The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-10-04
SYKES'S REGULARS.
Something about Their Terrible Fight at
Gettysburg July 2.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your
issue of 18th inst, in the third column on
third page, under the heading of Fighting
the Good Fight" Comrade Samuel +. HaZen,
Co. G. 140th n. Y, says in the concluding
paragraph that the fighting on Little Round
Top (Gettysburg) was done July 2, 1863, by
Vincent's Brigade and the 140th n. Y, OF
Weeds Brigade"
He seems to forget that Sykes's Regulars
were there. and had a hand in the fight on
that day.
The Second Division, Fifth Corps, was
composed of IA regiments, 10 of Regulars
and four of volunteers, divided into three
brigades. as follows First Brigade, Col.
Hannibal Day, composed of the Sd, 4th, 9th,
10Th. and 18th L. S.; Second Brigade, Col.
Sidney Burbank, composed of the I'd, 18th,
10th, 18th, and 18th U. s.; Third Brigade,
Gen. S. II. Weed, composed of the 14Oth
and 146th y. Y and 91st and 155th Pa.
The division left Hanover Junction about
5p. M. July l, and arrived on the field at
dawn of day on the ID. They were halted
at or near where the Baltimore pike meets
in a junction with the Taneytown road.
Nearly a mile to the right of Round Top,
pickets were sent out TO the front and occu-
pied the ground very near where PIcketts
charge was repulsed on July 3.
In two or three hours the pickets were
called in, and the division moved to the
left and formed in line to the east Of and
near Little Round Top.
The two Regular brigades took into the
fight that afternoon a fraction over 1900
men and IS officers When the division
reached Little Round Top about noon, there
was neither man nor gun on the ridge at
the time, except two men of the Signal
Corps.
Very early in the morning of the I'd it
became evident to the rebels that Round
Top was the prize both armies were con-
tending for so they began to move troops
and guns down to their right, their move
ments being screened from the division by
piece of Woods.
At o'clock In the afternoon they were
ready for action, with about $4,000 men and
60 guns to cut the Union army IN two and
occupy the nights. Meanwhile Gen. War
zen climbed TO the summit of Little Round
TOP. Here the General says he suspected
some movement on the part of the rebels.
and directed Lieut.. Hazlett, Battery D, 9Th
L. s. Art, to put a shell into the woods at
the edge Of the Peach Orchard. Hazlett did
so, and sure enough the rebels as they
moved to look up at the shell, the sun glis-
tening on the bright barrels of their rifles,
revealed to Warren their movements.
In an instant the truth flashed upon him.
He hurried down the east face of the hill,
where fortunately he met Gen. Barnes's
First Division, Fifth Corps, and started
them on the run for the extreme left and
the summit He went farther and met Gen.
Weeds Third Brigade and sent them in TO
support Battery d, 5th Z. S. Art. Lieut..
HszIett), which had been dragged to the
summit In few minutes Lieut.. HaZlett
was killed. and Lieut.. Rittenhouse assumed
command Of the battery.
About this time the rebels advanced and
made desperate onslaught on the Third
Corps (Gen. Sickles), and with Overwhelm-
ing numbers were pressing 1t back. The
First Division, Fifth Corps, being on Round
Top, it left gap between them and the ieft
Of the Third Corps. Ayres's Division OF
Regulars was ordered into this gap. The
exulting rebels were pushing by the left OF
the Third Corps and climbing to the ridge.
Sixty guns were turned upon the nights
TO keep the Union line back. The division
of Regulars advanced to the top of the hill
in the face of the terrible storm, the Second
Brigade being in front, with the I'd U. S. on
the right and the 18th U. S. on the left.
Never before In history were troops placed
in such a terrible position. The field in
front swept by the fire of go guns and long
gray line of men more than three times their
number, climbing the ridge so yards below,
determined TO capture or drive the Yanks
from Little Round Top. Officers and men
were going down every instant. To remain
on the field would be simply to court
gradual humiliation from the enemy's
shells. Someone gave the order 10 charge
and down they plunged into the whirlpool
Of fire and smoke.
Then began one of the most desperate
struggles known in the rebellion. Muskets
were dubbed, and in the frightful melee
bayOnets, swords, pistols, knives, and even
stones, were. used. All forms of humanity
were forgot ,, and the brute instinct in
man predon.inated.
Such battle could not last long. The
gray line wayered and fell back; the grass
and rocks were crimson with the life blood
that flowed from the mangled bodies Of the
slain, and Plum Run was choked with the
fallen on both sides.
Across the run on a slight rise of ground
the division attempted 10 make stand II
was facing now about southwest, with the
left of the 18th L. S. in the Devils Den.
The battle then changed TO the right, and
the bowling rebs were swarming around ouI
right flank and getting in the rear.
The brave old ID L. S. was overpowered
and doubled back on the left of the brigade
Half of its number were dead and wounded
Every regiment in the division had suffered
in like manner. The array of officers had
dwindled down to handful. Again Tn,
battle changed to the left. Hoods Texans
and Barksdale's Mississppians charged anC
turned the left flank. The 18th aud 17tf
Regulars were doubled up and the whole
Second Brigade In a disordered line witt
the First Brigade, which had suffered il
losses equal with the Second. The division
was now completely surrounded. They hac
made a desperate fight, but were over
powered by numbers and every avenue O
escape cut of. The Regulars had gaineC
the object for which they were sent, an,
they had held in check a superior force o
the enemy until the line could be strength
ened. The carnage had been fearful
Nearly half OF the division were dead ant
wounded.
But help was near. The famous Pennsyl
vania Reserves and Bucktails Gen. Craw
ford's Diyision) charged with the shatterer
remains of the Regular Division, and tn
rebels were swept from that part Of the field
and Little Round Top was saved. The worl
soldiers fell back 10 the cover of the ridge
and the battle of July was over.
The roll was called. 1t was found tina
the two Regular Brigades had lost S29 on
Of a fraction over 1900 that went into til
fight. The Regular Division covered til
ground with their dead from the west slop
of Little Round Top across Plum Run an