The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-07-20

east after hostilities ceased. he formed a mininA
company. and bought machinery and trans
ported it to Tucson. Col. Cross printed the
first paper in Arizona. From there he went to
Mexico and Joined the Liberal army and be-
came Colonel of a regiment. He was in two
battles. in which be distinguished himself for
dash and bravery.
When the war broke out he fastened home and
offered his services to mis- native State. and Uas
at once commissioned Colonel of the 5th n. H.,
and ia October. 1861, went to Washington.
Here the Winter was spent at Camp California,
Bladensburg, Nd, in drilling and preparing for
active operations of the coming Spring. Col.
Cross was shot through the leg at the battle OF
Fair Oaks badly wounded at Fredericksburg
and Antietam. and killed on the second day as
Gettysburg.
Col. Cross and his regiment had a National
reputation; it was noted organization in the
Army of the Potomac as well as in the Confed-
crate army. Many a rebel regiment has good
reason to remember the day it met this gallant
band Of New Ham pshire boys
A story is told Of Colonel Of Georgia regi-
ment who had been cleaned out at Fair Oaks
by them. At subsequent battle they were
standing in line of battle waiting for the fight
to commence, when the Colonel called out to
his men: 3" HelPs to pay now; here comes
'One-eyed Riley and the 9Th n. II. say your
prayers" ("One-eyed Riley" was a tune that
the ffers of the 5th always played when going
into battle)
The regiment had more men killed on the
battlefield than any infantry or cavalry regi-
ment. North or S0uth-295.
Col. Cross was man of commanding appear
ance, standing six feet in his stockings, and as
straight as an arrow aud Of great personal
strength and courage.
The following is from private letter writ.
ten by him after the battle of Fredericksburg:
Fredericksburg came very near being nv
last battle. As we were advancing to those
fatal nights in line of battle, was near ny
cOlors. A 12-pound shell from the Washington
Artillery burst right in front of me. One frag-
ment struck me Just below the heart making
bad wound another blew off my hat; an
other small bit) entered my mouth and broke
out three OF my best jaw teeth. while the
gravel, bits OF frozen earth, and minute frag-
ments of shell covered my face with bruises.
fell insensible, and lay so for some time, when
another fragment of she'll striking me On the
left leg below the knee brought me to my
senses. My mouth was full of blood and frag-
ments, of teeth and gravel, my breast bone
almost broken in, aad lay in mud two inches
deep. My brave boys had gone ahead al
ways iold them never to stop for me- Dead and
wounded lay thick around; a Captain Of
French's Division was gasping in death within
foot of my head. The air was full Of Kissing
bullets and bursting shells. Getting on my
hands and knees | looked for my flag. Thank
God there it futtered right amid the smoke
and fire of the front line l could hear the
cheers of my brave men. Twice the colOrs
dropped, but were up in an instant. / tried to
crawl along, but shell came and struck the
steel seabbard of my saber splitting it open
and knocking me down fiat. Dizzy and faint,
l had sense enough to lay myself out decentIy,
feet to the foe. Two lines passed over me, but
Al
and dying. Hating about 80 yards in the
rear one line lay down and commenced firing.
Imagine the situation, between two fires Of shot
and she'll; for our own artillery fire from over
the river was mostly too short, and did great
damage to our own troops.
81 lay on the field four hours-the most aw-
full moments of my life. As the balls from our
lines Kissed over me within a foot of my head,
/ covered my face with both hands and counted
rapidly from 1 to 100. expecting every mo-
ment my brains would spatter the ground.
When it became dark some of my men found
me. and carried me to the hospital"
After the battle of Antietam he writes of the
fight in the Cornfeld: We shot down the rebel
color bearers as fast as they could get up, killed
their officers, broke their ranks and piled them
ia heaps among the tall corn. I never felt
better in my life, and if the rebels didn't hear
the Apache war-whoOp that day, it was not my
fault"
Here Col. Cross was struck by two pieces Of
shell; one over the right eye and one on the
left cheek, and his hat knocked of, but he tied
a red silk handkerchief around his head and
pushed on.
The colors of the 4th N. C. were captured in
this battle, and the War Department gave them
to Col. Cross. They can be seen at the old
Cross homestead.
At the battle of Gettysburg, on the second
day, he was mortally wounded and carried to
FL haa cd nd al A
minie-ball entered the abdomen and came out
near the spine. He expressed great interest in
the result of the battle, and smiled when told
of the success of our arms. At one time feeling
little easier he asked DR.. Bucknam if he
thought he could live. Colonel, l am afraid you
will live but few hours" Covering his face
with his hands he exclaimed 30, my mother"
His last words were, " l did hope to live to see
peace and our country restored. Thank God,
have done my duty. | think the boys will miss
me. o. welcome death. Say farewell to ALL"
His body was carried to Baltimore and en-
balmed and sent to Lancaster, and one beautiful
afternoon he was laid to rest in the old ceme-
terry in the dear old town he loved so well.
The burial services were conducted by the
North Star Lodge of MasOns, of which he was q
member. A large eoncourse of citizens followed
the body to the grave
His monument has the following inscription
on it:
COl. EOWdEu OIOSaJ Otu DOEh
April %, 1882. Mortally wounded July 2,
while leading his command-First Brigade,
First Division. Second COrps-at the battle Of
Gettysburg. The Fighting 5th, raised and dis
ciplined by Col. Cross, performed distinguished
service through the war, and was led By him
in the battles of RappahannOek, Fair Oaks,
Yorktown. Savage Station, Peach Orchard,
White Oak Swamp. Malvern Hill Charles City,
Antietam. Fredericksburg, Charlottesville,
and Gettysburg. This monument is erected
by his friends, i'll memory of the accomplished
journalist, brave pioneer, ehiyalric soldier,
afYectie1ate son. true aud faithful craftsman,
Who after life of adventure at the commercial
and political centers, and in the distant Terri
tories of the Republic died for its honor aud
integrity, and whose ashes repose amid the
scenes of his youth. Gentle, courteous and
brave, the story of his life closes with the fit
ting record died on the field of honor"
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