The National tribune., 1886-02-04
BucktaiIs at Gettysburg.

To THE EDITOR: In THE NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE of Oct Is / read an article written by
Comrade Silas W. Croker, giving a history of
the 9th Pa. Reserves at Gettysburg. In all of
his statements | will agree with him as far as
the 9Th was concerned but would like to add
just a little moro to the history of the brigade.
The old Bucktail rife regiment was hitched on
to the left of his (the First Brigade, Pa. Re-
serves) and went in on that charge that turned
the tide of battle on the I'd of July ct Little
Round Top. Our entree upon that memorable
field of battle was executed by the manuver
"on the left by file into line" at double-quick,
which was done with as much promptness and
axactness as though we were on dress parade.
This brought the Bucktails on the left of the
brigade, directly in front of the battery sta
toned on the ledge of rocks opposite Devils
Den. This was the position of our regiment at
Gettysburg on the ID of July at o'clock.
We remained in this position until our inn
mediate front had got clear of the broken lines
of blue coats that were pressing to the rear
closely followed by the exultant rebels, who
were yelling and screeching as none but rebs
could when the order was given to charge
With the battle cry Black your boots!" (all
old Bucktails will know how that originated)
and "Hurrah for Lsnigan's ball" running
along the line, we went in on the double-quicll,
firing and reioading our Sharps rifles rs we
went. The rebel line soon gave way, and the
tide Of battle was changed. When our Tegi-
nlent stopped it was at the stone wall near the
edge of the woods. We drove the enemy to the
opposite side of the woods. Our gallant Colonel,
Charles J. Taylor, q brother of Bayard Taylor,
was killed just after we got across the low
marsh ground near Devils Den.
This position we held all night and the next
day, until after Picketts charge on our line
Then we had orders to advance, and the whole
brigade moved in line, driving the rebels
through and beyond the Wheattied, thus gain
ing the whole ground fought over and lost by
Sicklcs's Division the day before. We recap
tured one gun and three caiSsons left by our
men, and s0mo 1900 stand of small arms that
were left on the field. l noticed that they
were not all of Yankee make. | remember
picking up one gun of n peculiar pattern.
took the owner of 1t prisoner-a member of
the 4th Ga. j kept the reb but left the gun.
1t has been claimed by some other regiments
and their commanders that the Pa. Reserves
did not occupy the position at Gettysburg as
Of the SD Pa, claims that there was too much
credit given the Reserves at Gettysburg for
saving Round Top; that his regiment, the SD,
did more TO check the rebel advance than all
of the reserves. Col. Mccoy made the same
statement at 4 Reunion of the SD in Titus
vile, Pa. l would not wish to claim any hon
ors won by another regiment, but must insist
on claiming and holding fast to all credit given
our old division for saving Little Round Top
on the eve of the ID of July. i would like to
hear from some member of our brigade that is
more competent to write up its history at Get
tysburg.-A J. DEMING, Co ID, Bucktail Rifles,
Spring CreeH, Warren Co., Pa.