Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-12-23
An INCIDENT OF TIE WAR.

re :atess TIE following extract from a
sotiee in the E7ening N5scoasta of Gen.
John GIbboD, who is now visiting and
lectariug IA this State.
Few Of the members Of the old brigsde
= &c division, viii ever forget that Pone
campaign, or Gibbons mastery and brave
conaacs ;here. The terrible fighting of
'he day, brigade againit division or
division against corps of the enemy
Ah many brave boy ofthose iron hearts
laid down zig life during chose DAYS of
night marching and aIl DIV fighting
against such frightful odds. Day after day
Wss this merciless lighting, fol!owed.oy the
aighs retreat, to End, when daylight came,
ssone wall jackson IN the front, and
another day OF carnage. Few divisions
could have, Hishssood the shock upon
shock, the wear and tear, and the slaugh
tsr az did those brave boys then and there,
and i Is veil that such seige should be
engraved upon their banners and that each
Of them shoull be stamped as a hero, such
az the world has never seen before.
It Ras in one OF these series of fghts
fhat an incident occurred showing the
character Of Gen. Gibbon and the nsteri-
al OF which he was made The Iron
Brigade, IN performing perilous DUTY.
had become detached from the division
and Tas left to stand the whole brunt of
Jacksona army. Gibboh, with his hand
Tul of boys. took possession of command
ing point aud rested. jackson came I'D
on three sides Of him to gi7e battle. It
was critical moment, and every soldier
Eel: that nov Tas the trying moment.
There was one flank open and many an
eve vas cast towards this az safe direc
sion of retreat, should jackson crowd
them too hard, and the tagging troops
which lined the roads from Fairfax Court
Rouse almost to the battle ground not
come up. Suddenly the lamented Has
kins, then Adjutsnt General of the brig
ads, diseoFered that jackson. ever on the
alert, had sent division to close I'D the
zap, and the little Spartan band was en-.
Sirelv 81. rounded By an army outnumber
ing it ten to one. Then vas the moment
for the hero Gibbon to chow himself, as
he did.--Mest membrane men. too
would have turned pale and trembled at
such moment Not so, Gibbon. Then
he showed bis brave fellows, that thew
had never admired him half enough
that they were only in the A. 3. G. ofthe |
alphabet Of which be was made.
sEanerai, said Haskins, riding up,
"they have closed up the gap, and are
coming upon US from all sides"
Well, and Gibbon spoke With calm
valoe, and one that showed the little ex
citement and the less of fear that disturb /
ed hia brain at that perilous moment
''W ell. let them come We are here first
are re not !"
1t was bold answer, and it sent thrill !
OF delight and hopeinto every breast, that |
made the old brigade, thinned in numbers
though It may have been, an army in it
aelf, and when it received the shock of
that army, it die not recoil or fslter. but
stood bravely to its work, and held the |
held, turning what, but for Gibbon, might !
have been disaster into vietory-a gal
liant victory. and ole which, when the
history ofthe campaign is written, will
show that it had much to do in preventing
defeat fron1 becoming rout.
God bless john Gib5on and his brave
boys went mp from many heart on that
ocea ion, and welcome John Gibbon W Il
Re the greeting oferery Wisconsin soldier