The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-10-15
GETTYSBURG.
The Part Taken BY the 9th Pa. Reserves.

To THE EDITOR: like your suggestion in
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of Aug. 20, regarding
communications from old members offhe Army
of the Potomac, aud in compliance Herewith
will try to give sketch of the experience of my
regiment on the ed day of July at Gettysburg.
We belonged to the Third Division Fifth
Corps, and had been marching almost day and
night since crossing the Potomac at Edwards's
Ferry several days before; especially had we
marched all the night of July 1, reaching the
vicinity of the battlefield in the early morning
of the I'd. We were held in reserve for at least
part Of the day, but were moved about most of
the time from one part of the line to another.
At last. sometime in the afternoon, and while
the fight was raging on the left between
Sickles's Corps and the enemy, we were ordered
to that point and went at the doublc-quick,
marching by the flank on a road connecting
the Emmttsburg and Taneytown roads, and
passed just at the base ofLittle Round Top on our
right of the hill Just here (at the base of Little
Round Top we formed in line of battle by ex-
ecuting the manuver on the left by " file into
line" My regiment (thc 9th Pa. Reserves stood
or the right of the First Brigade, commanded
by Col. McCandless; consequently, we were
the first to get in line, and, while the remain
ing regiments were forming, had a little time
to look around. Just in our front was stretch
OF low, open ground which ut that moment was
filled with a confused, struggling mass of our
retreating troops. Before our line was COM
plete these men were forced back to and be-
yond our position a fragment of one regiment
of Regulars, belonging to Ayress Division, with
their colors, passing to the rear directly over
our line. Most of them, however, went back to
our right, leaving our immediate front compare
lively clear Of our own men. Following closely
on their heels came Longstreet's men, and in a
few minutes the low ground spoken of was
filled with those gray coated fellows. They
came on to within a few PAGES of U.s. when we
gave them volley which checked their on
ward movement, and we were ordered to charge
at the same time, which we did with such effect
that they were soon driven back across this
low ground over stone wall at its farther side
and through a strip of woods beyond. At the
stone wall and just beyond, our brigade took
more prisoners than it had men in line, and I
think this Was the only check that the rebel
attack on our left received that day. Other
troops on our right took part in the fight, but
at the time we made the charge it seemed
to me that our brigade and the part of Fishers
Brigade (also of Pa Reserves) that went in
with US, was the only organized force we had
there at that time, except battery which was
firing over our heads Our charge carried us
some distance III front of the line to our right,
and we held this advanced position all that
night and the next day, and even forced the
rebels farther back, recapturing one gun and
three caissOns belonging, believe, to the 9th
by our men the day before. 1 suppose that
every soldier has egotism enough to think his
own regiment, brigade and division did just q
little more than any other one in fight, but it
does seem to me that the presence and hero
ism of that part of the Pa. Reserves taking part
in this charge less than 1000 men all told)
was the means of averting q serious disaster to
our army.
One incident of this action I must relate.
Robert Shortelle was our company clerk and
had not carried a musket for long time, but
on the march to Gettysburg he had picked up
a carbine and said ne intended to help fight
the rebels out Of his native State. He went in
with us and was struck by canister shot in
the groin and died next morning.
Another one, and | will close. Some one Of
our company had captured an old horse on the
road and we conceived the idea of turning him
into a baggage wagon, so we hung and tied all
our shelter tents and blankets on him, and
gave him in charge of Uncle Dan Cole while
on the march. Cole was 3 member of the
company, but for some reason was off duty
at the time. He came on the field Just after
the charge l have referred to, riding the old
horse. The rebels, taking him probably for an
officer, began firing at him in a lively manner,
upon which Uncle Dan slid down to the ground
to seek shelter, and let the horse go. The old
fellow went on in a trot right into the rebel
line, amid yells of laughter from all who wit
messed it from either side, and we had to admit
that the rebs had captured at least one baggage
train at Gettysburg, but had the satisfaction Of
knowing that the driver escaped unhurt.-
SILAs w. CROKER, Co. /, 9th Pa Reserves,
Climax, Camden Co., Mo.