The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-29
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
BEHINDTHEREBEL SCENES.
What Member Of the Iron Brigade Saw at the
Battle OF Gettysburg.

hattie OF NetlANhuis'
Enron NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The fact that
] was taken prisoner by the Confederate forces
st Ceftvsburg or the incidents connected there
with. NAV DC Of no moment for / was only one
of many thousands of the private soldiers cap
tured there. However, the old adage that
little pitchers have big ears might apply TO
NV case. and the things heard aud seen while
behind the rebel scenes may be of some interest
II the fellow prisoner is not living who was
with me at that critical moment when Gen.
Lee pronounced his position there no longer
tenable ," aud gave the order which inaugurated
the retreat of his army from that historic field,
then / am the only one left OF that magnificent
Union army which confronted HIM, to tell the
story II a single heart encased IN the UNIFORM
Of blue aside from his and mine was made to
leap with joy at hearing his momentous words,
i would like 10 know that il still beats TO cor
robOrate my statement. III the Lieutenant who
was with me has published statement OF these
facts, have failed 70 see it.
As measured by the standard Of the Pension
Office, the moral and intellectual force of the
late privates lies more Ia aggregate numbers
than in their individual reputation for truth.
The history OF the organization known TO the
Army Of the Potomac as the Iron Brigade"
and TO the Army of Virginia, which confronted
us, as the Big Hated Devils has been
written in FIRE and blood. A writer in the
Century Magazine for May, 1889 in making a
comparative statement IN relation TO losses
sustained in killed aud wounded during the
war, tells in cold facts how well II was written.
Hence, whatever / may lack in official prestige
10 add 10 the truth of history, hope viii be
compensated in part by the fact that was an
humble member OF this grand brigade, with
such iIlustrious comrades rs Fairchild, Bragg,
Dudley and others who were wounded in this
battle Marching in the direction Of Gettys-
burg by way of the Emmitsburg road, we
were among the first infantry of the Union
army to engage the enemy on that memorable
morning Of July ], 1868, on that now historic
field.
Among the notable events Of this preliminary
engagement was the capture by our brigade Of
Archer's Brigade Of rebel infantry, and the
tragic killing Of our gallant First Corps COM
mander, Gen. John Il. Reynolds. In the more
combined assault made upon our lines on the
afternoon Of that day / Was taken prisoner
upon the skirmish line OF the Union army.
had witnessed the bcWildering movements of
the Confederate troops, rs the oncoming columns
OF infantry, cavalry and artillery were hurried
along the various avenues OF travel, TO be
placed in aggressive or defensive positions, or
20 be hurled with impetuous fury against the
valiant and powerful columns of Meade.
On the afternoon Of July the lot OF Union
prisoners 10 which belonged were taken back
20 point almost il the immediate rear OF the
rebel battlelines. / am unable 10 determine
the exact location. Here we were called into
line, and briefly addressed by the Confederate
Gen. Hill. bis treatment OF us was very
generous. II may have been necessarily so, for
they were being repulsed, Tor their returning
wounded and stragglers indicated hopclessncss
and confusion in their ranks. The General
rendered to Us parole OF honor, aud, upon his
promise 10 send Us within our own lines, we
accepted it.
Daring the preliminary preparations for
starting with US TO Carlisle, Pa, to be received
nv II = military aFfHarifieE at hat mint /
started with my canteen IN search Of water for
the coming march. In the craEgy side OF
towering hiilock from an almost perpendicular
wall, small stream Of the sparkling liquid
issued from fssurc in the mammoth rock. IL
was indeed an oasis in the desert 10 the tired
and fOOtsoTe soldier, whether in blue or gray,
who passed along the winding road that led by
It. Liketh rock in the wilderness that Moses.
the leader Of the Israelites, snlote Hith rod
that the thirst Oi his people might be quenched,
did the waters from this rock queHch the
thirst Of the great Moses of the Southern Con-
1ederacy and the brave but misguided hosts
that followed him. had just filed my can
teen, when a voice from the top Of the hill,
almost directly overhead, called out, Nine
teenth, for Gods sake. come up here" knew
from the familiar manner Of h!s address that he
knew my regiment OF, az least, not an
enemy, and by utilizing the laurel bushels
which grew upon the steep ascent i was soon
p. u. Prom the apex Of this hill the country
could be seen Tor miles around, aid in couse-
oueBce IL was utilized by the Signal Corps OF
Lees army a. one Of It's stations. The officer
and man ia charge were 20 busily engaged Ia
receiving aud Transmitting messages That they
paid but little attention TO my approach. A
deep anxiety was depicted On the faces OF each
as they caught the waves Of disaster that seemed
% be sweeping over them. On tic other hand.
Uy cOmrade Of the lion Brigade was thrilled
with patriotic emotion. Here" said he ex-
e!tedIy. as he indicated the direction with his
hand, look through my Geld- glasses
put them 20 my eyes and swept the horizon
10 the south aud east. ] caught his euthusi-
EsD, but cannot describe the sublime grandeur
of The scene. What before lad been chaos and
confusion 10 ms beWildcrCd brain, now appeared
n more tangible form. The two opposing
armies were indeed Occupying tTaaspOsed posi-
tons, al almost direct reverse Of their iOrme.
order Of lighting On other aud previous battle
feds.
The grand old Army Of the Potomac, that
had always fought with its face toward its
enemies ia the Sunny South, bow had turned
its back 70 that TeyOited section. and was hurl-
ing the missiles Of death AID destruction into
the ranks Of Secession, which were fighting
with faces toward their beloved South. TO
nc u Was q ucw order iB tie annals Of war.
Shells from q battery Of heavy siege guns on
Oh Cups Hill seemed 10 pass directly over our
heads, aHG y burst IL the vicinity Of q battery
o. Ecbei Eiege-guDs mile IN cur rear So great
wac the distance 10 CUlp's Hill we could see
the smoke Of the gun and hear the report Of
tie bursting shell before gge caught the sound
o. the PEa which threw it. AZ only one in
El2uce % the uueuiIg aim Of our veteran can
noueers. aud the great proIeiiing force Of our
PoWeIui guns, projcclile thrown by one Of
them passed Cncomf0rtably near ne, striking
and cIslnDuul!Bg q rebel gun fully two miles
Ia Ia. ~f... Of U5i4a Il I sa.N-.
accurately # the execution d this mammoth
loug-TaHge pFojsctile Tor when il burstcd be-
meath The guns carriage, ] saw the gun roll
down the h.l from iis position On its slope
Estimating the distance 10 the location Of our
qua ~ t"O miles the whole distance Travelled
by THIS ball was az least four miles. For once
IN my life ] saw and fully realized the great
power and mastery execution Of cur own guns
and the danger Of Standing within their range
though welded By friendly hands. ] could
only family outline in Tie dim distance The
lines Of the Union army, &C here and there
they dotted the uudulated ground from Gene.
terry ii III almost Ia my front, sill almost lost
n vision OF the Little and Big Round Tops
away - the south.
or course ] did not then know the name Of
Gsngle object within the scope Of my vision,
not even the liltle hamlet which lay IN the
valley Of lie heretofore peaceful hills. but
which now Tegerbcrated with the roar and
clash Of two great armies IN deadly conflict
Though then unknown, its battle echoes moi
only awakened loyal North and shattered q
bogus Confederscy bat they shook other