Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-06-30
AN INTERESTING DOCUMENT.
OF Lt.-CoI. Dawes, Command
ing Sixth wis. Vols, after the first
days battle at Gettysburg.

Seven years ago the trst OF July, was COM
menced one of the hardest fought battles-one
most disastrous to human life-that is record
ed in the history of the rebellion. Seven
years how the days speed Already the
glamour of distance is being thrown round
the events of that terrible war. The weary
march-the fierce strife. and, after the battle,
the long rows of dead awaiting the last care
of human hands-all appear more like the
conjuring of a busy brain. than the hard,
unyielding realities of a few short years ago.
Through tho oourtosy of A L. RoRrnrs'
ESQ., of this city, we are permitted to pub
lish the following report of Col Dawes, who
commanded the Old Sixth in the three days
battle of Gettysburg. Mr.. ROBERTS was
Quartermaster of that regiment. This docu-
ment will remind many of our readers. who
were members of the Iron Brigade, of that
LIST day of July. 1863. How. marching out
from Gettysburg, they came upon the rebel
army, far out-numbering the boys in blue /:
and after fighting desperately, how the Union
forces slowly retired, with less than half the
number that came out that sunny morning =
and how, after three long days of dreadful
carnage. the rebel army was finally routed
and completely beaten. But at what a cost !
Let the mourning mothers, widows and
sisters all over our land, answer:
Head Quarters 9th Regt Wis., Vols
July 18th 1863.
Capt. J. ID. Wood. A. A. g. IS Brigade:
CAPTAIN.-I have the honor to report as follows
mand during the action OF July LIST, near Gettys-
burg, Penn:
On the morning of July 1st as the Brigade NOV
ed forward TO engage the enemy in support of the
Second Brigade of this Division. 1 received an
order to move forward rapidly and form on the
left of the line of the Brigade without check
ing from double-quick, the Regiment formed
by Companies into line, and forward into line
loading as they marched, and moved forward
steadily and rapidly toward the position assigned.
Before reaching my position in the line of bate
was ordered to halt and hold my men in reserve
At this juncture the Brigade Guard, officers and
100 men under command of1st Lieut. Lloyd G. Harri
OF the ON Wis, oy direction OF Gen. Meredlth,
reported to me for duty. divided the Guard in
to two Companies placing the first on the right
flank of the Regiment under command of I'd
Lieut. Levi ShOwalter of the I'd Wis. the second
on the lie 1t under command of Lieut. Harri. l re-
ceived second order to advance which was pro-
ceeding TO execute, when by command of Maj
Gen Doubleday commanding the Corps, the Reg
iment was again halted and detached from the
Brigade as a general reserve TO the line OF the
Division now holly engaged throughout In a
very few minutes l received an order from Mai.
Gen. Doubleday TO move at once to the support
of the right of the line OF the Division I76h n.
V, 56th Penn and I47th " VI which was being
forced back and outfianked by the enemy. L
moved by the right flank double quick toward the
point Indicated Before reaching position where
could be OF service the enemy had suceee ded
in turning the flank and flushed with victory, was
pressing rapidly in pursuit of retreaing line,
threatening the rear of the LIST Brigade engaged
in the woods on the LEFT. filed TO the right and
rear to throw my line in front of the enemy and
moved by the left flank forward in the line of bat
tie upon his advancing line. The men kept up a
steady double quick never faitcring or breaking
under the fire which had become very CALLING
When my line had reached a fence about forty
rods from the line of the enemy, ordered fire
by file. This checked the advance of the Rebels,
who took refuge in a Railroad Cut from which
they opened muTderous fire upon u.s. imme d.
