The National tribune., 1892-09-22
AT GETTYSBURG.
Substantiating the Claim that the Ir0'
Brigade Opened the Battle.

Substantiating the Claim that tho Iron
Brigade Opened the Battle.
| In the interest of true history I am again
called upon to write in regard to the first day
| at Gettysburg. In former article l claimed
| that the Iron Brigade First Brigade First Di-
vision, First Corps was first on the field. AS
stated there, belonged to the First Corps
| headquarters and marched at the head of the
| First Brigade with Gems. Reynolds and Wads-
worth from Emmitsburg to the battlefield,
where Gen. Reynolds was killed, and helped
carry him from the field. In the morning
| after the Iron Brigade had formed in march
ing column, they lay down in the road, Gems.
Reynolds and Wadsworth at its head and on
the right of the road.
While in this position and about 7:30 o'clock,
| firing was heard in front and to the left of the
road. This was some of our cavalry, with
section of artillery, that had found the rebels.
An Orderly soon came up and gave the Gem
era an order, when the brigade fell in, with
the Generals mentioned In front When we
reached point where the road gains the high
| ground on Cemetery Ridge, nearly south OF the
Seminary. the brigade filed left, marching al
most north to the Seminary. Here we halted,
and formed line just east of the building.
There was no firing all this time, except the
| section of artillery mentioned and the rebel
| sharpshooters and there was no infantry in
front marching from the town, nor did l see
any till after the fight commenced, after leav-
| ing Emmitsburg.
| Part of the brigade moved west by the build
| ing. with empty guns, which we would not
| have done if the Second Brigade had been en-
gagged, or if we had expected to meet any
| thing but cavalry. All this know to be SO,
for was with the General from Emmitsburg
| to the battlefield, and carried his body from the
| field to the toll gate on the pike, above the
town.
Besides, the testimony of the Second Brigade
al hat fhnrv
| kept the road around to Gettysburg more than
| mile east of the battlefield. They also state
that the First Brigade left the road, as above
stated, and marched direct to the field, and
also that the division was we'll closed up.
These are fatal concessions to their claim.
First because 1t makes them march twice as
far to reach the field as the First Brigade. This
| they could not do if well closed up. Second, 1t
proves that marched at the head of the First
Brigade with Gen. Reynolds, and that he did
not march with the Second Brigade through
the town. Third. it proves that if engaged first,
they must have been engaged long time be-
fore we came up, and they only claim short
| time; besides, the division could not have been
! we'll closed up as they claim.
Reader, take map and place your finger on
point where the Emmtsburg road gains the
high ground south of the Seminary, and see il
you think brigade could keep the road around
to the town and then west to the battlefield,
reaching there sooner than another that
marched direct north to the field.
To sum up: If the Second Brigade went
around by the town and reached the field first,
the First Brigade must have been more than two
miles in the rear. They say we were not, and
so say /. If they reached the field first, they
must have been engaged while we marched
more than mile, and did not know they were
engaged. They do not claim to have been en-
gagged so long as this. If not engaged, and over
Al IL of ivht fhovy nj mt
of hearing; they must have been in the town,
and to have reached the field first they must
have come in sight soon after we reached the
high ground; but there was no infantry in
sight.
There is no question that the Second Brigade
kept the road around to the town and that the
First Brigade left the road aud marched direct
to the field. l was with the brigade that
marched down the slope to the battlefield.
This was the First Brigade, and as Was also
with Gen. Reynolds, he marched with the First
Brigade and not with the Second Brigade. as
they claim.
So sure am that the First Brigade was the
first infantry on the field that can just as
soon think did net belong to Corps Headquar-
ters or did not see Gen. Reynolds that morning
at the head of the First Brigade, or that did
not carry him from the field. as to think that
l am mistaken. / have always claimed this
for the First Brigade and always shall until
some one makes it appear that l was not at
Gettysburg at all. The only show the Second
Brigade has of getting on the field first Is that
they were engaged while we marched more
than a mile-a long time. If they claim this,
it will knock all their other fne.spun theories
out of line. They will have to account for
more than how they could march around the
road to the town and reach the field sooner
than the First Brigade, that marched in di-
rect line to it. and that, too, with the division
well closed up This is not a question of
bravery or good looks or ability,-all this the
Second Brigade had equal to any,-but ques-
ton ofjustice.-B. II. Trip, Co. F, 7th Wis,
Clyde, Neb.