The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-14
THEY MET ON THE BATTLEFIELD

In examining Batcheller's maps of the
battle ground at Gettysburg not long ago,
the disposition of a Union brigade under
Hancock at Cemetery hill, marked by a
line at right angles with the position occu
pied by Pickett's rebel column, attracted
attention, eliciting an expression of SUR
prisefrom the observer That line, casu-
Tyre marked one of the gentlemen exami
ming the maps, recalls one of the most
singular incidents of The war, an incident
stranger than fiction, embodying in itself
bit of military romance as remarkable
as anything depicted in imaginative liter
allure. It's new story, added the speaker
"and has never been in print, the princi-
pal participants having mentioned it only
here and there in intercourse with per-
sonal friends" The curiosity of his com
panion was aroused, and the speaker was
eagerly solicited TO tell the romance of
the unaccountable line on the map.
Twenty five years ago or thereabouts, -
went on the leading conversationalist,
consenting to recite what had so seldom
been told, Col. William E. Barrows,
president of the Willimantic Linen com
pany, had school friend and companion
at Phillips academy at AndOver. where
his father was a professor in the theolO
gical seminary. The boys name was
Huntington Jackson. An elder brother,
by the way, Joe jackson, was Yale
man somewhere in the neighborhood of
SO When the time came fot Hunting
ton to decide on his college course he
selected Princeton. Col Barrows,
on the other hand, went to Lowell
and there laid the foundation for the
brilliant business career which he has
since attained placing him in the front
rank of New England's successful leaders
A strong and enduring friendship had
grown up between the two boys, but
their path widely separated, so that they
neither saw or.heard of one another for
years.
The outbreak of the war summoned
Jackson from his college and BarrOws
from the Lowell factories to the front.
As fate would have it, both were selected
| for staff service, where dash and courage,
everything in word that is brightest and
most fascinating in soldiers lite, is de
/
presence, each was drawn into the superb
defense Of Cemetery hill during the three
days engagement at Gettysburg, Col
BarrOw's brigade being on the advance
line and Jackson's in reserve As
! Pickett's column was seen pushing for
ward toward the crest of the hill, Bar
rows brigade commander cried out: MY
Godl If had but two regiments to place
at right angles with that line, we could
hold the spot against all odds The idea
was so completely in opposition to every
military principle that it seemed prepos
! torous, but as the result turned out il
was an INSPIRATION. Col. Barrows was
ordered to gallop back to the reserve anC
bring forward two regiments. TuTnin!
his horses head he shot away, followed
by an orderly. But in a dozen second
he found the way impracticable an:
leaped from his saddle to the ground
determined to reach the reserve on foo
and bring forward the necessary troop
for his commander. Quick as thought h,
placed the bride reins Of the horse in tn,
orderly's hand, and the next instant hat
disappeared in the thicket
"Col Barrows had not gone half {
dozen rods when he felt himself lifted
bodily from the ground and carried for
ward with tremendous rapldity. A heav,
shell had struck the earth just under hi
feet, and had torn up loads of debri
from the surface, the concession tearing
one Of the colonies shoes from his feet
and binding him with the cloud of dus
and loan. Rubbing his eyes open whe
he found that there was still life left i
7 him, he looked up and saw standing b
, his side the old school friend and com
panion at Phillips Academy, whom h
had not seen for years The two mer
) glancing at one annther, exclaimed:
r 1" 'Huntie jackson
Willie BarrowsP
and clasped hands with the old arder an
enthusiasm But it was no time for til
exchange of personal "reminiscences
Burning with the mission on which h
t had been sent, Col Barrows asked Jacl
son if he knew the position of the reserve
} Yes replied jackson, 1t is my com
mand The two regiments were ordere
| forward, and BarrOws led them wit
unerrlng accuracy 10 the posltlon asslgne
by his commanding officer The execI
r ton of the movement had the desire
effect. When Gen. Hancock discovere
f what had been done he was heard t
v exclaim; If the d-n fool can be foun
2 who ordered this movement I'll brevt
0 him The criticism was the highest
compliments, carrying with it an under
i current of approval of the most unmil
f tary of measures, the line at right angl'
with the rebel column under Pickett,
e is the true story of the unaccountab
l line on the map" concluded the speake
q "At the close of the battle Barrows ar
n Jackson spent the night together on OF
o of the bloodiest fields of the war"