Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-07-13
STOPPING THE GAP.
heminisence Of the DeIth sOwn Field OF Gettys
burg and the Part Played by Minnesota.
Rngimnnf

Washington Sunday Herald: W,
are permitted TO take the following nc.
count of a splendid achievement at the
attic of Gettysburg from IN unpuolish.
Ell manuscrLp letter written BY Hon
Martin Magirnis, OF Montana, who was
an actor in the scene he describes Col
Bachelor, The historian in one of the
meetings last winter at Gen. Dudley
office, narrated this incident briefly. a.
one Of the most remarkable charges OF
the war, and said he had often beer
asked by confederate officers who were
present to tell them what regiment il
was that came at them 50 heroically
just as their troops pursuing Sicklps'
broken corps had nearly reached tic
crest Of Cemetery Ridge. 1t is not
necessary to add anything TO the graph
ic description Of Maj. Maginnis Tho
Army of the Potomac had no finer regi-
ment than the First Minnesota, and ii.
whole hiStorymay be ransacked in vain
to find more heroic charge than this
regiment made on the second dag at
Gettysburg.
The morning was foggy, sultry and
murky, and spent chiefly in skirmiSh-
ing and desultory cannonadng. The
sharp-shoOters on our front contested
the right to hold the farm houses.
which we're alternately occupied by
eithe side, and finally burned About ,
2. IN. Gen. Slckles made a reconnois-
ancc which developed the presence OF
the enemy in light force in his front.
whcreupOn he moved his corps to the
tiOnt and occupied an Intermediate ridge
the right forming along the Emmctts-
burg road to the peach orchard from
which his left bent back to the foot OF
Round Top. The enemy opened bat
terica FAR TO Sickle left. The rafting
ire % the kirmiShcrs dcepened into the
continuous roll Of musketry as the enc
my threw forward forces TO dispute his
advance The artillery opened on both
sides with yigOr and the engagement be-
came general all along the front Of his
line. The enemy at this time were
quiet ON our extreme right, while in the
center the batteries alone were engaged
Two companies of the First (thc Red
Wing company and the Second sharp
shuoters) were out on the skirmish line
Another was on provost guard and the
other eight were detached from our
proper brigade position and sent down
to the left TO perform n reserve support
Tor section ot the United States artil-
lery, which wa, posted on that part of
the ridge from which SicKles had Just
advanced
Once there, although obliged 10 keep
low and not expose ourselves to the
cannon balls, shells, and bullets, which
coming over the heads of the troops in
front, and went whistling and bursting
above and around us, we beheld n grand
sight Below and before us on the plain
the battle was ticlcely raging. Every
movement Of the opposing troops was
discernablc, and we watched them with
the anxiety of spectators so deeply IN
terested in the result; though but little of
this could be seen in the faces of our
men, who, long accustomed to conceal
their emotions beneath the mask of reck-
less indifference, were with apparent
unconcern criticising impaItially the
lighting of friend and foe Soon the
view became more obscured, for, though
the san shonc brightly. the air was damp
and the smoke hung heavily over the
fight, sometimes in rolling, cloudy mas
scs. and again, like well defined wall
conforming to the lines of battle, ris-
ing high in the air Through this could
be seen the charging battallons, the
darkencd forms Of the combatants. and
the banners wildly tossing 20 and fro
above the struggling masses, looming
gigantically in the maze between us and
the dim sun. Again the suIphurous
pail would hide everything from view
save when the flashes cleaning redly
through the darkness revealed the posi-
ti0n Of the batteries. and we would in
teutly listen, cndeavoring 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
aud Round Top rc-cchoed the grand
dirasion, Then the breeze would roll
mp tie smoky curtain, and none could
rcpresS n shout of Joy to sc, that our
men were still crowding the fight, and
every heart felt the meaning of those
expressive words Of our national an
them. "Our flag is still there
Sickes corps had formed an angle
with the apex pushed over the Emmetts-
burg road, and the enemy attacked TIL,
from both sides with extreme fury. To
fill up the break in the original line of
battle caused by Sickles advance, Cald-
wcIEs division of the Second army corps
was put into the gap on his left, and
Joined the Fifth corps, which. stretch
ng still to the left, resting near Gene
terry hill, was also advanced and realign-
ed with view to supporting the right
OF tie Third corps. But the active enc
my threw himselfOn this apex of Slckles
advanced position with such tremendous
force of men that it soon became evil
dent that here on 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 divisions of the Third corps
on their exposed TANKS, the enemy be-
gan to crumblc il up and force il back
over the ground which it had won. Sick
les being wounded about the time his
center broke, and the line gave way
and went to our rear Our troops in
front CALAMITY eudeayorcd to sustain
themselves and check the momentum
of the enemy, and with the assistance
Of some reserve regiments made him
halt and waver The contest was sharp
and heavy. and success trembled in the
balance. tin still fresh battalions OF the
foe came down and our gallant boys
rave way. carving back their coOrs
and slightly wounded. and rallying by
squads now and then to empty then
Gun, once more Mt their pursuers bui
all organized concerted, effective ne
tion ou the part of that corps was az ~