The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-04-04
Incidents During the Battle of Gettys-
burg.

On the 1st of July, 1868, the Third
army corps commanded by General Sick.
les, to whose staff was attached. went in
to camp about l o'clock p. m, at Emmets-
burg. The different corps of the army
OF the Potamac were then marching by
different roads towards the unknoun, the
strategic views and schemes of both Lee
and Meade being as yet rather mixed up,
and much like raisins in pudding, to
use homely simic. Gen. Sickles and
his aids no sooner dismouuted from their
horses than we stretched ourselves out on
the grass and began studying the map,
especially the roads leading to Gettysburg,
whittier two army corps had already been
directed. At Emmetsburg We found our
selves some ten miles distant from Gettys
burg. The prospects of a good dinner
FROM "loyal" kitchen filed every one of
us with joy, but before we could enter
upon our prandial exercises u report came
that the First aud Eleventh corps had
struck upon the Johnnies at Gettysburg,
and were compelled to fall back south of
that town, Gen. Sickles knew what this
report meant, and without waiting for or.
ders, set the corps again in motion, march
ing in double and triple quick to Gettys-
burg. We reached Cemetery Hill, the
new position occupied by our troops, about
sunset, and received from the boys, as
may be imagined pretty hearty welcome
The Twelfth, under Slocum, the Second,
commanded by Hancock, were also COM
ing in. Gen. Meade had not yet arrived,
and the generals present soon determined
to hold kind of council of war, which
they did in the small low, and dismal
room reserved for dead bodies. This
sight filled my heart with strange feelings,
and before they subsidized l heard General
Sickles' voice calling ME. entered the
dreary abode, illumined with so many
stars, was presented to General Slocum,
then the ranking officer, and ordered by
him, on General Sickles' recommends.
ton, to inspect and fix the whole picket
line, and to report during the night what
| saw, &c. felt rather fattered by this
mark of distinction, but was, at the same
time, too dry and hungry to feel perfect
ly happy. ] mounted my horse, and trot-
ted of, accompanied by three orderlies.
1t was about midnight that l finished
MY task, so far as our picket lines we're
concerned, and then | tried to feel my
way little outside of our lines, to learn,
if possible, something about the position
and intentions of the rebs. [ rode up
and dowu the Teneytown road, then
struck the cross road near Round Top,
and afterward reached the Emmetsburg
road passing west of it. This was, so to
speak, semi forbidden ground our South
ern guests lay not a great way off, and
we distinctly heard their movements
Subsequently we learned that these move
ments meaut the arrival of Longstreet's
corps. The night was rather cool, es
pccially for au empty stomach, and kind
Of haze hung round the wooded places,
though in the higher regions the moon
shone bright enough One OF the order
lies | sent back to head quarters with
brief report, so that We were only three
As we paced on quietly toward belt of
woods, one Of the orderiies, Harney by
name, whispered. Captain, [ see two
of them % | looked in the direction
which he pointed, and actually saw some
thing behind tree, and occasionally
beckoning With one intent all three OF
Us, with our three pair of eyes, looked +,
gazed and gaped at the spot Indicated
All of Us discovered the same thing, viz !:
two beings nodding and beckoning to each
other. We spent about an hour in this
vicinity in emotional suspense, when Ilar-
ney, with his Hibernian fire, advised me
to order charge, aud offered to lead
Bill New Yorker. caught the enthusiasm
of his comrade l. however, tried to show
that it would it not do to give the alarm
too soou, and that we must see something
more before doing that. While We were
thus discoursing aud exchanging our
ideas, the mist lifted and we perceived,
in their full majesty, the bodies of two
cows. IIarney swore vengeance, asked
me to permit him to dismount, and grasp
ing his canteen in one hand and a spare
surcingle in the other made rush upon
the cows one ran of, while from the 9th.
er he cxtored cantecn full of rcekin9
milk, and presenting it to me, exclaimed
"I have not left single drop to the ID
old b."
This soothing beverage we divided
among us with as much impartiality as
was practicable under the circumstances,
aud then proceeded further on our errand
We were not long in discovering part
of Lees train. sent Bill off back to
wards the Emmetsburg road, and dis
mounted to let our horses Craze, using
our time-our spare moments-ln rest
ing ourselves upon the dewy grass, hold
ing the brides in our hands. 1t was IL
the direction pointed out to Tom Burns
the orderly, | first sent away. where t.
/ look for NE on his return. Both OF Us
alike felt drowsy, wet without and dry
within, and equally impatient for Toms
temperance. L was rather anxious t'