Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-08-19
OLD JOHN BURNS.
An IncldeL, of the Battle OF Gettysburg.

Barns, as one of its heroes is roman
tic, and the incident having occurred
at the place and on the day Gen.
Calls was wounded, and he having
encouraged the hero, gives to our
readers an additional interest in the
story Burns became hero in the
Revolutionary war, at Lundys Lane.
We extract from Bates's book as
f, ows:
Con Sunday June 81, preceding
the great battle, Capt John Scott,
qith fourteen men, among whom
was Burns, went out II miles into
the mountains, on the Chambersburg
road, for the purpose of bushwhach-
the enemy; but met Union scouts
and were turned back. On Friday
the &c, Early came with his division
to Gettysburg, infantry, cavalry, and
artillery, and Burr5 perhaps show
ing himself Il = too officious, YVES
taken prisoner and held in custody
until Sunday, when the Rebel leader
dCDaf tAu FI us W at W 1 VI IA. liz
fiery spirit of Barns could i'll brook
this vile duranca and insult to his
authority as civil officer, and we
may imagine him ready to answer
in the language of the resolute con-
stable in village Of the old Bay
State, when bully threatened to
shake him, "You may shake; but
remember, if you shake me you
shake the whols state of Massacnu-
setts" Toward evening of that
same Sunday, Brrns caught Rebel
chaplin, George Gwir, riding with
messages from Ewell TO Early, and
troo DER, and locked them up in the
Gettysburg jail On the following
day he seized one of Whites guer-
rillas, who gave the name Of Taibut,
and him, also he held fast in Jail.
Buford with his cavalry came in
Tuesday, and after resting an hour
in the streets, moved out to McPher-
sons farm and encamped. The APP
pearance of the old flag and the veta-
rams Of Butord brought Joy to the old
/ AIl1h hChi w lIC iiai DCCD
single-handed in facing the whole
Rebel army. He hailed with suits
faction the van Of the Army of the
Potomac, coming to his support.
On the following morning came Rey-
nolds leading the First corps. Burns
was on the alert; yet he was a man
who never nodded with any business
except his own and kept aloof from
the Generals cavalcade; but when
hailed by Rey nolis on his return
from his interview with Buford, and
asked to poii t out near way to get
through the outskirts of the town to
meet the head of his column, Burns
joyfully performed the office. When
the leading division came on, and the
pioneers, obedieat to the order OF
Reynolds, were ieveling the fences
through the ftlis to open way TO
Seminary Ridge, Burns was at hand,
and the flashing of their bright axes
in the morning sunlight made an in
delible impression upon him. Burns
could never restrain his enthuia sm
in describing the scene; but woul
spring to his feet and swing his arms
as though he was handling ore of
those shining implements and laying
low the fences before him.
Going back toward his own home
be met two wounded soldiers Of Blu
ford's command returning to towa
"Ab, my lads" says Burns, "your
guns are needed over yonde'; but
you are bleeding, and are too weak
to carry them; give one of them to
me-" This the soldier addressed res
olutely refused. The other more
accurately discerning the old mans
spirit said to his companion, "Give
it to him You can't use it," What
do You want TO do with it," asked
the soldier. "Shoot the d--n
Rebels" was the old mans curt re-
ply. Ii was given, and filing his
pockets with cartridges, he hurried
forward and came upon the Union
line where Stones brigade was holly
engaged. He was first accosted by
Major Chamberlain of tho One Hun
dred and F,ftieth Pennsylvania, with,
Gold man, where arc you going?"
81 want chance" said Burns "A
chance for what p "To shoot re,
Piled the cd man. his eye fire with
excitement and whole frame sw yed
with emotion. Chamberlain referred
him to Col. Wister To the qnes-
ton if be could be allowed to tigh.,
Wister replied, Eyes, and | wish
there were many more like you
But you have no amuaition Yes,
| have" said Burns, slipping his
pockets ''Do yon know how to
shoot?" "Give me chance, cried
Burns, and | will show you whether
/ | can shoot or not You may
have a chance, said the Colonel,
shut this open ground is no ri ,cc for
an cid man like you. Go over 20
the woods with the Ir,n Brgai",
" here you can have some shelter
He weot as dir. cted. and lining the
Seventh Wisconsin, Lieut. Col. Cal :
/ opened upon the K bels. Bu the
wood did not suit him. He wanted
fair uuobslructed view, and went
to fence in the open ground,
Among his aequaintances be had
always been known as dead shot
/ He was now in no haste 10 create
smoke; but awaiting his PIP r.unity
! he fired only when he saw something
tina. he could hit. He watched es-
peciallg for men mounted, and many
q sadcls was emptied. His unerring
aim attracted the attention Of the
soldiers and the officers of the
Seventh, ard Col.Calis sent him fine
silver mounted rife that had been
captured from the enemy in the ba;-
tie OF Antietam. Away across VIII
bughby Run was seen an officer rid
ing beautiful gray horse. He came
on, leading his men with The utmost