The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-10-04
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
PLAYING PARsON.
Ehr a soldier was Dubbed Chaplain.

through your columns my experience as parson
while confined in Gettysburg from about
O'Clock p. m. July ], 1868, till July 4, about day
break, will attempt to write il as near as |
can, partly from memory and part copied
from a letter written by nae while prisoner
there to the Pulaski Democrat, and published
IN that paper at the time.
July J. 1868, about 6 O'Clock a. NJ, as we were
about finishing our breakfast, near Emmltts-
burg Nd and about seven miles distant from
Gettysburg, Pa, We got the order to fall in
and in less than, two minutes were on the
double-quck toward Gettysburg. Men were
seen with their shelter-tents, blankets, KNAPP
sacks etc, unpaclzed, which they had hurriedly
snatched from the ground, hurrying along,
trying 10 keep their places; while Others, who
had made an early visit to some farmhouse,
might have been seen with quart pale of hot
coffee in one hand and nice white loaf of
soft bread in the other, huTrying TO their re-
spective places in the ranks preferring in some
cases 10 leave blankets and knapsacks rather
than the nice loaf Of soft bread, which they
had in some cases Travelled miles to obtain,
having started before daylight and just arrived
in camp. And right here l want to ask some OF
the graybeaded boys if those Maryland ladies
did not make a superior quality OF bread or is
there a little something in the taste?
] viii also state here that i belonged TO the
l47th n Y, a statement that no man who ever
belonged to that organization viii ever be
equal to any regiment in the United States
service. We were in the Second Brigade, First
Division, First Corps the lamented Madsworth
having command of the division and the gal
liant Reynolds commanding the corps. Our
brigade led the corps and were the first in
faBtry engaged that day.
We soon saw that the whole corps was IN mo-
ton, and from the hssty riding OF staff officers
and urgent appeals of Col. Miller to keep our
companies well closed up he keeping his horse
on a smart trot, we began to think there was
business ahead that needed cur immediate at
tentiOn. We had gone thus about three miles
when we began to hear the booming Of cannon,
and could see by the smoke ahead that our cav
airy (which Joe Hooker had put under the best
OF discipline were putting forth their utmost
efforts 10 prevent A. Z. Hill with his rebel
hosts from forcing passage through a gap IN
the Blue Ridge Mountains which lies beyond
Gettysburg, and In short time we could see
that they were rapidly being pushed back by
superior numbers. All this time we were being
hurried at the utmost speed along the road on
that hot july morning, sweltering from every
pore. As for me, my clothes would not have
been wetter if i had fallen into pond of water.
1t was race between Reynolds and Hill for
Gettysburg, but thanks 10 our gallant cavalry,
which had used every exertion to impede their
progress. we were first in the city. But We did
not halt there, though our progress was some
what impeded, as the infantry had to give up
the center Of the road TO artillery, we having
TO take the sidewalk and doOryards and get
along as best we could the principal order be-
ing hurry up" We passed through the
southwest portion Of the city, but here other
impeGiments were found; fair ladies' wishing TO
relieve the furnishing thirst Of the soldiers,
were seen on the walks with pals Of water,
thinking they were doing deed of charity,
which perhaps they were, 10 the thirsty SOL
der, but not 70 their country, as they were
hindering the men. A pail Of water would
quickly form 3 crowd, and this would stop
those Ear in the rear, thus losing time which at
that very moment was Of the utmost impOr-
lance TO our country. Officers could be seen
kicking the pals into atoms before the horror
stricken ladies, who DOUBTLESS thought them
great tyrznts; but il was no time then to stop
aud explain matters. We passed through the
southwest part Of the town, beyond the Semi
cary, forming line Of battle about one mile
from the main street IN the city, and run
ming nearly parallel with il. While form
ing this line Of battle Gen. Reynolds was
killed. Our line Of battle was FIRST form
ed in a large wheatfeid on the summit oil
q rise Of ground, and the enemy were lying
down IN the wheat about Is rods in our front
Our brigade was first in position, being at the
head Of the corps on the line Of march. We
were ordered 70 halt front, and commence fir
ing; but although the enemys bullets were
fast telling upon our ranks, We conid not see
them, as they were concealed from our view By
the tall wheat, but we could see their posi-.
tiOn from the fire and smoke from their guns
The enemy soon forced our right flank, and
we were ordered TO fall back. Col. Miller being
knocked scBseless by bullet grazing bis sea L
just as he received the order, did not communi-
cate il TO the regiment, and Lieut.-Col. Harvey
did not get the order to retreat till some lC
minutes had expired and the rest Of the brigade
had left and when our regiment were oveI
half killed and wounded, oar Coior-Sergeant
killed and over half the color-guard killed OF
wounded The colOrs were seized By Serg't
Myborn, Of Co. I, and each one who still had q
good pair Of legs put them 10 practical use
J. for one, never used mine 70 better advantage
than / did for nearly half mile at this time
Our brigade, what was left Of it, was soor
turned again 70 face the enemy, and in q short
time with the aid Of a brigade Of the Second
DIVISION, soon managed 10 surround and capt
ure an entire brigade of the enemy
About ii O'Clock a. our right flank was GOV
cred by the Eleventh Corps and we werl
enabled to push the enemy back, and we sool
occupied the ground from which we were driver
earlier IN the Gay, which enabled the streteher
bearers 10 carry OF the wounded, and soon ever,
public baildiug il the city was rapidly 6 llet
with tie wounded. The dead were mostly LEI
where they had fallen until the 4th, whel
thousands Of bodies were laid ia their narrol
house. About 4 o'clock p. 20. we saw Long
streets Corps moving IN two lines Of battle OF
our right The land north of Gettysburg
somewhat descending toward the town an
we being on Seminary Ridge could see th
enemy for over twO miles moving in two gpIeu
did lines directly on cur right and out-fank
ing the Eleventh Corps, driving eyerythin
before them. Soon after their force was full
seen We were ordered % fall back but as "
fell back through the city We became some
what mixed with the Eleventh Corps, and IL
short time il looked as though the street
were crowded with vast disorganized mob
companies and regiments were separated, s
that il seemed that every man / saw wore
different badge ] was looking 70 find me
from my own regiment, but ] only found on
Lieut. Brown, Of Co. i. We were on the side
walk side By size, and just passing some II
marks about the situation, when I saw a Il
pound shell strike on the side Of a brick bloc
and explode. One Of the pieces ricocheted Q
the brick sidewalk aud hit my ankle tearin
away piece Of my boot, and for moment ~
limb was entirely numb, utterly refusing 20 d
duty. i soon found, on close examination
that my leg was not gone. though fell as quIc
as though ny head had been hit Lieut. Brow
saw me fail and thought / was killed, and /
reported me 10 the regiment; but I knew be
ter when i came 10 examine my ankle an
found only slight bruise. As soon as / coul
get on ny feet / saw the enemy only a fe
PAGES from me. ] hurried on across the sire
20 my left, but at the next corner / came plum
on A rebel giyigr0i sb-iine who goon raIievea -