The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-04-30
FIGHTING THEM OVER,
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
GETTYSBURG.


1I Il - oltN''
The Part Taken In the Battle by the Fifth Corps
To THE EDITOR: Gen. Howard in his very
interesting account of the Gettysburg campaign
in referring to the second days fight on oul
left, says when speaking OF the fight at the time
the 140th became engaged, How could man
describe this special conflict"
Thinking the story Of participant, and of one
who feels proud that he was one of the command
of SO gallant a hero as O'Rorke, who gave NJ
his young life in advance Of his men, would be
interesting to your readers, / thought would
pen some of my recOliections of one OF the moS'
startling and interesting incidents OF my life.
The 10th and 10th \. Y, 9lst and 15oth
Pa at the time OF the battle of Gettysburg con
stituted the Third Brigade Second Division
Fifth Corps. (the 9th y. y. ZouaveS having gone
home to recruit The other two brigades, com
Prisng the Second tAyres's) Division, were
composed of Regulars.
The First and Second Divisions of the Fifth
Corps having accompanied the cavalry along
the Blue Ridge up from the Rappahannock
were Joined by the Third Division, Pa Reserves
at Frederick, Md.
After long march we went into camp on the
evening Of the first day of July at Hanover,
Pa, at which place our cavalry had just
had fight with Stuarts command. Col
O'Rorke rode over to Gen. Ayres's standard
and returned with the information " that the
enemy had that day been met at Gettysburg
some 10 miles distant 10 which point this COM
mand would Immediately march; that to-
morrow will, perhaps, be fought the most de-
cisive battle of the war, and that each officer is
authorized TO cause the instant death oil the
man who refuses to keep up with his command.
unless excused by proper surgical certificate. "
The column then took up ifs march aud reached
the vicinity of Gettysburg at an early hour on
the morning of the I'd where it was halted and
fip allowed caaE pntfpn Qr slcpn
they chose.
Col. O'RoTke spread his poncho, on which we
both lay down, but neither slept much We talk
ed over the probable events of the day, he SEEM
ing to have foreboding anticipations Just after
daylight We were marched across VOLTS Run,
and were halted on hill II think TO the right of
"Spangier's Spring." where Gen. Meade's order
assuming command was for the first time read
10 MS by the brigade Adjutant-General,w which
order, by its unaSSuming modesty, dignity and
patriotic sentiment, had much to do in arous-
ing the spirits of the men and preparing them
to measure weapons with the steel-ribbed di-
visions of the Army of Northern Virginia, so
worthy of their untarnished gallantry. After
the reading of the order our command manu-
vered from right to left, until, perhaps, /
O'Clock p. m, when we were allowed to lie
down on the southeast slope of hill perhaps
little more than a half mile from Little Round
Top. During this rest / remember being in
company with Gen. Weed, Col. p. III. O'Rorke
and Lieut.. Col. Earnst 10th n Y Some time
previous TO the commencement of the Third
Corps fight Col. Earnst had fallen asleep ON
rock near by, and Gen. Weed and Col. O'Rorke
were singing the chorus of "Some one to love,
some one to cherish" When the firing had
become heavy DIT the front an Aid rode up with
orders for Gen. Weed to march his brigade in
support Of the Third Corps. The bugle sounded
and the brigade started the 10th n Y taking
the lead W. WALKING in 6v If ba
column talking to O'Rorke, when, just as we
arrived at the right base of Little Round Top,
Gen. Warren. riding his gray charger, came
down the hill and, hurriedly addressing the
Colonel said: Paddy, give me regiment"
The having up to that time been in command
of the brigade.) 0Rorke replied: General
Weed assumed command this morning, and
has gone to the front to select a position"
Warren then said: =" Is this the 10th? If So
take your command and secure the hill before
the enemy reaches it: that position must not
be lost" We then filed up the hill as rapidly
as possible in columns of tours. As we assembled
the bill could see the enemy's column coming
at right shoulder shift and on the double
quick, completely fanking the left of the Third
Corps aud making for the hill. When we
reached the crest Col ORorke was about to
dress the regiment, when Warren rode up and
said: No time now, Paddy, for alignment;
take your men immediately into action"
" Korke SAID: Face 10 the rear; forward ; fol-
low me-" and down over the rocks and crags
went the noble commander and his devoted
commapd-he to almost instant death and his
boys TO one of the most desperate combats in
the whole history OF the war.
When our men poured down over the rocks
IN their jauDty but tattered Zouave uniforms,
with their untsrn;shed bannerets bearing the
white Maltese cross, the pure emblem of the
vigilant and sturdy Fifth Corps, the enemy,
apparently horrOr-stricken, began throwing
down their arms and cried out, ~ the Fifth
Corps, Army of the Potomac"
j shall never forget the thrill of JOY which
ran through me when Hazletts battery doomed
forth its shotted salute into the face of the
brave but disheartened soldiers of Longstreet.
Thus, through the untiring energy and the
quick and discerning eye of Warren, by
this opportune bluff" and sudden display of
apparently overwhelming force, was saved a
position which, if it had been lost would have
neeessitated a change of front and might
have resulted in disastrous defeat of Meades
army and ultimateG in the recognition of the
Confederacy.
cannot but believe that grave mistake
has been made by any who may attempt to
Justify his arrest at Five Forks. The hero of
such undaunted courage at Gettysburg was not
the bastard TO show the white feather amidst
the clash;ng of arms at the last gaspings of the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES NJ. LEEPER Capt, Co.
i, 10th, n. Y, Montgomery, n. Y.