Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-10-10
A SharDsh00ter Disl0dged.


sashing."
A Sharpshooier Disl0dged.
INT EREsTING INCIDENT IN THE BATTLE OF
GETTYSBURG.
The late Joshua r. Giddings, Of blessed
memory. was dead shot. not only orstorical lly
considered bu, with a rife. There was not
man, in the country of AshtabuIa tand that
country was celebrated for fine marksmen) that
could excsl him, either at squirrel hunting or
at a target shot. His son, Grotius r.. is
veritable chip of the old block. On these
hunting excursions of the elder Giddings. Re
was invariably accompanied by Grotius, and il
was during these Nimrod'an seasons that the
youngster received those lessons in politics and
wood craft which so well 6tte1 him for the ca
reer which the shadouy future had in store FIR
him. On these occasions the elder would say
to him. Grosh- my hov, never be guilty Of
an act or word which will give aid, counsel or
comfort to the Institution of slavery and it,
attendant iniquities, or close your doors o-
hear, against the huuted fusi,ves from oppres-
sion, or bring home a squirrel unless shat
through TIE head
E .ch of these maxims hsrmo-ixsd conp'af"
" win the naturel bent Of the youugstrr',
returning at the age ot f:urtean frnm = mat
.qlirr-l hunf of two DAYS duration. and bring
ing home ore huodrtd an ely h'y nf she smsr
deer vi their heads of nrov-d that III
wood craft pars vas wall learned .ud b. en,.
ssqnent c.re-r. both in the 6sld and cfic,
showed that the political porri7ns If his f,'h
"a RS teachings were veil stored by she
But a.-rfed TO tell YOU an incident Of the h -
tie of Gettysburg. B. patient | am comm e
to that. l mist reach the point hy reRua.
approaches. At the bre7king ou' OF tn. VA"
." o Fa her Giddings va. Consul Gsner,I
Of Causd.. .'ati, ned At Montreal Grotiu. R.
was in bis office as Vice Consul G-nera.. Wher
the fr.t news OF the struggle va. received.
young Grddinas became re.iles.. His father
nolcin4 the fact, remarked to him one d.r.
" Grosh, what's the matter with you p
:" Father" replied the Vice Consul. think
want TO g home" Well s-id tn. elder
q" I've been thinking i, was the best thing you
could do and the sooner the better. When
can you get ready p &" By the next train, "
answered the junior.
Ga the next train be started for the Buck
eye State. Passing through Colum bus, he
called on Gov. Dennison who was then in the
governors chair, obtained a commission, and
left for his home in Ashtsbula County. In
three and one-haf days from the time he LEFT
Montreal. be had his company full and sworn
into the United States service. That com pany
be commanded 10 person until the battle ol
Philrpi when he was promoted to the Ma
ority of the 14th Regulars, which regiment
he led at the battle of Gettysburg. The 14sh
vas close to the front, and lying under the hr
of the enemy. The Major was standing be
bind his command. Behind him vas large
rock, and behind the rock a sharpshooter o.
| rebel persuasion whom the Confederate Gen
Wilcox kept upon his staff to pluck of ouI
officers. A large rock the rebel right o.
Round Top afforded safe cover for the Al
albanian, who. by the way, was considered one
of their crack marksmen. He would load hi
rife behind the rock, then jump on the iattel
and take deliberate aim at any officer he coule
see on our line, then drop behind the rock agar
and reload. This he continued with fearful
| rapdity and precision. NJ jor Giddings, being
rather conspicuous, cime in for share of th
rebels attention. At last sick o; the annoy
ance, he turned to TIE shsrpshooter in hl
rear.
| Here, you man with the telescope rife
| can't you bring down that rebel rihemsD ?
:. Well, Major, I'm trying to fetch him, but
i. long range" "It is no longer for yo
than it is for him, and il you don't shoot hin
he will shoot me- said the MAJOR. II it /
all the same to you I'd rather you would shoe
him." But" answered the soldier. il. tn
Johnney has one of those long ranged Engils
Whitworth rifles, and they can beat ours
bearing up a distance" Well" remsrke
the Major, " if you cannot hit him stop try
ing, for you only draw his attention this wa,
aad if you don't stop it III shoot him my
self"
The soldiers and others in hearing, smiled {
what they deemed the bossting speech of th
Msjor. Just then, whiz came shot from III
rebel sharpshooter. which completely shave
of one-haf of the NJ jor's moustacne. No
this hir>ute ornament was peculiar pet OF tt
M.j1r IN f4c,, his moustache was his prid
Feeling something sting ra her sharply in clio
proximity to MS nose, he quickly ciapped h
hand 70 the spo:, and behold one halt of h
upper lip WAS shorn of lis glory. To say to
the Mslor was mad would be drawing it rsth
mild.
Quickly ns'chiug up Springfield riffs fro
one of men. ne dropped behind rotts
stump and literally laid icw for the reb-l.
few minutes the game appeared. and Quick
drawing hi, piece to his shoulder he sent
o,il crashing through the skull of the col
corporal, within three f.-t of the Major. B
Q 1t was his last shot, for before he could sg,
gain his covert the NJ lor let drive, and 4
retei was seen to toss his arms wildly, thrt
his ride 10 the air, and fl! headong from
> rock, perch, as dead julius Ca ar A stu
ming cheer from the entire line in sight OF t
rock greeted the Ms slor's feat, wnrie ne COG
. proceeded to reload his rhs. Just NJ II
moment the rebel color guard came up to Il
;, rock close by where the dead sha'pshooter
- and placted their colore beside II. The NJ a
y again dropped behind the rotten stump,
;. sends that color sergesnt one, and The rel
u d4g was brough, 10 the dust. Again chez
J. broke from our line. But by this tiIe I
enc mies' attention was attracted to this poi
10 equad of sharpshoosers was brought up
,e , near our line as the cover would allow. II
! had evidently sighted the Msjr's positit
:, Captain Coppinger, of the 14,h. who had b
watching the movement on the part OF
q" gray coats, suddenly called out
Major, you had better move CD from 8
ef stump, for the enemy have got range q
3 mean mischief" The Major moved some ,
~ or twelve feet to the righ, then whis came
= ley and some eight bullets passed through
- rotten stump. directly in rarge OF where
Majors head was . few seconds before.
II cody remarked :" A miss is good as mil
d and walked away. After the battle the Gen
NC commanding the division remarked 4" Ths
,s' the first time ever saw . telescope rifle BET
nc oy Springfield rife at four hundred ys
e- When and where did you acquire such skill
X. marksman 2" When | WAS tel years
in the woods OF the old Buckeye State"
40 wersd the Major, the Military school OF
Northwest"
During the day. fight the l4th capt'
some of these sharpshoo,ers, and from q
N, learned Of the CONSERVATION produced by
ion fatal accuracy OF the Majors shots. I
th told US that the FIRST shot passed dire
ral through the sharpshorter's throat, compile
es. ssvering the spinal chord. The color serg
ts- was mortally wounded in the chest.
by -~--------
The museum of Natural History, Paris,