The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-08-20
FIGHTING THEM OVER,
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
GETTYSBURG.
Spirited Account Of the Battle. and the Part Taken
Therein by the Sth Ohio.

To THE EDITOR: The sth Ohio at the time
of the battle of Gettysburg comprised part OF
the First Brigade, commanded by Col latter
wards GeneraD 5. s. Carroll, the Colonel of the
regiment; Second Division, commanded by Gen.
Alex Hayes, and Second Corps. by Gen. Han
cock-the regiment itself being in command OF
Lieut. Col. Franklin Sawyer. Maj. A. II. Wins
low was at this time serving on the staff OF
Gen Hayes, and Capt J. E. Gregg and Lieut..
John q. Reid on the staff of Col. Carroll. Capt
Butterlield was absent, sick. The number pres
ent for duty was 209 officers and men.
On the morning of July the Second Corps
moved forward from near Taneytown, Nd, to-
ward Gettysburg. Gen. Hancock had FASTENED
forward, under orders of Gen. Meade, on learn
ing of the death of Gen. Reynolds, to assume
command of the field, with power to retain the
force at Gettysburg or to fall back to pro-
posed line on Pipe Creek. Later in the after
noon we met him returning to Gen. Meade's
headquarters He explained to some of the
officers the character of the battle of the morn
ing the driving back of our troops, death OF
Gen. Reynolds, etc: and also stated that he had
selected position from which Gen. Lee
COULD NOT DRIVE Us,
and that there the battle would be fought. Our
march continued until 8 o'clock in the morning,
which brought us to within two or three miles
of the proposed battlefield. After brief rest,
and early in the morning, the corps moved up
TO the front, taking position on Towards left,
on Cemetery Ridge, its left extending southerly
along the ridge in the direction of Round Top.
The battle line has sometimes been aptly COM
pared to a fshhook, the barb beng Culp's
Hill, then occupied by Gen. Slocum, with his
front facing eastward. The bend of the hook
along Cemetery Ridge was occupied by Gen.
Howard, with front facing eastward and north
ward. Then came Hancock with his Second
Corps along the stem, extending sOutherly on
the edge of the ridge, and facing slightly to the
north and westerly, and so on, corps after corps,
to the Round Top, where Gen. Sykes with part
of his Fifth Corps, crowned the nights and
held the eye of the fshhook.
The rebel Gen. Ewell was in front of Slocum
and Howard, his line extending from Culp's
Hill to the suburbs of Gettysburg. Lees main
line lay along Cemetery Ridge, extending
southerly, crossing the Emmittsburg road, with
Longstreet's Corps substantially in front of
the Round Tops. During the morning there
was comparative quiet along the entire line,
but about noon things began to look much
more belligerent. Gen. Sickles with his Third
Corps had taken position on ridge considera-
bly, in advance of the proposed battle line, and
soon became seriously engaged with the enemy.
His right under Gen. Humphreys, hinged on
the Emmittsburg road, while his left lay some
what in front of Little Round TOP.
At point on the Emmittsburg road, in front
of Hancock right and in range of Humphreys
cut forming good rifie-pit. This cut was &C.
cupied by a considerable band of rebel sharp
shooters, who were annoying the artillerymen
along Cemetery Ridge and
PICKING OFF OFFICERS AND oRDERLIEs
passing to and from Humphrey's and Hancock s
right. Gen. Hancock ordered Col. Carroll to
clean them out and hold the place with one of
his regiments. Col. Carroll ordered Col. Sawyer
to take the Sth and execute the order. This
was about o'clock p. IN. Col. Sawyer at once
formed his regiment, pointed out the position,
which was so or 100 rods distant; the inter-
val being "redtop" meadow which fell off
with gentle declination from the ridge.
Col Sawyer mounted his horse, ieaped over
stone fence, and ordered the double-quick,
which the regiment took up with shout and
dashed forward. The artillerymen along the
batteries mounted their guns, and waving their
flags and handkerchiefs cheered us on.
The balls soon came thick and spitefully
among us. The men soon began to fall,-some
3 killed, some wounded,-but on we swept at a
run until we were face to face with the rebels
in the road, who were now making
FRANTIC EFFORTS TO ESCAPE.
Unfortunately for them, however, both sides of
the road were Enclosed by high "stake-and-
ridered" fence, and their only chance for escape
was foot race down the pike. Some of our
men had fired upon them as we came up, and
there were two dead rebels Quite number
had escaped. Fifty or so surrendered, and
were sent back as prisoners. Col. Sawyer or
dered the fence TO be taken down and the rails
piled along SO as to improve the hight of his
"rife-pit." Two of our men had been killed
in the charge and ID wounded. The Colonels
horse was struck by several balls, but was not
seriously injured.
A line of skirmishers was at once thrown out
composed of Cos. A and /, in command of Capt
A. II. Nickerson, while the balance of the regi-
ment remained in the rife-pit. We were now
about so rods in advance Of the battle-line
with no support or succor near at hand. Gen.
Sickles's great battle was being now fought with
desperation to our left. and much of the terrific
struggle could plainly be observed from our po-
sition and when Gen. Humphreys Division
was attacked the savage rencouhter was in am
pie view, being not more than 80 to 100 rods
distant as the eye ran along the Emmittsburg
road.
Capt Nicl1erson was now assailed from the
direction of the town, and the movements of
troops there and in Towards front and on Han
cocks right, and the struggle in Humphreys
line, gave US the idea that some general assault
was in contemplation, in which we were quite
likely TO be involved, if not annihilated. In
few minutes Capt. Nickerson was holly engaged
by a skuiking enemy, firing from the fences
and other cover. He was at once REINFORCED
by Capt. Reid, Co. d, who took to the fence
corners and stirred up the assailants with his
bayonets.
The enemy soon developed in considerable
numbers and was preparing for a desperate
effort TO regain their position in the road. Oil
GERS were swearing and yelling at The men to
move up and
CLEAN OUT THESE YANKs
and take that road"
Nickerson was desperately wounded, we
feared MORALLY, and was brought back, uncon-
scious, in a blanket. Col. Sawyer now led the
remainder of the regiment forward, deployed
and at run. This had the desired effect The
rebels must have believed that we had an
ample reserve, for they busted out of their
hiding places and broke for cover in town
with fair show, at least, of sprightliness In
this affair three of our men were killed and,
with Nickerson, Is wounded.
Our line was now formed considerably in ad-
vance of the road, with skirmishers and a good
lookout to the front and TANKS. The wounded
who could still be of any service, and few
other troops, were kept in the road.
SickleSs battle was still being desperately
fought, and night was approaching.
All at once terrific roar of artillery burst
forth from the direction of Culp's Hill, which
was readily discernible, though Towards line
on Cemetery Ridge lay between the positions
of our men and the scene of the firing Balls
whistied above and around us; splinters of ex-
ploded shells struck in our midst; now and
then round shot ricochetted in our vicinity
Troops could be seen forming and manuvering
in the suburbs of Gettysburg as if with the in
tention of bouncing upon us. In fact, matters
haaAr al Co