Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-05
INCIDENTS OF THE WAR.
A Union Soldiers Rem niscences That Never
Were In Print Before,

Were in Print Before.
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATCH.t
Little Round Top at Gettysburg was an al
most impregnable position. 1t was covered
with large powders behind which our troops
took a safe refuge, yet number were shot
while passing from one rock to another and at
these passage ways the enemy's sharpshooter
kept up his most accurate and fatal fire. Any
one attempting to pass was as good as dead he.
fore the attempt was made. General Slocum
pointed out two large rocks between which
was a space OF about three feet. AT this one
spot 25 soldiers met their fate The "DevlPs
Den" was Immediately opposite, and it was In
this den that the sharpshnoters we're concealed.
General Sykes made several unsuccessful az
tempts to get The fellows out.
&xx
BETWEEN Little Round Top and Devils Den
was a marsh perhaps two feet deep. The
enemy attempted to get across this, but the at
tempt was very disastrous. The soldiers were
baff1ed in every attempt to dlslodge the Round
Toppers. and many a rebel was killed while
wading through this mud. Some could be seen
in sitting position cold in death. Others
bored with bullets died sticking in the mire up
to their knees, their bodies bent forward, back
ward and in all conceivable postures
THE line of battle At at Gettysburg was the
shape of a fish hook. The straight end or top
OF the hook was on Round TOP, while the barb
was around Cemetery or Culps hill. The hook
was five or six miles long. a pretty good sized
hook, but 1t was well handled and landed quite
a number of the gray fellows who attempted
to capture the bait on the barb.
-.
GENERAL MEADE always supplied the ar
tillery with a sufficient infantry support.
whichis essential in case of charge from the
enemy. Artillery can take care of itself in
battle with the same opposing force, but when
it comes to charge of infantry or cavalry 1t
will be compelled to Timber to the rear"
-.
AT Gettysburg the cannoneers attached
long rope to the trail of their gun carriages and
loaded. This kind of fighting occurs only
when the artillery is not in much of hurry to
get away, but still is compelled to 60.
=*s
Two weeks after the battle of Gettysburg
same pretty sharp messages passed between
General Halleck at Washington and General
Meade in command of the Army of the Poto-
mac in the field where observations could be
seen. I quote Halleck to Meade: II need
hardly say to you that the escape of Lees
army without another battle has created great
dissatisfaction in the mind of the President,
and it will require an energetic pursuit on
your part to remove the impression that it has
not been sufficiently active heretofore"
Such messages as this were always sent after
o battle had been fought and the smart fellows
at Washington we're advised of 1t. In reply to
the above General Meade fired shell loaded
with good sense at Halleck which. when it
exploded, contained the following: H avlng
performed my duty conscientiously and to the
best of my ability, the censure of the President
conveyed in YOUR dispatch of this day is in my
judgment, so undeserved that I feel compelled
most respectfully to ask TO be Immediately
relieved from the command of this army"
This sort of took the starch out of General
Haleck, who replied: "My telegram stating
the Disappointment of the President at the
escape of Lees army was not intended as a
censure, but as stimulus to active pursuit.
II is not deemed a sufficient cause for your
application to be relieved"
General Meade stayed with the Army of the
Poto nac until the finale.
.<s
BOUNTY jumpers, as they were called, were
queer conglomeration of beings. To see 100
of them brought back and put into service after
having a good time away from the army was
more Interesting than to see a well-stocked
museum of expensive monkeys and kangaroos
One fellow would be dressed in blue suit
plug hat pigeon tailed coat with brass buttons
cuffs sticking out of his coat sleeves far enough
to tip the ends of his fingers. Another would
have a tight fitting suit, something like our
penitentiary garb. OF 100 no two would wear
clothes alike nor were there two of the same
size. These scamps are quite numerous now
and do the most boisterous talking when it
comes to charging on batteries. etc.
THE cavalry service, which had heretofore
been of little account, or at least had not been
urged to very active service, surprised itself
when it became engaged at Gettysburg and
found out what war was. Every order given
them was most energetically carried out with
out complaint with single excep ion. This
was an order given by General Fitzpatrick to
General Farnsworth. the consummation of
which, if it had been attempted, would have
resulted in the destruction of Farnsworth's
little band. This shows General Farpsworths
humane feeling and disregard for SELL Gen.
eral Fitzpatrick impetuously gave the order to
Farnsworth TO make the last charge. (This
was near Round Top and in rear of the enemy.)
Farnsw orth spoke with emotion: General, do
you mean 1t? Shall 1 throw my handful of
men over rough ground, through timber
against brigade of infantry? The First Yer
mont has already been fought half TO pieces;
those are too good men to kill"
Fitzpatrick said: do you refuse to obey nv
orders? If you are afraid to lead this charge
will lead it,"
Farnsworth rose in his stirrups. He looked
magnificent in his passion, and cried: TAKE
that back"
Fitzpatrick returned his defiance. but soon
said: II did not mean it; forget it,"
For a moment there was silence, when Farms
worth spoke calmly: General, ii you order
the charge Twill lead it, but you must take the
The charge was made, and Farnsworth fell in
the enemy's lines dead with five wounds.
UNION SOLDIER.