"...no braver act occured..."

In the fall of 1889, Captain Lucian B. Crooker of Company I, 55th Illinois, reached back in his memory to the perilous assault of the XV Corps' "Forlorn Hope" assault at Vicksburg in 1863. In hopes of putting Captain Groce of the 30th Ohio's family at rest in regards to his valiant actions, Crooker attempted to remove all question of the late officer's courage on the field.

Capt. Groce and the Forlorn Hope.

Editor National Tribune: In your issue of Sept. 5, Lem Kent inquires whether Capt. John H. Groce, of the 30th Ohio, led the forlorn hope on the Graveyard road at Vicksburg in 1864. If he means the forlorn hope which preceded the assault on that road on May 22, 1863, I am enabled to answer him. Capt. John H. Groce, of th 30th Ohio, did command that forlorn hope. In other words, he was senior officer, though assisted by three juniors: one from the 127th Ill., one from the 55th Ill., and one from the 6th Mo. The headquarters flag of Gen. Ewing's Brigade was carried by young Trogden, of the 8th Mo., who planted it upon the outside slope of the rebel fort, where it remained during the afternoon. This detail, or rather this volunteer force consisted of 150 men from the Second (Blair's) Division of the Fifteenth Corps, of whom 19 were killed and 34 wounded, Capt. Groce being among the later. The 55th Ill. had 13 men, including Lieut. William C. Porter, engaged with this detachment. Of these three were killed and five wounded. Those who reached the ditch remained in it and upon the outside slopes of the rebel works form about 2 o'clock p.m. until after dark, when they returned, bearing their wounded comrades, to the unsuccessful lines of the main assaulting force. While in the rebel ditch these gallant men were greatly annoyed by small shell thrown by hand over the rebel works. Serg't Haney, of the 55th Ill., was killed in this manner. I am happy to inform the aged father of Capt. Groce that his son did ably command on that occasion, and that no braver act occurred during the heroic age of the rebelion [sic].

- L. B. Crooker, Captain, 55th Ill., Mendota, Ill.

Source: The national tribune, 3 October 1889