The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-09

the Potomac" speaking of Gen. Humphreys and
our division at this crisis, says: yet this i'm
posed obstinacy cost the terrible sacrifice of
half his small division. What of its remains
were collected on the original line was the
debris of many regiments, hardly more than
an ordinary battalion, though with many col
ors." Yes the colors were all there-not one of
them lost. He continues: Three guns of one
of its batteries had been left on the field owing
to its heavy losses in horses and cannoneers."
This was Seeleys battery, which had held a
position on the Emmittsburg road. and the
enemy had not dared to carry them off. Shortly
after our rallying on the old line it was ru-
mored that these guns had been left behind
when we fell back, and at once, as though by a
spontaneous impulse, the cry was raised, Boys,
let's go back and get those gunsl" and with a
wild cheer the whole mass of officers and men,
all mixed up, and without any organization,
rushed back across the field we had just como
over. OF course as we got out on the field
again the officers restored some degree of order,
and the men being veterans, naturally fell into
the proper alignment, and although the regi-
ments were good deal mixed up, yet a very
decent line was formed. The front on the En-
mittsburg road was again reached, the guns
secured, and we commenced to drag them back,
men and officers all together. Strange to say,
the enemy never fired shot. Whether they
took it for q counter attack and were waiting
events, they remained quiet.
/ understand the Second Corps claims some
of the credit of this achievement, and it may be
true that they assisted in it, though did not
see them, for they were everywhere that day.
Under their glorious commander, who seemed
himself to be ubiquitous, they had their finger
in everybody's pie on the field of Gettysburg.
We at the same time captured quite number of
prisoners stragglers-from the enemy. As we
swept along we gathered them up the CLEAN
ings of that CORY harvest. In connection with
this gathering up of prisoners rather anus
ing incident occurred. In dragging back one
of the guns we came to farm drain, which we
had some difficulty in crossing. As we arrived
there happened to look into the drain, and
there at the bottom lay two rebels. One OF
them had rifle. l had my revolver in my
hand, and at once covering him l commanded
him to drop that rife, which he promptly did,
and they both came out and surrendered. They
proved to be a Captain and private. On COM
ing out the Captain asked me what he should
do. 1t was all enthusiasm and hurrah just
then. dol" said I "do anything to make
yourself useful. There, take hold and help
drag out that gun" and they actually did
take hold and the last / ever saw of those
two rebels they were hauling ON that rope as
heartily as anyone. This ended our fighting
for that day, as it was now about dark. think,
however, that by this time Gen. Meade had
become convert to Gen. Sickless doctrine
that the fighting was to be on the left flank.
However, Lee had succeeded is securing the
coveted position, great apparent but no real
advantage to him, because the position from
which he had driven our corps he could now
make no use of. Could he have seized it earlier
in the day it would have been the