Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-12-17
OUR BOYS AT GETTYSBURG
THE FIRST DELAWABE'S SIGNAL
DISTINCTION.


Dy tne reueful RONernIneub bO Wrlue but
history of the battle of Gettysburg, gave
an outline lecture upon the memorable
and decisive engagement of the late war,
before fair-sized audience at the Opera
House HThursday. The lecturer appeared
under the auspices of Smyth Post, G.. A.
r., this city, which aside from the pecu-
mary feature desires to create an interest
upon the occasion of marking the Delaware
soldiers positions next spring and have
this State creditably represented at the
battlefield. On the stage by the speaker
were seated the members of the legisla-
tive committee on monuments and mem
bers of Smyth Post, G. A. r.
Colonel Bachelor was introduced by
John M. Dunn. The historiani is portly
gentleman with military carriage, and
long Burnside whiskers almost white, i'm
| parting mellowing tone to ruddy COM
| plexion. though suggesting o man of ad-
yanced years, which face and movements
successfully refute. The lecturer pre-
faced his discourse by general summing
up of the results of the war, claiming in
chief that this country now presented
/ Gordon of National strength which few
| foreign foes will have the temerity to en-
| counter.
Laying aside the manuscript from
| which the peroration was read, the speaker
| took up his pointer, and turning to the
maps of the battle field was soon deeply
| interesting his hearers with brief
description of the memorable fight. He
set out by paying passing compliment
| to Lees generalship, in the statement
that the Army of the Potomac had been
| outgeneralled by the Confederate leader
at Chancellorville and driven back by in
ferior numbers.
The battle of Gettysburg, he claimed,
was the decisive engagement of the war,
| and the successes of the Confederates
here receded, and the wave was never
| misunderstanding through the entire
| army of the south. He clearly explained
the marches of the various commands,
| which ultimately led to Gettysburg,
where both armies met by chance, but
had it been planned, there could have
been no improvement. The movement
of the Oonfederates after the battle of
Charlottesville was directed with the
view of getting around General
Hooker, in command of the Army
of the Potomas which was the barrier be-
tween them and Washington. This i'm
possible,a raid through Pennsylvania was
inaugurated which, owing to an accident,
led to the battle at the town of Gettys-
burg. The lecturer attributed the success
of the Union army chiefly due to mistakes
of General Lee, which in themselves
seemed trihing, but subsequent events
have proven were fatal to the cause of
| secession. The first mistake was ON the
| opening day of the engagement, when the
| Confederate general did not follow up the
| victory gained by taking position upon the
1 MT 40 tlat, 10
Again there was grave and irreparable
error in not commencing the battle of the
second day early in the morning instead
of late in the afternoon, by which time
| the Federal forces were entrenched and
reinforced. On the second day certain
/ signal which was given for general
opening of fire was not heard by part of
the army, broke the strength of united
action and weakened the efforts of the
Confederates. General Hancock's work
was highly praised and his timely
presence upon the scene of action cited
as being of the greatest value to the
Federal troops.
The Second Delaware Regiment, the
speaker showed on the chart, occupied
position on the peach orchard elevation
during the battle as a part of Brooks
brigade, and in resisting an onslaught
went further beyond the line by 300
yards than any other command. He paid
fattering tribute to the bravery of the
men in the command and the effective
service they rendered at q critical stage of
the fight.
The First Delaware Regiment, part of
Hayes division, did not take any share in
the engagement on the opening day, but
on the second day was given active skir-
mish duty. On the third day its ser
vice was hard and perilous. The
command was given q position along
stone wall on Cemetery Ridge. AT the
point where the First Delaware was sta
toned, Picketts' charge was concentrated
in an effort to break the line. The
Confederates marched in solid front
until within q short distance of the wall
where Hayes brigade rose up and poured
volley after volley into their line slaugh-
tering the foe and sending CONSERVATION
into the advancing ranks. They were
rallied again and again, and marched up
Federal soldiers muskets but not single
rebel ever crossed the stones carrying
arms though hundreds afterwards
marched over it as prisoners
of war. Continuing the speaker
said: The color sergeant of the
First Delaware Regiment, John M. Dunn,
and Lieutenant Dent who commanded
the regiment and led the charge, were the
first to cross the stone wall, and, followed
by their comrades, more prisoners were
captured than there were men in the
little body of brave soldiers who made
the daring and brilliant dash. In
4 great battles like this it is seldom posi-
Bile for any command to signalize itself,
but the Valor and daring of the First
Delaware Regiment stood out as a con-
spicuously brave and heroic incident of
the greatest duel that was ever fought on
this continent"
The lecture was a most interesting
effort and though necessarily lacking
detail was of the greatest historic value.
Il was given as an informal talk, without
, note or reference, all the data, dates,
!, names and incidents being at Colonel
! Bachelder's command, with marvellous
| facility. When considering the number
of commands and officers in the engage
, ment and the frequent changes of posi-
, ton, the lecture is of itself wonderful
exhibition of memorizing if nothing else.
4 But he marches the thousands of men to
their lines in the action from all directions
i over numberless routes, sending rein
= | lOiCeiHtHtb uSIe u1t lucIet DTluBluR tulh
: brigade to support vulnerable point,
another regiment to the relief Of
K command under heavy fire, noting
Z the death of an officer now ant
! ! again, picturing the flashing bayonets o.
I o charging corps, and sounding the awfu
roar of the artillery with clearness ant
!. viyidness that plainly bsspeak his u
9 years study of the great and bloody battlt
o have not been in vain. He does not at
It tempt any oratorical effect nor strive fol
J. dramatic climaxes, but simply through hi
l. familiarity with the battle does he shov
:, how the field was won. He is n teacher
e and his audience attentive pupils receiv
d ing more valuable information upon tn,
& subject matter than any amount of patien
o reading would bring.
If During conversation following TIN
n lecture Col. Bachelor expressed regre
D. that in connection with the First Della
d ware Regiment his attention had beel
k directed to another point Just rs he wa
Ie about to refer to Lieut.. William Smith o
y Go A, who Mt one time commanded tn
d regiment during the heavy cannonading
ic The dashing lieutenant was found deal
A. by his comrades and in his hands h
O.; clutched the staff bearing rebel fla
N which he had captured Just befor
70 receiving his death wound. Col
P. Bacheider also intended mentionin
l. the gallant services of Gen. j. Park
IN Postles, who served on the brigade staff {
Up Gen. L. A. Smyth, and who on the secon
n day of the bnttle rode under the hottei
n, Of 4ba nonfadarofase Gra .,,,t a., tba bay