The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-26
VERSIONS BRIGADE.
And the Part the 9th New York Played in
Canturn

And the Part tie 9th New York Played In its
Capture.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
With view of setting the public mind at
rest, and for the vindication of historic truth,
ask the indulgence of your columns to answer
the inquiry as to the force that captured
VERSIONS brigade at Gettysburg, July l, 1863
had hoped it would devolve upon an ADLER
pen than mine to present the particulars of
that affair from observation, especially of what
part of Bakers brigade captured the before
mentioned troops on that July day, but after
the lapse of many weeks anxiousy waiting for
reply to incorrect statements of correspond
ents, / come to the rescue, and am determined
that truth " and the honor of the 9th New
York shall not be crushed to earth " without
a struggle
Swinton, in his Campaigns of the Army of
the Potomac" gives the credit of capturing
Iverson's brigade to Robinson division but in
The TRIBUNE of November 15 last this honor is
assigned to Baxter's brigade of that division by
Carleton" and though the right brigade is
given, he is in error somewhat in naming the
regiments The credit of taking these prisoners
belongs mainly to the 9th New York regiment
(which that correspondent does not name),
assisted by a regiment part of a regiment
on the left of it, but by no regiment or part of
regiment on the right; however, some men
of the 18th Massachusetts may have broken
away from that regiment, which faced another
way, and gone in with the 9th.
1t may be asked how I know these things.
and what proof have l that they are true? /
can, perhaps, best reply in advance to such an
inquiry by detailing the events that on that
day came under my observation, and referring
the reader to other evidence.
The LIST CORPS under the command of General
Reynolds marched about o'clock a. m. July
l, 1863 from Marsh Creek, where it had biv-
H.
three or four miles along the Emmittsburgh
road, the ears of this advancing force were
struck by the sound at the front of artillery,
| which accelerated its movements. At about
half mile from Gettysburg it filed left
across the fields east of the Lutheran Semi
nary, and, passing Bufords cavalry, Robnson's
division was halted and held in reserve. Wads-
worth's division had preceded and moved to
the left. Baxter's brigade was on the right,
the 9th New York ON the right of the brigade
and as my company (A) occupied the right
| flank of this regiment, was ordered forward
with it or the first two companies, deployed as
skirmishers, and directed to move out as far as
| the woods to the north and front.
! This timber was on the east slope of the ridge,
and the underground was then plentiful, al
! though large part of the trees have since been
cut away. l met no enemy in approaching
| the woods, but soon few pufs of smoke from
I the other side announced the presence of Con-
/ federate force.
! Baxters brigade now moved up to my left
| and rear and formed at the edge of another
| piece of woods ON the western slope of the
ridge, fronting the Johannesburg road and a
! meadow covered with a luXuriant growth of
/ waving timothy. Not more than fifty yards to
| the 'front.' and parallel to its formation, was a
| high rail fence-rails new and large. The
| right of this brigade now rested upon low,
| tumble-down stone wall, running at right
angles to its line along the eastern slope of the
ridge and the west end of the woods up to
which had skirmished. was now recalled
| and Joined my regiment but was soon ordered
forward with the first two companies, deployed,
and directed TO proceed as far as the before
named rail fence to stir up, of course what
ever might be lodged in the grass in my i'm
mediate front. At the word of command every
man moved forward with alacrity, though met
/ by a CALLING fire. In performing this move
ment the left of my line passed over the right
| of the 18th Pennsylvania in the grass little
in advance of the main line.
/ AS soon as my movement commenced the
| brigade moved a little to the right The 18th
Massachusetts Colonel Bates commanding,
now occupying the right flank, filed left along
| the east side of the aforenamed wall, and was
refused upon reaching the woods, and fronted
that way,-toward the Johannesburg road
from which by late observation have discover
/ ed it was then distant about one hundred yards
] The 97th New York, following the 18th Massa-
chusetts, halted IN rear east OF this wall and
fronted left and regiment or part of another
regiment, to the left of the 97th fronted the
/ same way, thus covering the front of the bal
ance of the brigade.
This wall afforded no protection, but the
land, for short distance to the front, rose
gradually and then fell off to gradual slope
on the other side, so that our regiments in rear
OF the wall and little back from it were hid
/ even while standing, from the observation of
| any force that might approach over the mar
row meadow i'll their front. Meanwhile, /,
with my two companies, reached the fence
without unearthing any Confederates and
without injury save by the fire in front and
| was ordered to march my command by the
right flank and join my regiment Aware of
the common instinct of men under fire to
huddle in performing a flank movement, and
| thereby become more exposed to danger, I,
upon thanking them, Immediately gave the
precautionary command to keep their dis
| tances." Not man gained upon his file
! leader, but trying as was the situation, they
marched off with greater regularity than they
/ would have shown upon an ordinary drill. The
time in executing this order did not, probably,
! exceed tive minutes but, separated as they
were, / had one man killed and several
wounded
The Confederate attack upon Baxter's bri-
Edue uau HOW assumed the Indian MODE OF
warfare as far as the firing was concerned
Under cover Of the grass and of the bushes
| skirting the woods OH the right of the 9th, a
| desultory and CALLING fire was kept up. This
regiment and that part of the other that
fronted to the left were exposed to an enfilad-
! ing fire which they could not well return; and
l imagine we felt very much as the Provincials
OF the old French war did near Fort Du Quesne
under Braddock. But little before 3 o'clock D.
IN. our attention, at last, was directed to Wis
IDLE foe. Iverson's brigade, by some means
unobserved, appeared suddenly in our 'front.'
| From the left OF Bakers line they came sweep
| ing up, with yell, obliquely upon Baxters left
They were met by whitening fire, but they
kept bravely on, and seemed about to engulf
| his left flank, when their flank was struck by
! the fire OF our regiment and by the regiment
on our immediate left. The determined spirit
OF these regiments, wrought up to the highest
! pitch, smarting as they were under the fire of
| a concealed foe, was with difficulty held in
! check till the opportune moment should arrive
! But, when it did arrive flame of fire in which
| every shot seemed to tell burst upon the flank
| of the Confederate line. 1t staggered, halted
and was swept back as by an irresistible cur
rent into gully running diagonally to our
| front and perhaps 300 yards from our line
Under cover OF this natural intrenchment these
troops first began to open fire upon us, but
some displayed white flags, and Lieutenant
Colonel Spofford, of our regiments gallant
and intrepid officer, who remained mounted on
the left, taking in the situation and the high
spirit OF the regiment-without waiting for
ard. CniA Do a - n