lately ordered the men over the fence with a view
to Charging upon the Cut. The g5th n. Y ana
14th Brooklyn now joined on my left. Ny men
continued firing and advancing steadily ran TO
Maj Pye commanding as l supposed, the line on
my left aud told him would move forward If he
would move with me, and Immediately gave the
order to charge. The men of the whole line mov-
ed forward upon double quick well closed in
face of a terribly destructive fire from the enemy
When our line marched to the edge of the Cut
the Rebels began throwing down their arms in to-
ken OF surrender Adjutant Ed. p. Brooks with
promptness and foresight moved detachment of
twenty men in position to enfilade the Cut from
the right when the entire Regiment in my front
| after some murderous skirmishing by the more
desperate, threw down their arms Major Blair
commanding the Regiment ed Mississippi upon
my demand surrendered his sword and Regt. to
me. / directed him to have his men fall in and
move 10 the rear in charge of Major Hauser of this
Regt. Major Hauser informs me. that by direction
OF Gen Wadswolth he placed in charge of Caval
~ guard. seven officers and about two hundred
and twenty five men.
The battle flag of the Regt, was captured before
the surrender by Corporal Asbury Waller of Com
pany L. and has been forwarded in obedience OF
orders to Army Headquarters.
The loss from my command in this charge was
not less than one hundred and sixty men, killed
and wounded.
After this capture of prisoners, by direction of
Gen Wadsworth took positon in nieca ~ ,vood :
on the right of the Railroad Cut near the Sc minarv
where remained about thirty minutes and reor-
ganized my shattered Regt.
was then ordered forward to occupy the next
crest In front in support of Battery on the left
OF the Cut. The enemy opened fire from a Bat
terry ofSlx guns upon my advancing line, killing
and wounding several men.
took possession of the crest where remained
until the Battery had retired and the enem, had
pressed back our lines on my right and left when
moved back under cover of the Railroad Cut
and by direction of Gen WadswOrth took position
again In the wood in support of four pieces OF
Stewards Battery. where remained until ordered
by Gen Wadsworth to retire in good order be yond
inc Guy. raced by the rear rank and moved stead
lily back in line of battle over the open field to the
city almost directly toward the lines of the enemy
who had completely outfianked us on the eleven
tn Corps front and already gained possession of a
The streets were crowded with retuTning troops
batteries and ambulance trains. The men were
almost Frustrated with Over-exertion and heat
The rebel sharp shooters occupied the streets on
ourlet and their lines of battle almost COMPLETELY
enclrcled the city. But by great exertion on the
part OF the officers the regiment preserved its in
tegrlty and the men, assembling around their col
ors gave IN the Streets hearty cheers for the old
sixth, and the good cause / moved to the Gem
etery Hill and by direction of Gen. Wadsworth
reported Tor duty to Col. Robinson, as commander
| of the brigade.
lean only say that the men of the Sixth most
| noOy vlndlcated their history in this desperate
struggle. Capt. John Ticknor was instantly kin
ed, whlie cheering on his men to the charge This
officer rose from the ranks winning his cantancv
Tor coolness and efficiency while in command of
sklrmlshers at South Mountain, and was djstin-
guished Tor his bravery upon every battle field of
tina regiment. good offcer-a brave mana
genial, whole-souled companion Tfcknor will he
sadly missed from our circle. Second Lieut. D. ID,
chapman commanding company q. was also killed
at the Railroad Cut. He had but lately been conn
misSioned; lie was always a faithful, obedie MT
soldier ana as an officer, brave and efficient.
Inc omcers without exception behaved, as on
many battle fields before with devoted Courage
each holding his own life and safety of less ac-
count than the good condnct of his men and regi-
ment.
To Major Hauser and Adjutant Brooks 1 am
much indebted Tor assistance in maneuvering the
regiment throughoutthe battle. Icannot speak too
highly OF the bravery and efficiency IN action of
each OF these officers.
Without reflection upon other officers of the line
feellt due TO their conspicuous bravery and good
Converse and Lieut. Chas p. Hyatt of company B.
and Lieut. Gotermann OF company f.
Capt Converse commanded the party who
brought safely from the field and saved from cam
ture the gun Of the second Maine battery that had
i been abandoned to the enemy.
have the honor to he very resnectfuliv vanx