The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-05
GETTYSBURG AGAIN.
General Hofnann the Action OF the 18th new
Fork at the Opening Of the Battle.

nave WRITTEN upon the opeTdOouS on baio ASe
day of the battle of Gettysburg. Instead OF
being accredited with a full share of the
honor won by the valor of the Union arms at
Gettysburg-fOr the bravery, gallantry and
self-deyotion TO duty, of which they gave
such q noble example on this occasion,-the
regiment has been made the recipient OF the
commiseration of many writers for having been,
rs alleged, "cut off" and held in captivity at a
momentous period in the first onset of the bat
tle and thus held until relieved by the capt
ure of a large part of the Confederate troops OF
Davis brigade, when, in fact, it was owing to
the pertinacity of the 147th New York in hold
ing on to their ground and their heroic lighting
that kept this part of the eneny's forces IN
check for time and thus enabled the other
troops of Cutters brigade to arrive upon this
part of the field and make the capture possible.
To comprehend the part Of the battlefield
upon which the first engagement of the 1ntan-
] try took place we viii take in the view pre-
scented by the typographical map prepared
under the supervision of the late Major-Gen-
| eral Warren, of the United States engineers, by
direction of the Secretary of War, IN 1876.
Moving over this part of the battlefield west
ward from the town of Gettysburg, on the
| Chambersburg turnpike, which penetrates the
South Mountain at Cashtown at the end of
about eight miles, we encounter at the distance
of ee-fcurths OF a mile from Gettysburg the
4 first of a series of ridges running north and
I II. a i
| from the fact of a seminary building thereon.
! Ii has an elevation of about fifty feet above the
! level of the center of the town. and practically
| closes the view from the town towards the
west AT quarter of mile further west we en-
counter the second ridge, its crest at little less
elevation and at less than a quarter Of mile
still further west we meet with the third ridge,
with its crest nearly on level with that Of the
second ridge Upon the third ridge are the
| houses and barn Of the Mcpherson farm. The
western slope oil this ridge descends TO a small
water-course-known as Willoughby Run
4 now historical as having divided the territory
occupied by the hostile forces on the night of
June 80, 1863. The turnpike follows the sur
face of the land, but at the distance of about
300 yards north is the bed of an unfinished
railroad. 1t runs nearly parallel with the
! turnpike, DETECTING little to the north 1t
| passes at a level with the bottom OF the valleys
| intervening between the ridges, and pierces
| the ridges in succession at about fifteen feet
below the erests of the two furtherest west.
HOW THE LINE WAS FORMED.
When Cutters brigade of infantry, in the
following order: 10Th New York, seth Penn
sylvania, Iz7th and 95th New York, and
l4th Brooklyn, arrived upon the ground
about 10 a. m, July after crossing the Semi
nary Ridge just south OF the seminary build
ing, and descending, IN column, into the low
ground in front OF it,-the three leading regi-
Iaents were moved north, across the turnpike,
and north of the railroad grading, when the
line of battle was formed, facing west with the
left Of the left regiment-the 147th New
York-restlng near the railroad cut Of the Sec
ond ridge. While these three regiments were
going into position under the personal CON-
mand of General Cutler, the 95th New York
and the l4th Brooklyn were moved by General
Wadsworth, the division commander, TO the
front Of the Mcpherson buildings to support
battery then IN position on the crest Of the
ridge between the turnpike and the railroad
cutting through this ridge. The right of the
battery was exposed TO fire from the enemy on
its right. The position Of Cutters three right
regiments gave but moral support, for theil
Ere could not reach the railroad cut on the
right Of the battery, and the cut in fact, formed
q covered way for the approach Of the enc
mys sharpshootsrs. WheA Mereeith's brigade
which followed Cutters on the road that morn
ing st some distance Ia recent writer ha:
given the distance at over one milel, came or
toe ground, the 9Th Wisconsin, under Lieuten-
ant-CoiOnel Davis. was left near the seminary
building as a reserve, and the other regiment.
| Were moved forward into the woods to the lief
Of the Mcpherson Eouse, by direction Of Gen
eral Reynolds who superintendent the move
ments OF taese regiments in person.
IN TIGHT PLACE.
The three right regiments of Cutters brigad
) had scarce formed in line of battle when the,
became heavily engaged with the enemy, ant
after sustaining a heavy loss, and being out
numbered aud outaanked, were ordered b,
GeA. Ksdswsrth TO be moved TO the rear. TIL
two right regiments moved to the rear, unde
command Of Gen. Cutler, but the I47th New
York did not receive the order from its com
naaeing ofzcer, Lieut.-Col. Miller TO whom j
| had been given,-he having been wounded ant
{ stunned and carried of the field at the momen
j sfafor
| when the CEN mand then deyoIved, in ignoranc
a OF the order, held the regiment to the ground
! which il had been assigned in the first forma
i, tien. This position soon became very periIeu
: one. The enemy, after an unsuccessful effort I
:, turn the left Of the regiment, swung his ow
0 left forward 10 envelope the right of the 147tl
wheFeupon, 70 guard against such result
4 Hajer Harvey threw back his two right CON
d panies as to fall nearly north; but the loss
r the 147th was now fearful, and Gen. Wad:
1 worth, seeing the unequal contest and the i'm
! periled position Of the regiment, directe
: Major Harvey to move 10 the rear and join tn
2 regiments under General Cutler This was az
e csmplished, but not without additional los
"a The enemy Davis brigade of Heth's division
0 in their eagerness 70 pursue, soon observed tn
o approach Of the 95th New York, 14th Brook
Il lyn and 9th Wisconsin. which threatened thei
o own safety, and they thereupon sought sheltf
in the railroad cut in the second ridge. Til
! depth OF tins cut was, however, such as 10 Ok
, priye them Of their fire, and thus, instead (
a a5ording them any advantage, the cut prove
Il simply trap. The rapid movement of tn
s three regiments, under Col Fowler, of the lat
c Brooklyn, soon closed the cut at the east en-
il and only few were enabled to escape at th
o west opening. The remainder then surrer
r dered.
o Gen. Heth Confederate, IN his official repol
g of the operations of his troops in the first onse
b says that Davis brigade suffered heavily-Io
y ing all but two of its field ofiicers-and was
: reduced in numbers that it was unable to hol
y the ground it had gained that its losses WEI
Il in fact so great that il was not deemed advi
+ able 10 put il into action again that day.
q WHERE THE CREDIT BELONGS.
= There can be ne doubt, with these facts
!, view, that the 147th New York is entitled TO
= full share of the honors Of capturing IL
enemy's troops in the railroad cut. II was Il
: hereism displayed by the officers and men
! the regiment IN holding on to the ground, viii
4 suffering such terrible losses, that gave tin
7 for the regiments under Fowler to arrive al
make the capture.
The statement that the 147th New York W,
"cut oil !" until relieved by the capture
the enemy's troops IN the railroad cut was fir
published in one of the New York papers soc
alter the battle, and may possibly appear
some Of the official reports The statement al
at not harmonic with facts known To the write
J. and he therefore, shortly after the close Of q
0. war, wrote 10 Col. Harvey and asked him TO e.
" plain how IL was that the regiment was {" CT
~ off," and when il occurred In his reply, befo
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