The National tribune., 1910-10-06
The Charge at Fort Stcadman.

Editor National Tribune: The early
hours of March 25, 1865, were disturbed
by unusual sounds. We had become
used to picket firing, and little or nc
attention was paid to that, but this was
out of the ordinary and attracted atten-
| ton of camp guards and others Soon
| everyone was out. Without further de-
| lay companies were formed The 211th
Pa. lay on piece of high ground over
| looking the military railroad and a
| corduroy road near MeadeS headquar-
ters. Messengers or staff officers passed
in direction of the firing. but nothing
caWe for us.
Just about daybreak the clatter of a
| horse, about done up. sounded on the
corduroy road. Adj't Smith, who had
posted himself at the road called up,
and Capt. Lee, of Co. A, shouted, Turn
| left" and we were off The distance I
| cannot give, but it was doublo-uuick
part of the time. flnd no time was lost
| in getting to the front You can't ask
people along the road. as in peace, what
| IS going on, as there are none. We had
east of the Third Division of the Ninth
Corps.
We passed the camps of the 207th
and 2O5th of our Second Brigade, at
about half distance, but they were like
deserted villages. Even the sutler and
help could not be seen. The mansion
called Avery House stood on a higher
point. We passed within 200 yards,
heading for the smoke aud noise A
stan officer met US, and turned the
mead of our column to the right toward
the military railroad All the brush
trees and even stumps had been used
up foe fuel during the siege. 1t was
bare rs Il desert
As we were led over high piece of
ground the celebrated big gun that has
been discussed in the columns of The
National Tribune over and over fired
two shots. One passed overhead and
the other burrowed in the ground with
In IOO feet of our column. | have
Claimed that they were solid, as no ex-
plosion followed. but some of nv com
rades say shells and an explosion. We
were led to a point directly opposite
Fort Steadman, near our First Brigade
camps
n The Second Brigade had been en-
gagged for some time, and the wounded
were passing back to the field hospital.
which was located near by. There was
stop. Whether our move was checked
by the enemy or by order of Gen Hart
ranft. who was in full charge. magnih-
Gently mounted / do not know He
gallopcd from one place to another As
soon AS a member of his staff or orderly
came near him he was rushed off with
orders, verbal or written SO he was
alone most Of the time. While we were
formed in line we rested. My attention
was attracted to n sight / shall never
| forget. A battery of r.. s. L. A. came
st full speed They wheeled into posi-
ton, but did not open up. Capt Golfer
was in command of the 211th Pa, and
Gen. Hartranft conferred with him.
Members of his staff returned and gath
cred about, and we were ordered for
ward.
As we were drilled thru the preced-
ing weeks this was complied with in
order and precise manner that aston
iShed the spectators. There were near
ly 1000 men in this line, all of the
211th Pa. 1t was taken by onlOokers,
especially the battery | mentioned to
be brigade. The ground descended to
q gully, and at that point our align
nent was said to be perfect. In getting
over this gully we got out of order
Some of our officers and most of the
men were under high tension, and were
forging ahead to get at something when
a halt was called by Gen Hartranft
He rode along the line, hurting invec-
uvcs at the officers TO dress the line up
and be ready for the order to charge
What transformation At the
charge the officers sprang to the front
hat IN one hand, sword in the other
We moved forward, led by Cen Hart
ranft. We lost two killed and | think
~ OF II wounded, nut we did not fire.
AS we neareG Fort Steadman we bumD-
cd into rebels to the number of about
1000. We advanced to the fort, which
was inclosed. and in passing in over
the causeway we became a mob 1t
was said President Lincoln viewed that
charge. The battery that went into po-
sitinn as we formed to charge threw
shell over lis into the enemy until we
got close. There was an advance made
on both TANKS, but we did the stage act
and never fired n shot that day
Dad" Greensburg, Pa.