The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-02-11
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What 0ur Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
AT GETTYSBURG.
Row Proposed Night Attack by the Enemy Was
Fooled.

EON TtoFOSeu Night Att5cA ny TIC hi0'-! ""'
Fooled.
To THE EDITOR: "ITow often in our army
life has the safety of thousands hung upon the
courage and the fathfuueSs of one" Referring
TO this quotation, in the charge of the com
mauder to the recruits, an incident of the battle
of Gettysburg that came under my personal
observation viii illustrate.
The organization TO which | had the honor
of belonging eth Ind.-was a part of the
Second Brigade First Division, First Corps.
This division occupied during the evening and
night Of July i, 1863, as well rs the subsequent
days Of battle, the important position of Culp's
Hill. This hill forms the right knob OF the
line of the Gettysburg ridge, and is surrounded
By rough and rocky ground, Heavily wooded.
The Gettysburg ridge is an interrupted, irregu-
lar line OF nights and hills running south from
the town of Gettysburg. At the town the
ridge trends back east and south. Rock Creek
runs along the eastern base Of Chips Hill.
The partial successes of the enemy during
the day, July /, in the engagement with the
First and Eleventh Corps, and the retirement
of these Corps in the evening to the Gettysburg
ridge. had so encouraged him that night
assault upon our lines was determined upon
and ordered Ewell had been instructed TO
carry the positions of Culps and Cemetery
Hills If found practicable. Gen. Ewell was in
command of Stonewall Jackson's old corps,
which comprised the left wing OF the epemy's
line, confronting the positions mentioned.
10 understand the situation you must know
that our line of battle extended no farther at
this hour than the point where the prolonga-
ton of Culp's Hill turns sharply to the south.
Co. Is, 9Th Ind, was deplOyed to the south,
along the base of the ridge and in front of the
position occupied during the I'd and Sd days of
July by the Twelfth Corps. For Some uneX
planned reason, this line Of pickets was with
drawn and the line shortened TO within a few
yards Of the right of our line Of battle.
The enemy, in carrying out his purpose to
attack. advanced a division of troops to and
across Rock Creek, attachments of which were
thrown out in advance TO feel our lines The
hour was about II p. N. SlUcum, Howard,
Doubleday, Wadsworth and others were hold
ing council of war at the Cemetery.
Sergt Hussey and Private Harshbarger were
our extreme right pickets A noise was heard
as of men moving cautiously in the timber
some distance to our right. As we advanced
to investigate, before the enemy discovered us,
we got behind some distractions, permitting
the officer i'll command of the party to pass u.s.
when Sergt Hnssey dashed out and seized the
officer, while Harshbarger fired upon the ad-
vancing body of troops. Other members Of
our company running up poured in such a
rapid fire that the enemy turned and fed, leav-
ing some prisoners in our hands.
The vigilance exercised upon this occasion
caused the enemy to conclude that we fully
occupied the nights" when, as a matter of
the division, formed for this assault, was ex
posed, unoccupied, and open for the enemy to
march right in.
The couseque aces that would have resulted
from determined attack by the enemy at this
hour, on the lst day of July, would have been
disastrous III the extreme. The various corps,
batteries of artillery, and ammunition trains
OF the army were arriving and bivOnacking on
the ground preparatory to being assigned to
positions; and If the enemy had not encOun-
tered the opposition and resistance heretofore
mentioned, they would have been free TO adj
vance within and to the rear Of cur lines, tax
ing them in reverse, and asSailing without
warning the troops then arriving. A sudden
rear and enflading attack, even with an infe-
riOr force, in the darkness of the night, with
OUT notice of approach, would have caused dire
confusion, panic, and disaster and perhaps the
history of Gettysburg would have been writ
ten differently. Vide charlottesville. Gen.
Meade arrived upon the field about / a. m. July
2, when the troops that were on the ground
aud arriving were rapidly assigned places in
line.
The points in this incident to which wish
to cali your attention are as follows, to wit:
First The successes of the enemy during the
day had prompted him TO assault during the
night of the 1st of July, and before the arrival
of our reinlorcements, which assault was Or
dercd.
Second. Our lines on our right were open
and exposed; our picket-line not covering the
position that at later hour was occupied in
force by our Twelfth Corps.
Third. The vigorous resistance encountered
by the advancing troops Of the enemy deter
mined them and it is so stated in Gen. Ewell's
repor; OF his operations in the opinion that we
had fully occupied tic positions.
Ii IS therefore, manifest that on the courage
and The faithfulness OF these few the safety of
thousands depended