Evening journal., 1914-10-31
New News Of Yesterday
The Actual Hero OF a
FOrlOrn Hope
By HOLLAND.

Henry w. Birge was esteemed in Civil
War days worthy to be associated with
officers in the Union army who were
conspicuously handsome, at least, when
arrayed in their uniforms. Yet when as
a boy ] knew Mr.. Birge he was man
Of no striking personal peculiarities. He
seemed to be a trained, matter-of fact
business man. His career as soldier
furnishes another example Of which
there are so many on both sides OF the
war of men who suddenly revealed un-
usual qualifications for military leader
ship. He was a distant relative of the
war governor of Connecticut, William
a. Buckingham, and served upon the
staff of the latter for year or two be-
fore the war. He was a citizen of the
town of Norwich, Conn, which was
Gov. Buckingham's home town. Mr..
Birge's home was upon plot Of ground
which adioined the birthplace of Bene-
dict Arnold and Ice was accustomed TO
see strangers who had visited the town
for the purpose chiefly of seeing the
birthplace OF Arnold.
As soon as the war began Mr.. Birge
was converted from a quiet, methodical
business man into a real soldier. He or
panized the Fourth Connecticut Regi-
ment of Volunteers, and was its major
when it was mustered into the service
of the United States. He was always
proud of the fact that this regiment
was the first of all those that enlisted
for three years to be mustered into the
United States service. r
Mai. Birge was within a short
time promoted TO the colonelcy Of the
regiment. In some physical respects
he reminded those who had seen Gen.
Hancock Of that great soldier. In
temperament and in moral force and
influence he also resembled Hancock
although, of course, he had not the su-
preme military qualifications which
distinguished the latter. One Of Col
Birge's qualifications was, however,
not possessed by Gen. Hancock, for
the former gained. and kept the af-
fection of his troops so that he was
really idOlized by his regiment.
How strong that feeling of respect
and admiration was is illustrated by
an incident which has become ira
dltionai. While the Vicksburg cam
pagn was in progress under Gen.
portance that the stronghold of Port
Hudson, below Vicksburg, on the Mis-
sissippi, should be captured. Yet
there was no soldier who did not
know that this would be a desperate
undertaking and would cost many
lives.
Col Birge volunteered to organize
and lead a command of not over 1000
men, who would make direct assault
upon Port Hudson. It was looked
upon as a forelorn nope. One Of the
officers of his regiment went to him
and said:
"Col. Birge, you don't need to look
beyond your own regiment There
isn't a man in the regiment of all those
who are fit for duty who will not fol-
low you wherever you lead"
Il know it," replied Col Birge. 1T
IS a desperate undertaking, and
don't order any one to join me, but I
invite all those who are willing"
The regiment prepared for the as
sault. The time was fixed for a night
attack. The soldiers were practically
sleeping on their arms when the news
came that Vicksburg had fallen. That
made it unnecessary to assault Port
Hudson. But the moral victory OF
Col. Birge and those who were ready
% join him in the assault was regard
I'd at the time as fully as great as il
would have been had they actually
made the attack.
Copyright, 1914. by f. ]. Edwards
All rights reserved.