The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-08-10


Clellanism. Hooker got the prize and made
Reynolds virtually second in command by
placing three corps under him as marshal
of the left wing. When Hooker was sup
planted by Meade at frederick, Md, in
June. 1853, Reynolds, with his three CORPS
was at the head of the Union column in
pursuit of Lees invading army. The first
congratulations for the new leader came
from Reynolds Meade said he would
rather the lot had fallen on Reynolds, and
the two locked arms for friendly stroll.
The result was the famous plan to forestall
Lee in the seizure of Gettysburg. Reynolds
hurried off to carry out the programme and
spread his troops across the turnpikes and
the railroad north and west of the town.
The sound of skirmlshing drew him in per
son TO McPherson's woods on the Cham
bersburg pike, and after sending off cou-
riers to Meade and to his corps leaders to
hasten forward the troops he personally
led regiments and brigades to the scene of
fighting on the low banks Of Willoughby
Run where 1t ran through atongue of Nc
Pherson's woods. General Archer's Ten
nesseeans dashed across the stream to at
tack the Iron brigade line just as 1t was
forming in the woods under Reynolds di-
rection.
A countereharge of the Iron brigade, also
directed by Reynolds, cut Archer's line In
two, and the leader and several hundred of
his men were captured. Like IN avepger of
that catastrophe. one OF Archer's sharp
shooters spranE ...to tree and shot Rey-
Dolds rs he sat on his plunging warhorse
near the center Ct the grove. The horse
started 10 run for the open, and Reynolds
soon pitched hcadlopg TO the ground, dead
Two soldiers quickly I'M 9eyised stretcher
by fastening blankets u!on their bayonets,
and on this rude bier Lie was carried back
toward Getty .bufg side by siGeNith Archer
and his captive band. The body, wrapped
In flag, was slowly borne back on the line
Of march to Ermitsburg, meeting on the
road the remaining soldiers of the First
corps and those Of the Third and Eleventh
corps pressing forward at double quick to
carry ont the orders OF the dead chicftain.
How well they carried them out the world
knows. Reynolds living could not have
added one jot or little to the glory won by
Reynolds dead.
Reynolds has been accused of rashness in
opening the fight on July /. Critics who
take that view say that he was sent out to rec
tnnoiter-or. in other words, to skirmish.
When Meade gave Reynolds his cue to
march on Gettysburg, he had six army
corps, aggregating G. 600 men, within days
march Of the enemy. 1t was strange pro
ceeding if he sent his second in command
with half Of his available troops on a mere
scouting trip Reynolds was the wrong
man to turn loose in the presence of the en-
envy with ao,C00 fighting men unless a bat
tie to the death was desirable. lis war
like vim was no secret at army headquar-
tiers When the council of war was held at
Charlottesville to decide whether to stay
on the ground and fight or retreat, he gave
his voice in advance for immediate battle,
and being very tired lay down ard went to
sleep while the discussion was going ON. He
said that he marched his men 40 lilies to
get into the fight and would march back
again il SO ordered, but would prefer to
have it out then and there. That was the
spirit which controlled the destinies Of the
Amy at Gettysburg. and It's lurking place
was in the breast of John Fulton Reynolds.
GEORGE l.. KILMER.