The National tribune., 1892-12-08
AT GETTYSBURG.
Cutters Brigade First and the Iron Brigade
Next on the Field.

|
IL sade and in the interest of the truth
of history only, l respectfully sub
| nit the following rs to which OF those two or
| carnations was first in the fight at Gettys-
! burg.
There is no question, nor should there be-
that Cutters the Second Brgade) was the first
infantry on the field. The authorities for my
statement are, first. the official records; sec.
ond personal interviews OH the field with Gen.
Meredith commander of the First Brigade;
Col. Bachelor the historian; Lieut. Col.
Fowler. of the 14th Brooklyn Cutters Bri-
gade); third, Doubledays Charlottesville and
Gettysburg and others.
1t will be remembered that u p to the appear
ance of Wadsworth's infantry the field
none of whom on the advance passed through
the town-Gambe's dismounted troopers had
been making a vigorous but Intellectual opposi-
ton to the infantry brigades of Davis on Gam
ble's right. and Archer on his left. Davis was
advancing in the open country east of the
Cashtown road, while Archer, on Davis's right,
was pushing forward under cover of the woods.
the density of which, in a measure, screened
from view Davis's men beyond. The cavalry
made splendid fight, but they were outnum
bered, and were gradually forced back, first on
the right of the pike docking vest and shortly
afterwards on the left-that is, in the woods
and southwest of the woods in front of Archer.
Gen. Doubleday, commander of the First
Division, First Corps in his official report
says: THAT the eventful morning of July
l." after ordering in the pickets etc, pushed
forward at fine speed, and soon overlook Wads-
worths Division. which had left the main road
and was fling rapidly through woods and fields
toward ridge which ran north and south, about
400 yards to the west of the seminary, which
is itself about quarter of mile to the west of
Gettysburg, and located on similar ridge
parallel to the first. On the most westerly OF
these ridges Gen. Reynolds had directed his
line of battle to be formed, and was himself
experimenting the placing of Cutters Brigade
as | rode up"
Gen Wadsworth, in his report under date of
July 4, 1863, says: 1.-The Division which con-
sisted of the brigades of Cutler and Meredith
the First and Second-moved from Marsh
Creek under the immediate direc-
ton of 3 Ma. -Gen. Reynolds He i'm
mediately turned the head of the column to the
left across the fields and struck the Cashtown
road, about three-quarters of mile west of
Gettysburg. The Second Brigade Brig. Gen.
Cutler. led the column followed by the Cd Me.
battery, Capt. Hall; the First Brigade Brig
Gen. Meredith, bringing up the rear. Here we
met the advance-guard of the enemy"
Three regiments of Cutters Brigade, the 10th
and I47th N Y. and 18th Pa, were ordered
Immediately across, or east of the turnpike and
railroad cut on the right of the line. The bal
ance of the brigade formed on the west side.
THE right" says Wadswortb, became sharply
engaged before the line was formed; and at this
time about 1915 a. H., our gallant leader fell
mortally wounded"
Gen. Cutler in his report, says that his bril-
gade, excepting the 9TH Ind, which was on
duty in the rear, was the leading brigade of
the corps; that when within about two miles
of the town it obliqued to the left across the
fields to the ridge near the seminary, west OF
the town. where the enemy were engaging our
cavalry Cutler mediately moved forward,
and says he found himself engaged with
vastly superior force of the enemy. By refer
ence to the Confederate reports this force will
be found to be Davis's Mississippi Brigade, and
consisted of the Cd and AID Miss. and the 55th
n. c. The 18th Miss. was absent on guard with
the wagon train. In this connection it may
not be out of place to say that if Daviss report
is correct, the roster, as given by Gen. Double
day, is wrong, as Davis says he had but three
regiments in the fight, whereas Gen. Double
day gives seven regiments. all of them North
Caroinians and the 55th not of the number.
Cook who WAS in command of the 10th n.
Y. reports his regiment being the extreme
acknowledgment of the First Corps, and that
while marching by the flank he was opened
upon by the enemy at a distance of 30 rods"
Col. Fowler, of the 14th Brooklyn whom the
writer once met on the field, says that ION
entering the field we were at once engaged by
the enemys skirmishers to our left and front"
Col. Morrow who took command Of the First
Brigade after the disablement of Meredith,
says, that the cavalry in his front was holly
engaged with the enemy, aud that his brigade
"the - black hated fellows" as Archer's
men called them, was ordered to advance at
once The brigade dashed across the fields at
a double.quick, without even hating to load.
The probabilities are that Meredith did not
anticipate so sudden and early collision as that
which occurred, and this may explain why
orders to load were not given. Some OF them,
however, loaded while on the charge. Robin
son. of the 9TH Wis, one of the best regiments in
the army, more thoughtful probably than some
of the other regimental commanders, gave the
command to load during the movement, 80"
as lie says" that no time would be lost"
As neither Morrow nor any Of his sub0rdi-
mates make mention of the First Brigade being
in the advance. and as Doubleday, by decided
inferential testimony, Wadsworth. Cutler and
Cook by direct testimony, assert that the Second
was the leading brigade, it would appear that no
matter who opened the ball on the part of the
infantry at Gettysburg, the honor of being
the first on the field belongs, without cayil or
question, to the Second Brigade, under the
command of Gen. Lysander Cutler.
That the brave boys of the splendid First
Division, First Corps, should get somewhat
mixed as to what happened on that eventful
morning is not strange. In reply to ques.
ton from the writer in 1867, on the field,
Gen. Meredith confessed that to point out,
even with moderate degree of exactness
the spot where Reynolds fell would be impos-
sible. He thought, however, that somewhere
near to small clump of trees standing out
from the eastern edge and corner Of the woods
(McPherson's) was the place. "But, SO hot was
it," said he "about that time that had no dis
position to be watchful of anything except the
enemy and my brigade"
The monument stands in the woods, many
yards away from the place indicated, thus
showing how Gen. Meredith, who was in the
fight, and Col. Bachelor who wasn't in the
fight could differ. Gen. Meredith gave the
writer as his reason for believing that Reynolds
fell at the corner, that he recalled his, (Rey-
nolds) having dashed along toward the turnpike,
in the rear of his (Meredith's) brigade, as it
was passing into the woods. He shortly after
heard of bis fall, and had the impression that
while engaged observing the direction of the
enemy's fire coming from out the Cashtown
road, he was picked off at the point above in
dictated by Confederate sharpshooter. Col.
Bachelor, the best posted historian on the de-
tails of the fight, was positive that lie fell about
the place where the monument to the memory
of the bravest of the brave" the Marshal Ney
of the Army of the Potomac, now stands.
For the benefit of your contesting corre-
spondeuts who, like the brave boys of Vim.
cents and Weeds Brigades at Little Round
Top. each believing that "his brigade was
tbara Il ret LET me say that the heroism dis