The National tribune., 1888-07-05

rbonla like "a remind the old General, through
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, that ! have long
since forgiven him. He viii he glad 20 know
this.
When saw so indisputably that everybody
else was going to leave town, l concluded that
I would 60 too, and / stood not on the order OF
my going. but went at once.
on the occasion Of President Cleveland's visit
70 Gettysburg it was my pleasure, as well as
nv business as newspaper man, TO accompany
that party / heard then one OF the old resi-
dents-one Of the "reliable old liars tell n
distinguished party that the rebel band played
"Dixie on the square Of the town at 1 2. ~.
on that day.
want 10 say that is not true. There was
lots Of music at 1 p m, bat there were no Danes
playing that day that I ever heard Of. 1t vss
late in the afternoon. when we had our parade
through town 70 the music Of cannon ava
screeching shell, accompanied by the shrieEs
and praaas Of the wounded and dying men who
we're piled into the courthouse and churches
on the main street OF that Old burg; thai al
the music there was in the ar that afternoon
Twill tell briefly what I heard Hancock and
Howard say and, as Gen. Doubleday is living
witness, DE may corroborate my statement. It
Is important only IN helping to establish the
fact that it was Hancock and not Howard who
saved that position.
managed TO steer my old horse through the
dense mass Of soldiers who were surgIng mp
the main street toward Cemetery Hill, anG got
there fust IS soon as could, too. You know the
Eleventh. Corps came into the streets OF tie
town from the right, pretty much as you often
see a crowd dismissed in panic from crowded
theater or church: the side aisles or galleries
swoop down on he crowd trying to get out the
main aisle and block Up the exit.
When I cot to the top OF the hill / found
Gen Howard. entirely alone, sitting on his
horse IN the lot to the right Of the Cemetery
gate, OF across the road from il. At this time
the men Of the Eleventh Corps had been COM
ing M for some time, and were going on down
over the hill like so many sheep over fence IL
never occurred 70 me that there would be any
stop there. and assert heTc-my opinion being
based on the observation Of the tlme-tlai
Gen Howard had not at that time any other
expectation than TO retreat farther back: at
least. he did not make any effort to stop the men
who kent going over the littls stone wall as q
matter of coarse. ! stopped upon the hill tc
look around a little for myself, and saw, 10 my
CONSERVATION. that the rebels were going II
lively over toward our right, IN what IS now
known as Culps Hill. This satisfied me.
was sure that they would get around behind ui
and cautare the whole army. For obvious rca
sons didn't intend to be captured if my horse
could keep me ont Of il.
While I wss making nay way back to th'
road / rau against Gen. Hancock, who had 5uzl
come uD IN search Of Howard. Hancock-bTil
liant, dashing glorious Haneock-rcde acFos
the way 70 Howard, who hsd been standin.
silently biting his fngeF-uails evidently al
much ratified as il was possible for good so!
der 10 be.
Howard. /" said Hancock in voice that ST
tracted the attention of the crowd that ha'
gathered there, LETS get them behind tha
stone fence; they can never get Us out o
that"
Howard looked surprised, and said something
in a low voice, trembling with excitement
which ] took TO be an acquieseence with Han
cocks suggestion. There were some othe
words between them that were not heard, bu
we all knew that Hancock, from his fiery
vigorous manner was urging Howard to la
importance Of this step. HaHcock's very pres
ence Sc med 10 inspire the men, who had noE
begun to gather on the hill in great crowds, al
trscted By the excitable manner of the Gen
era.
Just then Doubleday got up 70 this poin
Hancock, abruptly leaving Howard, turned
Doubleday and began 10 explain with excite
gestures the importance Of securing this pos
tion. Doubleday, at a glance, seemed to tax
IN the i'm portaBce OF the step He and Han
COCK talked together for moment only, whe
Hancock, without again referring to How
ard lwho sfill sat silently IN his saddle, loOkin
Nov. yoa put your men behind that fenc
and don't let another man 70 back Of It." Thel
turning to the staff Of assembled officers thu
were there. be said:
Don't allow another -- man TO 90 oyi
that hill; drive them all mp behind that stoI
wall"
Some. one asked if tbey-the staF-shouI
use force ndiscriminately. Doubleday r
tOrted violently: Yes; shoot any - ma
that refuses 70 obey
Some officer whom ] cannot locate turned
all Of us, took command and ordered evei
officer aud soldier 20 draw his pistol and sab
and prevent another man from going down q
hill. Ror the first and only time during =
four years 0f the war ] used a sabeT OF Ol
own men of the Eleventh Corps. No mo
men went hack, thanks to Hancock. HoI
ard and Hancock, standing together, were ha
ing some further animated cOnVersatio
] was close enough 70 hear only these WORD
spoken petulauuy by Howard in answer
something hat had been said 70 him:
Hancock, you cannot command here
day"
Hancock rode over 10 Doubleday; they c
changed .ew words in private, heated tai
D0ubiedav took charge, and il was he "
executed Hancock's commands and saved I
position. Howard received the credit and q
thanks of Congress for having selected q
position, but ! assert here, as IL il We're d
ing statement and my hopes OF eternity hu
on IT, that Howard did not until Hanco
forced MIN to act, take any steps 10 hold L
place.
l.