The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-05-28
THE FIRST MINNESOTA.


L. NJ,
which developed the presence of tho enemy In Hight
force his front, whereupon he novel his corps to
the front and occupied intermediate RIDGE the
right forming along the Emmettsburg road TO the
peach orchard from which his left bent back to the
foot of Round TOP. The enemy opened batteries far
to Slckles's left The rafting fire OF the skirmshers
deepened into the continuous roll of muskery the
enemy threw forward forces 10 dispute his advance.
The artillery opened on both sides with yigor, and
the engagement became general all along the front Of
his line. The enemy Mt this time were quiet our
extreme right while in tho centre the batteries alone
were engaged. Two companies OF the First (the
Red Wing Company ami the Second sharpshooters)
were out the skrmlsh line. Another
provost guard, and the other eight were detached
from our proper brigade position and sent down to
the left TO form reserve support for section
of United States Artillery, which was posted
that part of the ridge from which sickles had Just
advanced.
Once there, alth ough obliged to keep low and not
expose ourselves to the balls Shells and bull
lets, which, coming over the heads of the troops In
'front.' went whstiing and bursting above and around
u.s. we beheld grand sight. Below and before us on
the plain the battle was hercey raging. Every move
ment of tho opposing troops was dlscernible and we
watched them with the anxiety Of spectators deeply
interested in the result; though but little Of this
could lie seen In the faces of men, who, long
customed TO conceal their emotions beneath tho mask
OF reckless indifference, were with apparent uncon
crticislng mpartally the fighting Of friend and
foe. Soon the Wow became obscured for though
the sun shone brightly, the air was damp and the
smoke hung heavily the ngh sometimes in roll
ing, cloudy masses, and again. like welldcned wall
conforming to the lines of battle, rising high In the
air. Through this could be seen the charging bat
taons, the darkened forms of the Combaants, and
the banners wildly tossing to and fro above the strug
CLING masses. looming gigantically in the maze he
ftvnnn ne md tha InpIi KIM val
rous pail would hide everything from view save when
the flashes cleaning redy through the darkness re-
veaed the position OF the batteries, and would in
tenty listen, endeavorlng to tell from the yelling and
cheering which came up from the chaotic turmoil to
which side the advantage leaned, while the rattle OF
small arms and the deep bass of the artillery made
the music of the battle, anu Round Top reJcloed the
grand d!apason. Then the breeze would roll up the
smoky curtain, and could repress u shout of
Joy TO that still crowdDg the fight,
and every heart felt the meaning OF those expressive
words of our national anthem, "Our flag Is still
there.''
Sckles's corps had formed an angle with the apex
pushed over the Emmettsburg road, and the enemy
attacked this from both sides with extreme fury. To
MI up tue break In the original line OF battle caused
by Sickess advance Caldwes division OF the Second
Army Corps was put into tho gap Oh his left and
Joined the Fifth Corps, which, stretching still to the
left rested on Round Top. The Second Division of
the Second Corps resting Cemetery HILL also
advanced and realIgned with view to supporting the
right OF the Third Corps. But the active enemy threw
himself on the apex of Slckles's advanced posi-
tIon with such tremendous force of men
that 1t became evident that here the left and
not on the other wing the enemy had been gathering
his heaviest forces to break through Meanwhile Lees
entire line advanced TO engage ours everywhere, and
prevent the changing of troops Pushing the divi-
| sons Of the Third Corps their exposed Hanks the
an a,If hail
! the ground which 1t had won sckles being wounded
about the time his centre broke and the line gave way
and went TO our Our troops In front CALAMITY
endeavored to sustain themselves and check the mo-
mentum Of the enemy, and with the assistance of
reserve regiments made him halt and WAIVER. The
contest was sharp and heavy and success rembled In
the balance. till s fresh battalons of the foe
down and our gallant boys gave way, carrying back
their colors and slightly wounded, and raliyiug by
squads, now and then to empty their guns more
at their pursuers but all organized, concerted effect
I've action on the part OF that corps was at end.
