The National tribune., 1884-08-21
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
VERSIONS BRIGADE.
Its Capture at Gettysburg The Regiments that
Forced its Surrender.


To THE EDIToR: A few days ago my atien-
tion was called TO an article in your valuable
columns under date of June 26, written by Isaac
Hail. Captain Co. A, 9th n. Y, headed q liver
sons Brigade saying that With view of set
ting the public mind at rest, and for the vindi-
cation Of historic truth, i Captain Hall ask
the indulgence of your columns to answer the
inquiry 30 the force that captured Iverson's
brigade at Gettysburg, July i, 1853"
IN ANSWER
thereto ] would respectfully request permission
to certify that at least fourths of the 18th
Mass participated in the charge. Capt. Hall
claims the whole credit for the 97th n. " and
at the same time admits that some of the 18th
Mass may have broken from that regiment,
which faced another way and gone in with the
g7th" would here state that i would not
take one iot Of credit from the 9th n. Y, nor
from any other regiment IN the brigade. for
they Were all good,) but the fact is that Capt
Hall is led into sclne inaccuracies which are
perhaps, easily excused.
All who have experience in the matter know
that 4 Captsin commanding a company actively
engaged, as they Were,
HAS ALL BE CAN ATTEND TO
to observe and direct his men he cannot pay
sufficient attention 10 the field TO accurately de-
scribe p years later what was or what was not
done by the troops on his right or left. That a
greater part OF the 18th Mass. participated in the
charge can attest, having given the order odo
so, and number of our men who were wounded
and remained lying among the rebel ranks un-
til night are left TO testify thereto, if such is
necessary.
Our regiment went into action on the ex-
treme right Of our brigade, facing nearly north.
Observing the enemy more 10 our LEFT, Col. Bates
his attention being called thereto, changed
the regiments front half TO left, marching for
ward TO the top of the hill.
Part Of our regiment changed here again to
conform to stone wall alluded TO. At this time
the enemy was distinctly visible and firing be-
gan IN earnest. IversOn' brigade marched up on
the MumInasburg road, massed under cover OF
the big red barn in our front and right, and
was then deployeG in full view Of cur regiment
to their right and our left during which we
kept up a constant and most destructive FIRE
upon them. Two companies of our regiment
were facing northwest. guarding our right and
engaging the enemy posted near the barn and
coming from the right Of the same
Oar fire, at so short range, must have
MADE SAD HAVOC
in their ranks, for they soon lay down and
put up their guns. Some had white handker-
chiefs lscarce article) on their bayonets.
In consequence thereof, some Of our men
ceased firing screamed and hallooed, charge
bayonetsi" Others Fire away!r At this
time ! was coming from cur right. where had
been with Col. Bates watching the movements
Of the enemy. Hearing the confused orders
ran 70 our left and inquired of a Sergeant
sKimhail, Co. A, What is the order?" He
replied, Z" Forward Seeing the condition of
the enemy. bounded across the stone wall and
cried, Forward, l2th." and they advanced.
Simultaneously with this ] saw troops or cur
left advance. and a large number Of the enemy
rushed through The ranks Of Our regiment and
brigade. Not over 200 Of our brigade ever
reached the enemy's lines Some never re-
Turned but were taken prisoners by the rebels.
as they soon rallied and began firing upon US
Upon recurring / found that the goth Pa
had been sent to our right. Up TO this time
our right had bseB the extreme right Of our
corps.
Col Bates was wcanded in the neck but
would not leave the iield nor allow an escort
from the ranks FOR the prisoners, claiming that
every man was needed 10 bold the line.
THE PRISONERS
however, who were causing us some annoy
Rnce and interfering with our movements
were finally taken ia charge by Capt. B. f.
Cook ,afterward Lieutenant-Colonel), now re-
siding in Gloucester, Mass, mentioned below
as at that time doing provost duty. Capt Cook
had orders from Gen. John C. Robinson, CON-
nancing the division, to march in rear Of the
division, and, as soon as engaged, TO join the
regiment. lie came on the field about this
b-Hic altDs Df direction OF OeI. Robinson.
marched with the prisoners around Gettysburg
and turned them over 10 the Provost Marshal
Of the Eleventh Corps
lverson's brigade did not come on the field
uno5seTTed, but was distinctly seen by cur
regiment deplOying in columns from behind
the red barn. IL was q foolish movement on
their part ior during their deployment our
regiment and. no doubt, Others on our left de-
hvered a most destructive fire, which caused
them TO lay down and show the white feather.
with results already described
Soon after reforming our lire behind the
stone wall, / was wounded and compelled to
retire 10 Gettysburg from whence succeeded
IN escaping. early on the morning of July 4.
into our lines at Cemetery Eill.
THE 10TH MASS
vert into this fight with nine companies (Co.
E being On provost duty, numbering about Is
officers and ls5 men, from which we lost I2
officers and l03 men, nearly ell in the engage
NEXT Of July ], 1863. The facts are, that all
but two companies Of our regiment faced the
rebels directly; IverSon's brigade was deployed
from behind the big red barn, in plain view,
and the first fire they received was from the
10Th Mass.
The charge was a spontaneous movement of
the brigade, more or less, Of at least four regi-
ments participating, and would have met with
even greater results, if we had had support or
had been 10 greater numbers.-CHARLEs C.
MEaEUN, Adj't 18th Mass, New York.
The 10th Iowa at Iuka.
To TIE EDITOR: 1t is quite funny to see
how cur Old comrades differ in their descr it)-
ton OF battle. ! see in THE TRIBUNE of