The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-09
GEN. BERDAN,
And His Famous SharpshOOters at
Gettysburg.

From the speech of Gen. Berdan to the vet
Grams at the Weirs IN. H. Reunion, we take
the following in regard to the opening of the
fight on July q:
About O'Clock 7 discovered very indistinctIy
some movements of the enemy through the wood
In front OF rode forward to get better view,
but the shots from the enemy in the wood brought
me to a halt 1 went far enough. however. to see
that the enemy was in large force and in motion.
This reported, though was unable to say posi-
lively in which direction they moving.
This point has been made clear. however, by
Gen. Hood, who states in his report that by means
of his reliable Texan scouts" they had ascertain
ed that our left and entirely exposed and
that they had started out TO make flank move
ment and attack as to the left and rear. near the
Round Top, but fearing that they were observed
doubtless having seen me mounted and presum-
ing that saw them) they halted.
Then, as he states, Gems. Lee and Longstreet
made n reconnaissance to see if they could not find
aroute where they would be less liable to be observ-
ed in making their thanking movement, and they
the wook Immediately in our front, not more than
800 yards from our line. (Comrades, you see that
met OF taking glass now and then; but you OBJ
serve that place IL above my nose in place of I'M
der my nose. 1 have not got that habit YETI
In consequence of these movements OF the enc
my and the knowledge that our left was badly
posed, went about III o'clock to find Gen. Sickles
whom met near the Peach Orchard, and proposed
a reconnaissance. which he Immediately approved,
saying that he would send supports We first struck
of to the left, to make sure that the enemy had
not gotten our lett rear, and this consumed
hour more, Having ascertained that they had
not PASSED the proongation of our line, deter
mined to sweep the strip OF wood in front Of our
lines, already referred to, to see what was going
on behind 1t.
advanced with my men deployed. and when we
reached point exactly opposite our extreme left
we came upon the enemy in full force marching
down on low ground under cover of the wood.
With one glance at the position of our left and at
the Round Top, 1 saw that it would be impossible
for Us to change our lines protect Round Top in
the time 1t would take the enemy to march there.
Fortunately determined not to retire, and dis
patched an officer to Gen. Sic<les, warning him of
the movement of the enemy in great force toward
our left, the necessity OF immediate change OF POI
sition of the troops in order to protect left and
rear, and declaring my intention to attack 70 gain
time for this movement.
As the enemy was in such overwhelming force,
compared to my little band-doubtless 20 to IL
feared that the attack would not be violent enough
to throw them into confusion II sim ply ordered
my men to advance. i therefore rode in front of
my command and ordered them to follow me.
Never was so proud Of my men as I was when I
saw every one of them advance, firing. at almost q
double-quicS, to what seemed certain death.
cannot better express to you the general feeling
OF my command or that OCCASION than by referring
TO the words of the gallant Capt Nash, who, turned
to me AS passed him. and said, "Good-by, Colo
nell"
In less than Is minutes half Of my gallant COM
mand were dead or wounded, but we had given the
enemy from 1000 to 1900 bullets, putting them
into such confusion as to force them to retire and
reorganiZe which must have taken fully one hour.
They then carried out their original design of at
TACK ana opened ure about O'Clock. In place,
however of having our left exposed. as they would
have found IL if our attack had not been made,
they had to meet the gallant Third Corps, ready to
receive them in position which, in my Judgment,
was the best possible one il could have occupied.
Had the Third Corps been properly supported, as
II should and could have been, the commanding
General would not have had occasion afterwards
to refer to its position in the terms he did History
will prove to the world that Gen. Sickles In place
of deserving is entitled to all praise for his
zeal. bravery and good generaship during the en-
tire day.