The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-04-21

Our loss In this battle was four killed. IL
wounded, and Il missing. Many of those mis-
sing were undoubtedly wounded in the woods,
and not recovered by us.
We come now. my comrades, to the high
tide o. the rehellion-the battle of Gettysburg
the ideal battlefield of the soldier. There
we had Lee and his infantry out OF their fast
nesses on open ground, and their desperate as
ssuts crumbled away before the fortitude and
unfinching valor of our men.
The march of the Third Corps on the morn
ing of the Cd of July over the fair fields that
stretched away to the Emmitsburg road must
have been beautiful and impressive spectacle
to the rest of the Union army; but to Long
street, who was marching his columns to attack
our left and rear, it meant disaster to plans
that he and the commander of the rebel army
had matured after long deliberatiOn. 1t meant
that they would have to abandon the plan
that promised so much and turn and face the
column that was threatening them.
How calamity you stood in your ranks and
sustained their heavy artillery fire as they adj
vanced to the attack without finching, and
your musEets at parade rest awaiting the order
to open fire. lou see your Adjutant, the brave
Kay, 60 down with his leg torn TO pieces by
canaon-shot. Your coior-bearcr has his hand
torn off by shell that exploded in your midst,
and here and there a coDrade falls.
At last your time comes. The rebel infantry
are seen coming in lire of battle over the gem
tie rise of ground in your front and your mus
kets begin their deadly work. Iou stand firm
while masses of his troops are thrown forward,
and shot and shell darAen the air lOu lessen
his ranks with your rapid and accurate fire.
Ia 10 single instance did see any alarm among
you. Your comrades fell around you in great
numbers, but you stood to your work with
danntiess courage. At last, with ranks sadly
depleted, and with ammunition nearly ex-
haustei, you slowly and suilenlv retire with
your faces 10 the foe. But you did not leave
the field until the enemy's advance was
checked and he was driven back.
| went over the field that night with two or
three comrades to see that none of orr brave
fellows had been left behind. The dead and
wounded covered the ground. The blue and
the gray lay side by side. The ierceness of
battle had gone ont OF their eyes, and only the
feverish cry for water and feeble groans could
be heard in place of the Union cheer and rebel
yell.
We went into this action $50 strong, my
comrades and ont Of this number we lost SO
killed or MORALLY wounded. a wounded, and
four mssing-s total of III, one-third of our
number.
1t was glorious day for our country. Lee
was badly beaten. His banners had gone
down in the dust, and after one more desperate
effort he was TO retire from loyal soil never
again to resume the offensive. Bat our hearts
were sad as we moved silently around our
campfires. Very few of our comrades were
left only skeleton remained of that noble
regiment that SO CALAMITY faced the enemy at
Williamsburg; and loved chief, that
gallant commander under whose eyes we had
fought in score of battles, had been stricken
down, aud his bleeding form had been carried
from the field. never again to lead u.s. With
his kindly voice to encourage us, and his
never-faltering interest in our welfare, we had
been capable of great deeds.
AT Wrapping flights, Va, July %, three
weeks after the victory at Gettysburg, our
brigade was selected 10 charge a strong force OF
the enemy WHO were posted behind stone
wall. You climbed the. nights. and advancing
in line of battle as steadily as if on parade,
with flags flying and mu>kets cleaning in the
afternoon sun. and regardless of the enemy's fire
and his superior numbers, you drove him from
his sition. iniiicting great loss. bnt suffering
In your own ranks loss of u killed and 20
wounded. among whom were Capt. Price,
Acting Major, and Frank Smith. our color
bearer, who was riddled with bullets.
At Mine Run. November q, you had one
killed and seven wounded.
In the battle of the Wilderness. under Grant,
May 5 to T. 1864 you lost four killed, IL
wounded and FIVE missing.
Ia the fighting at Spottsylvania, from May s
I'd IL you losb TWO killed, 81 WOunUto, anu ~
missing.
At North Anna and Tolopotomoy you lost
two killed and eight wounded.
In the assaults before Petersburg from June
IS to %, our loss was slight as we only lost one
killed and two wounded.
On the 22d Of June, 1854, you were with
drawn from the front line of battle before
Petersburg, never more to fire shot rs reg-
ment at the foe with whom you had been
battling for three long years. Your term Of
service had expired.
As You stacked your muskets each face wore
a solemn expression. Memory was busy with
you. You looked at your depleted ranks,
shadow Of your noble regiment, and thought
OF the dead comrades who lay buried on your
battlefelds, the gallant heroes whe had given
Up their lives for the old flag and the preserva-
tion Of our Union.
During your three years OF service your
casualties were as follows Ten officers and l72
men killed in battle or died Of wounds-total,
182; % officers and 323 men were wounded
total, Sol
We had l45 missing and one officer and go
men died Of disease; making a total of 739
No tongue is eloquent enough to describe the
heroism aud suffering that those figures mean,
and il would be idle for me to say another
word.
Peace has for many years thrown its mantle
around you. Oar hair is turning gray.
eyes are becoming dim, and our footsteps tsrdy,
but never can our hearts cease TO hold in warm
remembrance aud affection the comrades who
marched and fought side by side with US
through the campaigns Of the Army of the