rebel batteries poured grape aud canister into the
retreating groups, and their Infantry advancing with
triumphant yes, showered rapid volleys of leade II
hail Into the broken ranks, which were Keeling and
staggering back, but still turning to make fight like
some feeble but spirited man beneath the blows of a
young and vigorous giant. Thomas's battery, which
had necessarily been silent till these troops had cleared
Its front, now opened upon the rebel infantry
at short range. This turned their attention TO OBJ
Jective point, and soon group OF crimson battle
l flags were advancing through the smoke toward 1t,
supported only as 1t was by eight companies of the
First Minnesota-252 officers and men all told.
just then Hancock rode up, and unable to conceal
his agitation, asked In almost anguisled tones, Great
God Is this all the men we have here?h aud turned
| toward the right, from which was fastening Gen.
| Alpbeus Wiams's division, but still Ave mi nutes
distant, and before they reached tho FOO would
lapa ln,t,
| ton. Not hundred yards behind us the road,
| crowded with our wagons, aud beyond them the
| hospitals aud trains II Hancock could only stop
| that charging mass for five minutes. hope lit up
his face, and, pointing to the smoke OF
| the advancing foe, he cried
Col. Covill, advance and take those coloIs -
| II Is an easy thing to charge when the enc my is
Tetfeating and the battle going WELL but II requires
steady troops to even hold position when the line is
breaking away on every Side. and II was strange
order to give handful to charge that advancing mass
that had Just carried two of our best divisions of
i their feet. We looked at them as Nolan might have
looked at the Russian cannon at Balaklava, and with
| the same disposition to PROFESSIONALLY obey
| ''Forward - shouted our gallant Colonel, and as
| one man the regiment arose, and as II on review
stepped down the slope toward the enemy. Their
non opened ON MS, and shell and solid shot tore through
the ranks, and tho more deadly Enfield rifles Of their
Infantry centred on alone. At every step fell
our men, yet wayers; every gap is closed mp
and, bringing down their bayonets, tho boys press
shoulder to shoulder and dlsdainlng the Fictitious
courage proceeding from noise excitement without
word Cheer but with silent, desperate discrimination
l step firmly forward Five color bearers are shot
down, and Ave times our nag, proudly waving, goes
/ forward as before.
"steady they step adown the slope steadily down the
| hill,
Steadily load, and steadily nre, and march right
onward STILL
No! unlike the famous veterans Of ontenoy they are
unsustalned by the excitement OF firing within a
hundred within nifty yards of the foe, onequarer Of
our already fallen, and yet shot has been fired
| at the enemy whose foremost rank, consisting OF
Forney's Ierberts, and other regiments OF the AL
ALBANIA brigade, commanded by Wilcox aud pOr-
lions OF Barksdae's brigade of Mlsslssppians all Of
whom had lost their order and alignment, and become
| mingled IN one advancing mass during their fight
| with and pursuit OF the Third Corps. Behind them
In alignment came body Of troops, since understood
| 10 be Florida brigade which had not been actively
engaged but was supporting the victorious advance
| OF their comrades AS as our movement was
| noticed the advancing mass stopped and opened q
murderous IRE upon us at not more than fifty yards
distance.
"Charge men'' ran the order along tho line aud
with a wild cheer We ran at them. Their extended
front swept around our tanks like the waters round
rock But before us they gave way, for empty our
guns with the muzzles at their very hearts, aud bu
| little ammunition was wasted at that yolley. per
| feet swath Of men sink upon the ground, aud thei
living reooll back upon their second aud third ues
the body OF many chyalrc southeTnor lies beneatl
tho feet Of Their supporting llnos CONFUSED
and excited, Wildly commence nrng through the
In front, Strengthening their own men by hundreds
and throwing the whole column into confusion Will
lheir artillery from the Ared on friend aud To-
alike Their officers endeayored to stop tie firing an,
| restore order and there, like some small obstacl
thrown In The way OF locomotive to stop the powe