Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-07-28
Fort simmons.
From the Muncy Luminary.


built during the late rebellion has
never had a place in history. 1t
was constructed on Big Round Top
under cover of night, after the sec
ond days battle at Getty sburg, and
was the work of a single private of
Co. III. Fifth Pennsylvania Reserves.
The valiant builder and engineer
was the enterprising blacksmith,
George w. Simmons, now of Sones-
town, Sullivan county, Penna.,
whose face, radiant with good nature,
is familiar to many of the readers of
the REPUBLICAN.
When, late in the afternoon of
July Cd, the enemy had driven our
men on the left wing back and was
forcing his way up between Big and
Little Round Tops, threatening to
annihilate the Maine regiment that
there stubbornly opposed him, Gen
eral CrawfQrd's division, consisting
of several brigades of Pennsylvania
Reserves, charged down upon him
with o tremendous shout and drove
him back over the rocks, through
the valley, to the hill on the other
side, taking many prisoners, and
thus saved our left wing from the
impending disaster. The regiment
to which Simmons belonged was on
the extreme left of the Reserve line
and was halted on the side of Big
Round Top, SO that it was not per-
mitted to take an active part in this
splendid and timely repulse.
During the second days fighting
the rebels occupied Big Round Top
as signal station, so it was de-
cided that the Fifth Reserves should
quietly ascend the heights during
the night and take possession. The
stragetic move was so stealthily and
well executed that it resulted in the
capture of a number of pickets and
upwards of sixty officers. A strong
line of pickets was at once formed,
on which our friend Simmons and
several Of his comrades were as
signed a part. Supposing that hot
work would come with the break of
day the pickets Immediately COM
menced to make barricades of the
rocks that lay thickly strewn over
the SURFACE. Simmons built him
self a little three sided fortification
that he considered proof against
anything smaller than cannon ball
OF bomb shell.
Soon after the dawn Of day a tall
Texas sharpshooter in butternut
was detected trying to approach
under cover of rock close to Fort
Simmons. Instantly half a dozen
rifles were leveled, with fingers
ready to pull tricker, when the
Sergeant shouted, "Don't shoot him
boys d! Come in Johnny % Johnny
comprehended the situation too we'll
to hesitate, and promptly stood up
and leaned his long gun against the
rock to obey. 'sBring your gun
along" was the next command,
when he grasped his weapon, step
ped within our picket line, and was
instantly taken to the rear, rs it was
net thought fitting time just then
to become better acquainted. Sim
mons says the man and bis gun
were both curiosities in respect to
length, weight and make up. He
never before nor since saw such an
immense ''small. l.arm."
After this incident nothing of
much importance transpired in the
immediate vicinity Of Fort Sim
mons. Almost simultaneously the
battle commenced to rage furiously
in the valley below. The noise of
artillery and musketry fire was ap-
palling. The whizzing of solid
shot and the screaming and ex-
ploding of shells was terrific and in
describable, The reader who only
by reading is familiar with the de-
tails of the third days battle, the
great artillery strife, the mad in
fantry and cavalry charges, counter
charges, repulses, and wavering
lines, can hardly imagine what the
occupant of Fort Simmons heard
and witnessed, and with what feel
ings of anxiety and suspense he
silently stood in his place during
that long, eventful and trying day.
Seventeen years after the great
battle Simmons visited Gettysburg,
and on ascending Big Round Top
| had the satisfaction of finding his