The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-30
GETTYSBURG.
What Regiment Supported Berdan's sharpshootersi

What Regiment Supported Berdan's Sharpsh00terSi
EDITOR NATIONAL. TRIBUNE: I have read
with much interest Lieut.. Johnson's letter
under the above heading, published in your
valuable journal of the 10th inst. The Lieu
tenant seems to be under the impression that
Col. Lakeman was in command of the recon-
noissance referred to. The following extracts
from the official reports will, L think, settle
his mind on that point. Col. Lakeman's report
of July 81 1863, contains the following:
BY order of Gen. Ward, moved my regiment as
a support for body of Sharpshooters under
report. They soon, however became
holly engaged and by order of Col. Berdan l adj
vanced double-quck to the line they occupied. and
instantly formed my regiment under heavy fire
from the enemy. The enemy showed himself in
overwhelming force; but so well did we hold our
position that his advance was much checked and
very disastrous, and not until ordered by Col Ber-
dan to fall back did single man leave the ranks.
= NJ. j. LAKEMAE,
Colonel Commanding Sd Me.
H'Dq'Rs BrREEY's DIVISION, THIRD CoRPs.
Aug. z, 1863
Atl2 M, believing from the constant fire of the
enemy that movement was being made toward
the left received permission from Mai Sickles to
send 100 of Berdans Sharpshooters, with the Sd
Me. as support, to feel the enemy's right. sent
Capt ]. G. Brscoe, of my staff, with the reconnois-
saIce which was under Col Berdan's command.
They advanced from the Peach Orchard out the
Millerstown road, and entered the woods. in order
to flank the enemy. The skirmishers of the enemy
were driven in, but three columns of their forces
were found marching to our left. The force sent
by me was driven back by overwhelming num-
bers, with the loss of about GO killed and wounded
Communicating this important information to
Maj Gen. Sickes, was ordered by that officer to
change my front TO meet the attack.
Col. Berdan, of the Sharpshooters, and Capt
Briscoe, of my staff, deserve mention for their
services in leading the reconnaissance before the
battle, and for the valuable information derived
lam vour ohedient servant
ID. B. BIRNEY
Maj.-Ger. u. S.Vols., Com'd'g Division.
Lieut.-Col. o. II. HART,
Assistant Acknowledgement Third Corps
Another point the Lieutenant makes is that
the reporter of the World, in an article from Get
tysburg, July g. 1888, made me say that "my
Sharpshooters were supported by a Michigan
regiment" / have always stated that | was
supported by the Sd Ne, and in my report of
the reconnaissance referred to under date of
July 90, 1868, will be found the following:
] desire to make special mention of Col. Lake.
man and Mai Lee, of the Sd Me-, for their services
on the reconnaissance, in which the Sd Me. was
used as u support 10 the detachment of Sharp
shooters.
The third and last point raised by the Lieu
tenant is contained in the following paragraph
in his letter:
If Gen. Berdan places q monument on this adj
yanced line to get the credit for his command OF
being the farthest advanced and most exposed
DOuy OF troops al 0tItySouIS July tuSn tAS on
Me-, with equal right, should place its monument
there; for the Sharpshooters cannot claim prece-
dence by single foot OF Gods green earth that we
soaked with our blood that day.
In answer to this point beg to say that this
year we are engaged in erecting some company
monuments at the spot referred to, but on July
| 2, 1890, we will dedicate a general monument
| to the Sharpshooters in the wood where this
all-important reconnaissance was made, and
shall be only too happy to assist in the dcdica
ton of a monument to the Sd Me. at the same
time and place. There is room enough for al
and glory enough for an.-H. BERDAN.