The National tribune., 1909-06-03
recovering From the Surprise.

After their temporary surprise the
| troops which had garrisoned Batteries
Nos IL and IL, the 29th Mass. and the
| Tooth Pa, rallied, and. uniting with a
part of Col. Harriman's Brigade, formed
a second line perpendicular to the in
trencfments its left resting near Fort
Haskell, its right connecting with Gen.
Hartranfts Division. By this rapid and
skilfIh disposition of our troops the
enemy was not only brought to a COM
plete stop in all directions, but was also
| forced back and inclosad in Fort Stead
man and Battery 10 with Gordon or
our men. consisting of part of Willcoxs
| and all of Hartranft's Divisions, formed
on three sides of them. While our bat
teries, especially Fort Haskell, were in
| position to rake the ground between
the main lines, the enemy made re-
peated desperate attempts to capture
| the latter in order to secure a chance
to retreat, but was steadily and bloodily
| repulsed Gen. Hartranft now formed
| his troops to retake our batteries and
| main line.
The 21ltn Pa. was selected to lead
the charge directly upon Fort Stead
man Nothing could exceed the fearless
bearing and gallant manner in which
they conducted themselves in this
charge over the parapet of the fort,
while other troops advanced on the
style, the enemy's resistance was brok-
en- as our troops passed over the works,
and in a few minutes Fort Steadman
and Battery No. 10 were again in our
possession and the enemy compelled to
surrender, the crossfire from our bat
teries preventing retreat except with
great slaughter. Some of the bolder
spirits took chances on this, with the
result that the ground between the
main lines was strewn with dead John
nies. A large portion of the stormine
column, which had come over from the
rebel lines so eager and full of hope OF
demoraiizing the Army of the Potomac
and gaining great victory. was Obliged
to surrender. Upwards of 1900, !1clud-
ing II officers, were made prisoners OF
war, and nine stands of colors and g
large number of small-arms fell into
our hands.
In justice let 1t be said that no more
daring attempt or~galIant and deter
mined advance had been made during
the civil war than that made by those
gallant men whom Gen. Gordon tool
across the lines that morning. The odd.
were against them, and they drank tina
bitter draft which the Union army hat
frequently tasted. Our lines were a
once reoccupied and all damages re
paired at q cost to our army or abou
1000 killed and wounded. Gen. Mead
|
Laughlin's Third Brigade of WILCOX.
First Division for allowing themselve
[ to be surprised. but after looking int
= the cause and the manner in which
was accomplished he revoked the or
. der and issued a congratulatory on
instead, not only to the Third Brigade
> but to the whole of Willcox's Division
upon their coolness and soldierly con
;, duct in facing the enemy in front Will
/, under fire with their lines broken an
: their flanks exposed. Gen. Hartranfi
: who was in command of our troops en-
3 gagged in retaking the line, receive
: great credit from his superior officer
!, and the brevet of a MajorGeneral. n
a honor during the war was more worth
: lily bestowed
The affair was as decisive in its wa
: as Gen. Sheridan's splendid achieve
) ment at Cedar Creek. What threat
a ened to be disaster was turned into
n glorious success and whatever plan Gel
Il Lee may have devised for a subsequer
= movement was completely thwarte(
. The Army of the Potomac was save
~ from defeat.
$. The Final Blow.
o Just one week from that morning tn
o 211th Pa, with the rest of Hartranft
Is Division, took part in the movemer
l. which resulted in the capture of viii
# coxs Division, of Fort Malone and tn
n evacuation of Petersburg.
e 1t was customary during the war fC
e loyal ladies to present a flag to the reg
e ment Cor company in which their fatf
A ers. brothers. husbands or sweetheart
c. were to serve, and l will venture thu
l. of all the flags so presented none wer
: placed in safer hands or were guarde