The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-20
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Gnr Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
The se.h Penns,lranla Al Geitysbarg.

The 5Gsh Pennsylvania at Gettysburg.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
NV attention has been directed ON a number
Of occasions to articles in your very interest
ing journal upon the subject Of the opening fire
at the battle OF Gettysburg. The interest in
the matter appears to increase as years roll
onward, owing, no doubt, largely to the now
universally conceded fact that il was upon
the field Of Gettysburg that the crisis OF re-
sisfance was passed, and the supremacy Of the
Union irrevoRably established The credit
and the honor OF the opening Of the battle has
been claimed by members Of all rhe different
arms of the serg1ce-each for ms own partlcu-
lar arm and well may each covet the honor,
for a battle upon which hinged Issues so mo-
InentOus rs those which presented themselves
on that field viii scarce repeat itself IN an age,
not at all likely in century, much less within
the lifetime OF any one individual. The Army
OF the Potomac, on that occasion, fairly SYM
bolized the spcar-head in rear of which have
ever followed progress enlightenment, and the
elevation of the human race.
IT. regard 10 the claims from the other arms
of the service, il is generally understood that
unless battle be one confined TO the cavalry
arm il is Not opened until the infantry become
engaged, and taking this view Of it. the honor
OF the opening fire Of the battle may fairly be
claimed To belong TO the officers and men Of
the seth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers
TO its officers and men,-not to any individual
stances, but to the regiment as unit; and II
was tie result, in a large measure, 10 long, per
sistent. hard work, and an intelligent and
cheerful concession on the part of the officers
and men TO al the discomiorts imposed upon
them 10 tit them TO give an instantaneous re-
Spouse when the moment for action arrived.
Their fire was =" by battalion therefore, rs
stated, the honor belongs TO no individual, but
10 the regiment as q unit
General Cutler who commanded the bril-
cade. deemed the matter. eTen at that early
hour, enc OF sufficient import 10 deserve his
t5ricai record and wrote, November 3, 1863, to
Governor Curtin, explaining the circumstance,
and requesting him to take measures TO have
the fact preserved IN the archives Of our
State IS simple act OF justice TO the regiment.
j herewith otter you 4 copy OF General Cutters
letter. lalnsec At the time for the cslseeTs and
men
In asking You to give space in your widely
read c0ia.aHs for this Communication, I desire
t. add thai feel fully authorized to say that
10 one more fully appreciates the services, and
40 one VIII more freely grant al that can pos
sbiy b. claimed for the gallant cayalTyInen
and the brave caRnoneers who so heroically
held the ground at Gettysburg until the arrival
Of tie naisnrry, than the officers and men of
thu 56la Pennsylvania volunteers.
J. " H0FMASN.
BreKeT Brighten, L. :. Y,
Late Colonel, 56ih Pa. Y. Y.
2s5l Pollar street PBILA BELPHIA. Pa.
HEADeuARII1Es. Esr DIVISION, LET a: c.,
November 5ih, 1863
10 The Coz. Of Pennsylvania
sIR: ia noticing ia ihe papers to-day account
o. tlle proposition FOR national cemetery lettyS
burg t0r ile men that 1eli there in July last
reminded that have neglected a duty which owe
n one % Fpnr FeglIlenistile 5sith-and lts brave
COMMANDER. Colonel J. VIM. H0imann- That reei-
nlent y fhe I'd brigade Of TINS division, and
al ii'. time 1lldeT my command IL was my for
tune Il 20 in the advance on iae morning of July
LIST = iiel we came upon ti1e ground IA front OF
the enemy. Colonel HolIGanns regiment ibeing
the SECOND IA the column got into position "A
lnent sooner than the Others, the enemy adj
yssnclns Ia Inc OF battle within easy nt,szet range
The slIlso lslere being little thick took cut my
glass eN.trsiiae the enemy: being few PAGES in
rear VI Colonel Hofnlalln, he turned 10 aud in
qIlfedt il thai The enemy Ny reply was,
les llirnlng 10 ms Iaen, he commanded,
Ready, rl9lst-ObllQue aim, IRE and the battle
q Gettysburg was opened The fire followed
by other regiments Instantly. sin that hattie
tiie SOL - f,ennsy wanna WAS opened by her own
AE1@ i u Just Thai il shall become matter OF
history " icl. Colonel IHntInann gave the COM
nlHnd Am. doubted whether the enemy was
ueEr enough 10 have the fire elective. and asked
INN j he Ms within range. hot hearing my
question. lie isEed. sind received my reply In "A
shower ii rebel bullets. fy which many Ct the
col0lc : Ia.cn were killed liad wounded; my own
horse and those OF TWO q Any stat were wounded
al The saislE lime.
desire 70 say to your exoellency that the 56h is
one q the Kssg best rsiiseI:s IN the service and
that Colonel AoiIIalan Is without qualification one
OF The BEST o.teers-isaye. faithful and prompt.
and a inost excellent disciplinarian ! most ear
ably reversed
hope tiaat you VIII cause proper measures 10 be
taken 70 give HAT regiment the credit which is
tle-T que, 81 having opened that memorable battle.
Very respectfully. gOur obedient servant.
L. CUTLER, BEigadier-GeIeral.
TIE SECOND WISCONSIN STICKS TO IT'S CLAIM.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
see you have settled the dispute as TO what
regiment opened the battle of Gettysburg by
quoting the official reports. Now, would ike
70 have somebody settle it according to actual
facts. II beng settled that Cutters brigade
was the FIRST into the fight, ] want some one OF
CATERS tgieaae 10 explain how they gOt there.
The lr0a brigade was the lst brigade lst d.
vision, Isl army c3FEs. and General Cutters
brigade Was the - brigade OF the same division
and corps and. therefore, on our left, or ought
70 nave D-en; ana II they Sere not on our left
that morning. viii they explain where they
EereE Y hen we started that morning the
Iron brigade was in the advance with tie I'd
Wisconsin under Colonel Lucins Fairehild} ia
the Advance Of the brigade lthe 9th Wisconsin
having 4--lten 70 The rear tsat morning.. was
IL oosai illy u, % " Wisconsin, and company u was
at tLat t.ae color company, and therefore near
the center OF the regiment. and rot more than
Two hundEed men were I'D advance Of me- ii
was a straight road aud down grade towards
Gettysburg. aud / could see clearly for q mile
O. more, and aTn prepared 10 testify that mel
thcr tle % brigade n0r Any other troops we're
We struck the down Grade ] saw our sapners
and miners rush FOR the fence and scatter q
length o. two Of II n great haste, and We
hastily fled left oblique through the opening
aud continued the same left oblique through
the lelG. soon after entering the fi.id H-f
were ordered 10 " lead, !" FIX bayone,s," and
forward into line" and we charged the
woods without amy delay Now, General Cut
Iers brigade WAS our leif passed by us in
our rear. and went into the engagement fai
away on our right il win now be necessary
for General Cutters br gade to explain how
they gof from cur LET 10 our night SO quickly
where and when they passed US, and what We
Were doing when they passed us. If they car
explain these points clearly, We shall feel re
4leFea. l.. X. REED.
Private Co. H. % Wis. Inf
MADISON, WIS.
"Reminiscences Of Cold IarbOr.
To the Editor NATIONAL Tribune: