The National tribune., 1889-12-12
GETTYS BURG.
The Part Taken by the Eleventh Corps,

EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: / have been
reading the Story of a Cannoneer in THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE, and cannot agree with him
in his description of the battle of Gettysburg
He says that the only infantry troops that
did any fighting Of any account on the first
day belonged to the First Corps belonged
to the 18th Conn, Second Brigade First Divis-
ion, Eleventh Corps, which was commanded by
Brig Gen. A. Ames.
We arrived at Gettysburg about / o'clock
p. m, July 1, on the Emmtsburg road.
Marched through the town and filed into a lot
near the p0orhouse
Four companies were Immediately detailed
for skirmishers, and went at once to the front,
under command of Maj. Allen g. Brady. The
remaining six companies, under command of
Lieut.-COl. Douglass Fowler, marched across the
fields by the flank, and took position near
what is now known as "Barlows Knollp aud
near large oak tree.
We were formed in column by division and
awaited the approach of the enemy. We did not
have long to wait as large force came out of
piece of woods near by and we were formed
in line of battle and ordered forward. We
went forward with cheer, but were soon re-
pulsed by larger force of the enemy, leaving
our Lieutenant Colonel and Senior Captain
tJames h. Moore, Co. ca killed, besides 80
enlisted men killed and large number wound
ed and prisoners
There being no troops in our rear to support
u.s. and as we were outnumbered three or four
to one, rs matter of discretion we fell back
through the town to Cemetery Ill., which (by
the forethought of Gen. o. o. Howard) had
been secured aud held by the Second Division
(Stonwehr's) of our corps as a rallying. point
During our retreat through the town think
] saw as many First Corps men rs any other.
The writer of the "Cannoneer says the First
Corps was not whipped the first day. Why
did they not hold their position then2 Where
would they have been had not the forethought
OF Gen. Howard secured them a rallying-
poiut2
There is not doubt in my mind that If Gen
Lee had known that Cemetery Hill was only
held by one division of the Eleventh Corps he
would have followed us up through the town to
Cemetery HILL and the battle of Gettysburg
would have been lost TO the Union army.
wounded prisoner from my regiment was asked
by a Johnny what corps that was occupying
Cemetery Hill. lie replied, Go up there aud
see, If you want to find out"
was on picket near tho town the first night
and received orders to DO very vigiant, MS we
were going TO try and capture the town. This
was simply so We would tell il TO the Johnnies
in case we were captured, as our army do not
believe, had the faintest idea of ad vancing on
the town that night. In fact, think they
were lucky 10 get through that night without
being attacked by Lecis army. OF course, at
thgilkbb on July = kHB hlfGDEtu oil our army
was increased by the arrival Of the Twelfth
Second and Fifth Corps and Lees opportunity
was lost. Ny regiment went into the first
days fight with about $50 men, and we were
ordered 10 detail 100 men for picket the first
night, aud could not furnish the full number
/ took about 80 men into the FIRST days fight.
and lost % the first and second day, four Of
whom were killed.
Perhaps the First Corps did all the flghting
Ihr GFEt aag hat fln ,sFa
lost the FIRST day, we must have been around
there somewhere. Probably Stewards battery
did about all the artillery fighting that day
also.
| wish TO say few words about the charge
on the batteries OH Cemetery Hin on the night
OF July q
Ames's Brigade of the 18th, 25th
and 10Th Ohio aud the 18th Conn.--wcre
stationed along East Cemetery Hill on the
afternoon Of July2. Our regiment, aud think
the 10Th and 25th Ohio, were moved down TO
the foot of the bill just before dark and sta
toned along low stone wall beside lane that
runs from the town nearly TO culp's Hill.
The firing had just ceased on Culp's Hill, and
our piekets had been stationed for the night,
when firing commenced on the picket-lne In
our front aud the piekets commenced To fall
back while firing.
by regiment was ordered To commence fir
Ing, and was soon ordered TO cease firing as IL
was said that we were firing on our pickcts.
We soon saw the rebel line of battle approach
ing by the fash Of our muskets and commenced
firing again, aud did not cease until the enemy
fell back, aud not member of my regiment
left his position. unless he WIS wounded until
We were relieved after the assault was repnlsed.
Captain from my regiment hauled burly
Johnny over the stone wall and captured him.
The Cannoneer says that Weidsicks and
Riekettss batteries We're captured. / know
that Is a mistake, as they held the same
position on the morning of the Sd OF July
that they did on the I'd, and the guns were all
there; III we were stationed near them all day
the second and third day, and saw them firing
on both days
would like TO hear something from the 10Th,
9th and lO7th Ohio in regard to what was done
by Ames's Brigade during the first and second
days.
If am mistaken in regard to my recollec.
tions, shall be glad TO be corrected by any
member Of "Amess Old Brigade" "A w. PECK,
First Lieutenant, Co. ID, 18th Conn, Ncwtown,
Conn