The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-01-05
one redeeming feature of this sanguinsry con-

one redeeming feature of this sanguinsry con-
| fict.
You lost in this battle three officers killed or
| died of wounds three officers wounded, ~ en-
listed men killed. and 90 wounded; total, 49,
| You were engaged at Groyeton aud Bull Run
on the 29th and Both, where you lost four en-
| listed men wounded.
| The Third Corps, after this campaign, was
concentrated in the vicinity of Washington to
recuperate, and while here you rendered good
| service in guarding the approaches to Washing
ton and in building Notifications.
| In November, with the rest OF the Army OF
| the Potomac, you are in front Of Fredericks-
burg and on Dec. IL, of which to-day is the
| niversary you participated in that battle, but
| with slight loss having only one man wounded.
During the Charlottesville campaign you,
| with the rest Of the brigade, formed . part OF
the gallant division that was called upon to
| drive back the legions of Stonewall Jackson az
| they came sweeping over the field in their sue
cessful assault on the Eleventh Corps.
The picture comes wildly to my mind OF
that afternoon in May as we lay in reserve
! with the rest of the division in the woods not
| far from tho Chancellor House. Suddenly,
| from far on our right, came the noise of battle.
1t increased in violence, the crash Of musketry
sounding like angry waves beating upon the
shore. the dense forest giving back the sound
| in hollow reverberation.
The Eleventh Corps, unable to stem the az
| sault of Stonewall Jackson, began to crumble,
| and soon indications of disaster were seen in
| the number of fugitives that came pouring to
the rear. In this desperate hour how natural
for the commander of the army to call upon his
old division, the child of his own creation"
! He had been its leader through all the bloody
| battles Of the Peninsula, through Brstoe and
| Bull Rum and ho knew that he could trust it
| to do the work required of it.
The order comes, and with faces set with
| grim determination you are soon on the double
| quick for the scene of action. With flying
| colors, emblazoned with score of battles, you
| charge the foe who are preparing to sweep
| from the field the few brave regiments Of the
Eleventh Corps that still stubbornly contest
their ground.
The tide is turned, and the enemy soon
realize that for that day their hour Of success
has passed and they sulenly retire.
Your regiment suffered loss in this battle of
ono officer killed and two wounded four en-
listed men killed, 81 wounded, and four miss-
ing; total, 80.
At the end of the campaign of Chancelors-
vile you return to your old camp, where you
are allowed only short period of inactivity,
as the Army of the Potomac soon began its
movement in pursuit of the army under Lee,
who was rapidly advancing his forces toward
the Potomac
Your path lies over sacred soil, for you cross
the fields that have been watered with your
blood, and whore repose your dead comrades
who gave their lives for the preservation of the
Union. Parched and weary, you cross the
heated plains of Manassas, and following closely
on the track of the enemy, cross the Potomac
and follow him into Maryland.
On the Both of June, after long and severe
marches, you resting near the beautiful
town of Emmetsburg. The morning of the
1st of July dawns bright and nnclouded, and
you go about your usual duties, little dreaming
what change will take place in this fair land
before the sun shall rise again.
AS the day advances there is a tremulousnes5
in the air that causes you to halt and listen, as
If the gentle vibration was pregnant with un-
told secrets.
Soon tho Third Corps flag is seen futtering
on the pike, and staff officers and orderlies
are flying III all directions. The order comes
to fall in. Our gallant commander, Gen.
Sickles, has placed his corps in motion. for with
solderly judgment he has interpreted the om-
nous sounds as those Of battle, and with
knghtly instinct he hastens to the scene where
his companioD5-in- arms are doing their devoir
for God and their country.
We are soon passing swiftly along the dusty
road that leads to Gettysburg. Mile after mile
is left behind us, and we cross the line and
your flag is on Pennsylvania soil. You will re-
member the wild huZzas that went up the
green fields of the dear old State lay before US.
On we go with a ver.tiring swing, every
up with the spirit within you. But there are
many miles between you and the battlefield,
and night falls upon us ere We have passed
over half the ground. The morn in silvery
splendor illumes your path, your muskets
CLEAN in its light. and their bright barrels look
like bridge of polished steel as they stretch
along the road.
1t was after midnight before you reached
the field, where you sink exhausted to rest.
Many of those sturdy forms, lying there in
dreamless slumber, will be cold in death ere
darkness again covers the earth. The honest
eyes that would light up when news would
come from mother or some loved one at home,
will be dim. The hands that had clasped yours
in warm trust will not feel your pressure, and
their generous aud noble hearts will have
ceased to beat but their lives will not be given
in vain, for grateful country will garland
their memory with imperishable honor.
The golden sunlight of the early morning
srouses you from your repose, and you are soon
busy in preparing your coffee and IN cleaning
your muskets. Only the occasional growl of
artillery or the splutter of the pcket-fre can
be heard; otherwise the scene that lies before
you is one of peace and pastoral beauty. The
carnage of the day before is on your right, and
beyond the town of Gettysburg and this part
of the field has not yet been soaked with the
blood Of the Nations heroes.
1t will take an ADLER pen and more eloquent
tongue than mine, my comrades, to describe the
battle of the second day of July, nor can be-
gin to picture the glory of your deeds as you
stood in the vortex of fire that whirled around
the Peach Orchard. You were in the thckest
of it. Your colors were far in the front, and
your dead and wounded lay in scores along the
ridge that was given you to hold. The page of
history Is illumined with your gallantry on
this day of days, and the heroic valor of the
Second Fire Zouaves on this field will DO told
for generations to come
You lost in this battle five officers killed and
10 wounded, Sc enlisted men were killed, 80
wounded, and eight missing; total, 1852.
After the disastrous battle of the third day Lee
withdrew his forces. and the Army of the Po
tomac moves in pursuit of the retreating enemy.
You cross the Potomac, and are once again on
Virginia soil. On the Odd ofAJuly VIC overtake
his rear guard at Manassas Gap and the Ex-
celsior Brigade is selected to charge the strong
force that is posted behind the stone wall that
crowns Mapping Nights. With your starry flag
floating in the breeze you climb tho nights and
advance in unwavering line upon the foe. The
hearts of the onlookers on the surrounding hills
are filed with the spectacle Excelsior is upon
your banners and the enemy cannot stand be-
fore your invincible courage, and they give
way, and you are victors of the aeld, while the
cheers of the spectators I'LL the air. It was
one of the most dramatic and gallant episodes
of the war, and was the subject of the artists