The National tribune., 1885-03-19

finally fall back. During the hottest Of the
| fight | vas returning to Gen. Barlow from ex-
| ecutiug an order and in passing over the field
/ caught glimpse through an opening IN the
woods Of moving troops. / rode back TO get
! fresh look from 3 little cmincGce and became
! satisfied they were rebel re-enforcements. AS
! ! reached Gen. Barlow he exclaimed:
"Wh It l. That skirmish line stopping for?'
| The skrmiShers, a very heavy line, had ad-
yGncei 10 the edge of the woods into which j
| had seen the re-enforcemcnts marching, and OF
! course had discovered them.
/ Barrow Division was moving I'm rapid sup
port q: the cloud of skirlnishers, and he struck
| spurs into his hcrsc and dashed forward 10 the
skirmi.h line before had time TO give my in
| formation. l rode by his side, however, and
| told him what ! had seen. By that time we
/ had reached the skirmish line, and one glance
! showed that was correct. Thousands OF fresh
/ troops were hurled against our weakened lines.
Gen. Barlow directed me TO inform Gen.
J Howard. and to request artillery support. Be-
! fore had ridden 20 rods Gen. Barlow was
| severely wounded. and all but one of his staff
! officers and orlerlies killed or wounded.
| found Gen. Howard on Cemetery Hill; and
now, after nearly % years, lnger with pride
! upon that interview, which in two or three
! minutes taught me what . cool and confident
man could do. No hurry, no confusion III his
| mind. lie knew that if he could get his troops
! in any kind Of order back of those stone walls
| The country was safe and that upon the sue
! ceedimg days Lee would meet his great defeat.
While was receiving instructions from Gen
Howard, Gen. Hancock rode up 10 the former
! the first meeting they had that day. AS near
as j can remember il was little after o clock,
and an confident ] am only few minutes, If
/ any, out Of the way.
| Nv message TO Gen. Barlow was that orders
| had been issued for q retreat to Cemetery Hill.
| Before ] could reach the position occupied by
| Rarlows Division i met the TC!reatIng regl-
ment of the First Corps and Schimmelpiennigs
! Division. followed by my own division. There
was organization, so lar as ! could sec, and L
! sat upon my horse and saw thousands OF soldiers
! pass. Neither was there any great hurry. The
| army defeated for the day, but in broken
! squads was moving leisurely back to Cemetery
| Hill.
/ recall to mind ore pleasing memory of
| Gettysburg: the noble women who stood upon
their doogsteps and passed cups Of cold water
! TO the thirsty soldiers; and recall many cheers
! that greeted their heroism. Soldiers that could
stop 10 drink water, and then cheer benci:.ctorS,
were not much frightened.
| Noticing a familiar form clinging TO a lamp
post rode up and discovered Captain of my
regiment badly wounded. In caring for him,
| / discovered that ] was liable to become pris-
| oner | dashed up Il street to find it absolutely
| blochaded with ambuances and abandoned
wagons and caissons. / was still riding my
horse and too valuable a one to lose; besides,
he had stood my friend in several hot places, and
| was reliable steel. As last resort, rode
up the steps OF veranda, opened the hall door
and rode through the hall into large sitting
room in which the frightened family were
| gathered. / asked if there was lane back of
the lot l could get out through, and a young
lady OF perhaps 16quickly opened the door, and
requesting me 10 follow her tripod lightly
through the house and TO the back OF the lot,
where she commenced TO let down some bars.
| Telling her not to mind the bars, but get back
and to the cellar as quickly as possible, ]
| jumped my horse over the bars and just saved
myself from a trip to Libby prison.
without much opposition from the rebels our
scattered forces were rallied upon Cemetery
Hill. Regiments brigades and divisions
rapidly reformed, aud by or o'clock our
position was fairly secure. We lay on our
arms. happy in the thought that by morning
our position would be re-eniorced by the bal
ance of the best army ever organized and that
for once we would g have things our own way
e. c. GULF 25th Ohio.