The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-02-22
Battle of Gettysburg.

lNOuCluQeu IruM laSG week.
But as soon as Pickctts force had
passed our front, our brigade (Har.
rons) ran to the right for the threat.
entng points, passing In the rear Of
Halls brigade, which us soon as I'm.
covered, wheeled to the right, to
strike the enemy's flank. So that
by the time the Confcderates had cup.
tured Cushings battery, our brigade,
mingled with Webb's, was In front II
1t In a strong, rough, confused line q
few rods distance. Just here We
were Joined by Capt. Farrell with
Company c. Of our regiment, the d..
vision provost guard, who had pro,np.
ly obeyed Gibbons order to join the
regiment In resisting this attack.
The fire from both sides, 10 near each
other, was most deadly while it lust
ed. Capt. Dehn, the last Of our color
guard. then charging our tattered
flag, was here shot drought the baud
and the flag staff, cut in two. Corp.
Henry d. O'Brien OF Company T.. in-
stantly seized the flag by the rem.
nant IT the staff. Whether the com.
luand to charge was given by any
general officer, l du net know. Ny
impression then Was, thit II c;l,ie us
Il Spontaneous uutLurst from The
,nen, and instantly the liGc l,c.cipi-
tated itself upon the enemy. O'Er;cn,
who then had the broken staff aud
tatters Of our battle flag, with his
characteristic bravery aud impctuosi.
ty sprang with it to the front ut The
first sound Of the word charge. and
rushed right up to the cnemy's line,
keeping 1t nOticeablv In advance Of
every other color.
My feelings ut the instant blamed
his rashness In SO risking its capture.
But the effect was electrical. Every
man Of the First Minnesota sprang
to protect its flag, aud the rest rush.
ed with them upon the enemy. The
bayOnet was used for u few minutes
aud cobulestones, with which the
ground was we'll covered, filled the
air, being thrown by those In the rear
over the heads of their comrades.
The struggle, desperate aud deadly
while II lasted. was soon over. Most
of the COnfedcratcs remaining threw
down their arms aud surrendered, u
very few escaping.
Marshall Sherman Of Company G..
here captured the col0rs Of the twen-
ty-clghth Virginia Regiment. Our
loss In killed aud wounded in this
days fight was seventeen. Among
the killed was Capt. Nathan S. Mes
sick, our commander. also Capt. vii.
son u. Farrell, who succeeded to The
command OH the fall Of Capt. Mes.
SEX, both must gallant and capable
officers. Capt. O'Brien, the color
bearer received two wounds in the
final melee at the moment Of victory;
but the flag was grasped ny Capt. W
| N. Irvine Of Company ID. The stan
was spliced by the staff OF u COnfeder.
ate flag on the battlefield aud 80 car.
ried I'LL the regiment was mustered
out, and still remains with the same
splice In the capitol ut St. Paul.
With the repulse VI Pickctt's charge,
the serious fighting Of the Hattie vi
IGcttysburg was ended. The com.
mand Of the First Regiment devOlved
upon Capt. Henry y. Coates, who ap.
pointed Lieut.. William LOchreD, as
| adjutant. Gen. Hancock was severe.
" wounded 10 this last days battle
as also was Gen. John Gibbon, Oui
division commander, one Of the most
able aud gallant leaders on that field.
j. G.. SONDERNAN.