, |
wounded, and prisoners OF the six Penn
sylvania regiments OF infantry which
served IN Gen. Hartranft's division. The
names OF the places where they fought. |
bied. and died are marked on the front
OF TIE obelisk. Directly in front OF the
monument stands a Federal soldier OF
heroic size, done in bronze. and holding a !
banner and a rife
Although the monument Is erected at
Fort Malone, the Third Division did lii |
tie fighting there. On April . Gen. Har- |
tranft charged Gen. Bryans Confederate /
line and made a breach. but subsequently |
was compelled 20 fall back 20 his original /
position
The erection OF the monument at Fort
Malone was made necessary by the mac /
cessibility OF Fort Steadman Had the /
contemplated memorial highway been |
built TO connect the two Federal Gene
teries near Petersburg the Pennsylva- |
mans could have reared their monument /
On the spot where Gen. Eartranft and his /
men achieved their greatest triumph.