The National tribune., 1892-09-22
AT GETTYSBURG.
Another of the Eleventh Corps Takes Up fol
the Part They Performed.

inc IaTU ln6y feIIOTmous
TN the issue of June 30, noticed commu.
nication coming from Owen Wright, Ser.
geant of Co. d, 18th Ind, who graphically
relates the part his regiment took on July
2, 3 and 4, upon and around Cemetery Hill at
Gettysburg. Does he not spread himself
muchly over the platter when he first admits
that 1t was dark when they reached the guns
on the hill, and then describes infinitely many
things he saw and heardf One was that they
did not find Lieut.. Peck's or any other regi-
ment there except the 21st N. G. Possibly the
remembrances of 30 years ago may not now DO
as vivid as then, but this do remember, was
there and in it. Several years ago attended
Pennsylvania Monumental Day at Gettysburg,
and while standing at my regimental tablet,
noticed the massive monument OF the 14th
Ind, and wondered where it "drapped" from.
/ also noticed that their flank markers over.
Tapped our left, but not our right flank.
On the day of the I'd had command of the
skirmish.line, consisting Of part Of Co.'S A and F
men, We knew for hours before the cannonading
commenced that we were confronted by the 9TH
La and that brigades and batteries were con-
centrating in the small valley, easily seen from
the front of our skirmish-line, and so reported
1t. When their charging columns of two deep
commenced forming, we fell back towards our
battle.line. firing three volleys before reaching
there / then reported to Gen. Won elisa, who
our color division, Co.'S G and II. Two things
then and there became indelibly stamped
upon my mind. One was when | re-
ported the enemy in force and forming for
charge, he Won elisa said it was impossible ;
they were our own men. / told him we had
been watching them for some time, and that /
felt sure my report was correct. / saluted and
started toward the right of the regiment AS
PASSED the color division noticed that Cert
ter, Yeager, Young. and Walton were wounded
and gone; in Cos ID and j, Howell, Beaver, and
Movers killed and wounded, and that my own
company was in command of Sergeant, Lieut..
Shaun being wounded the day before. As
took command the enemy's skirmisbers came
swarming through the cornfield in front of the
lane before us, with their first battle-line close
behind them. ] turned halfway round. look
ing toward the General, as his disbelief of
their not being the enemy was upon my mind,
and noticed there was not a gun being fired.
AS their skirmishers struck the fence the
clear, ringing voice of Lieut.. Beideman, of Co.
+, rang out, "Ready-ain,-ire! Above the
roar of their guns / heard the command of
Won elisa "Cease firing, They are our
friends" Knowing differently. l gave the
order to fire. which was instantly taken up by
other regiments, and the engagement became
general up and down the line.
If the regimental master Of ceremonies the
21st N. c., as Serg't Wright calls them, was in
front of the 14th, then they must have come
in on my regiments flank, and occupied the
small space in our rear shown by the 18th
markers. still have several keepsakes given
me by Lieutenant Of the 7th La who was
taken prisoner with others by our regiment
and sent to the rear the next morning. What
seems so strange is that we did not see or hear
of this fight and capturing of the 21st N. G.
going on in our rear, or even hear Gen. Car
rolls cussing. 1t may have been, rs it some
times is, not loud but deep. l guess We, like
our rifles. were rafting or ratified about that
time, and did not stop to listen to any body g
swearing, as it was customary thing in the
army, you know; especially among mule
drivers. oil
Then, again, as the Sergeant intimates How
ards left always flies up when the 14th Ind.
tells of its deeds at Gettysburg. If il did it
must shave lit powerfully quick again" for it
was still there at 1daybreak in the morning
with its old flag flying Its tatters from half
length flagstaff, the other end shot off the day
before over on Seminary Ridge, and whose
monument there now shows by actual measure
ment was the farthGst IN advance of any other
infantry regiment out OF any corps in the
Army of the Potomac. fH.
Will the Sergeant kindly tell us, if they were
there on the morning of the 4th, how many re-
sponded of the 14th Ind to the call for volun-
teers for storming party? L might then be
able to locate their whereabouts, as i still have
the list, and motto seven OF the 4lst N. Y. upon
it. Possibly, as the hill was not just then be-
ing thumped with shot and shell, and the 2lst
n. c. was safely held from doing any harm, we
may have been excited and got the numbers
reversed; if so, humbly beg his pardon; for
what need was there for others when the cardi-
nal red-the fiery 14th lnd.-always stood
ready for business?
But. joking aside, we do not intend quarrel.
ing with the Sergeant, as there is plenty of pie
to go around and lots left over for handouts !;
but many Of us boys in blue cannot believe
that the 18th Ind. cleaned up every rebel in
front of Cemetery i'll and frothed at the mouth
to tackle Pickett's flank on the third day; but
do believe that the nightly prayer of the Ser.
geant was for the good Lord just to stand back
and not interfere with the 14th aud he
would see some of tho greatest fighting ever
yet recorded on the pages of military history
j. G. MILLAR, Lieutenant commanding Co. A,
l53d Pa, Goethite, Ala.