Norwich bulletin., 1913-08-23

Survivors of the S64 men who vol unteered for the forlorn hope charge at Port Hudson 50 years ago have been trying for more than 20 years to get congress to make good the promise ot Major General Nathaniel F. Banks to give them medals. There are not more than 250 survivors of the Port Hudson forlorn hope storrning column today and of the Norwich men who offered their lives for that charge but one remains, Orrin M. Price, com- mander of Sedgwick post, No. l. G. A. R.
 Mclean and Reilly Working.
 The senate of the United States has passed the bill at nine different ses- sions giving the medals to the soldiers who volunteered for that charge, but the house, for some unexplained req son has not made 1t a law, and the old soldiers have had bitter feelings against the house military committee. At this session Senator George F. Mo Lean of SimSbury has introduced the bill again and Representative Thomas l.. Reilly of Meriden is looking out for the bill in the house.
 Confederates Surrendered.
 The proposed assault by the forlorn hope volunteers, which by the con senting testimony of many military authorities would have spelled almost certain death for all who hurled them selves against the frowning fortress. did not take place. Pending the pre- nminaries of rehearsing 1000 men in the fatal charge, Vicksburg fell, and Port Hudson. the only confederate possession left in the entire sweep of the Mississippi thereupon became un- tenable. The surrender of Gardner and his 5000 defenders was a swift sequel The confederate commandant was a fiery fighter. but he diagnosed the situatioS as one in which he 1 -tr A -k- z out
 The storming brigade was divided into two battalions of ten and eight companies respectively.
 The Gall for Volunteers.
 The ground on which the survivors of the forlorn hope storming column base their claim was their response to order No. 3, which on June 15, 1863, Major General Nathaniel P. Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf addressed to his 15,000 mon who were taking part in the siege of Port Hudson:
 The commanding general congrat- ulates the troops before Port Hudson upon the steady advance made upon the enemy's works, and is confident of an immediate and triumphant issue of Lhe contest. We are at all points upon the threshold of his Notifications. One B.
 For the last duty that victory inn poses. the commanding general sum mons the good men of the corps to the organization of a storn1ing column of a thousand men, to vindicate the flag of the union and the memory of its defenders who have fallen. Let them come forward.
 Officers who lead the column to victory in this last assault may be as- sured of just recognition of their services by promotion, and every off, cer and soldier who shares it's periIs and its glories shall receive a medal fit to commemorate the first grand success of the campaign of 1863 for the freedom of the Mississippi. His name shall be placed in general orders on the roll of honor.
 Division commanders will at once report the names of the officers and men who may volunteer for this ser vice, in order that the organization of the column may be completed without delay"
 One of the veterans says:
 The many volunteers from the Thirteenth Connecticut were inspired by the circumstance that our own Col. H. w. Birge Ca Norwich man) was to lead us. He was our idol. More than tWo-thirdS of our number have passed beyond the pale of worldly jus uce, but the continued inactivity ot the house will not belittle us I be- heve that efforts for recognition will not cease even after we are all dead for we shall leave the cause to our descendants to prosecute"
 Senator McI-ean's Bill.
 Following is the text of Senator McLean's bill introduced in the senate of, the United States April to grant medals to survivors and heirs of vol unteers of the Port Hudson forlorn hope storning party:
 Be 1t enacted by the senate ant house of representatives of the United States of America in congress assem. bled: That the secretary of war ii hereby authorized to procure suita. ole bronze medal commemorating tho organization of the volunteer storrnins party against the works at Port Hud. son, Louisiana, organized pursuant tC general order No 49. by command ol Major General Banks, commanding tht Department of the Gulf, June 15. 1863 and present one of said medals to eacl or the surviving volunteers of saiC storming party In case of the de. cease of the volunteer said medal shsl be given to his widow or oldest heir Provided, That such medal shall beaI an inscription in suitable language, tt