The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1895-08-21

soil OF Virginia. Again, after a day or
two, we moved out to the Hall planta-
tion, known as HaIls Hill. Here we
truly learned the bugle-calls for drill.
Oh, those tiresome drills how they |
come travelling back upon our memory |
there was the squad drill, the company |
drill, the battalion drill, and last, but not |
the least, came brigade or knapsack drill. |
Yet we now see that all these drills we're |
for our good; they prepared us as moth
ing else could for the sterner realities OF |
war.
On the 26th Of October our company was |
called upon for the fret time to take step to |
the solemn funeral dirge, and laid the body |
Of John II. Kerr TO rest in the silent |
bivouac of the dead. How we missed that |
tall, erect form and that genial disposition,
who was fret of our company to answer
the hnal Roll Call. But Kerr "passed over"
only little in advance of Comrade VIM. s. |
Dawson. Soon the winter, with the perplex- |
ing duties of camp life wore away, and
spring, which TO an army is the precursor of
forced marches and battle, came upon an
army equipped and ready for the field. On
the early morning of March 10th we broke
camp and struck out in the direction of
Fairfax C. H. On arriving at that place we
learned that the enemy had evacuated
Centreville and Manassas, where they had
encamped during the winter, and as our
army advanced they fell back to the defences
of Gordonsville. At this juncture the plan
of operations was changed by the authorities
at Washington, and agreeable to orders the
army was recalled and sent by water as fast
as possible to Hampton Roads, with the
view of operating against Richmond by
way of the Peninsula. To follow our
company in all the evanescent scenes, its
marches by day and by night, is but to re-
hearse the history of the SD regiment, and
to follow the regiment is but to rehearse the
history of the noble army OF the PAtomao
The 9th day of May found the Tionesta
Rangers upon their baptismal field Of Ham
over Court House. Upon this well-fought
and victorious field was poured out the
| life-blood of our company, and which also
proved to be the very first of the long list of
myrters furnished by the SD regiment. The
comrade that fell upon that glorious day
was from this town, and favorably known by
many Of you who are here to-day we refer
to Jacob T. Shriver. From this day forward
the boys fell thick and fast upon every field
Of that mighty campaign. Wrapped in their
shrouds of blue were found the boys of the
Tionesta Rangers. Fight aud fall back is
the order, and they are found on the ILL
fated field of Second Bull Run. Here again
her ranks are decimated, her line shortened
as an evidence Of the fighting qualities Of the
boys. Antietum, and then the bloody field
of Fredericksburg comes in quick success
sion. 1868 opens at Charlottesville, where,
for cause unknown to the rank and Ale, a
retreat is ordered in the very face of VIC
tory. Soon again the head of the column
turns northward. How inspiration siezeS
the boys as they cross the line of States,
and their weary feet press the soil of their
native state their Joy is unbounding in its
effects they lock step with their file-leader;
press forward amid binding clouds of dust
until they meet the defiant enemy upon the
rock-paved crest of Little Round Top, where,
conspicuously with the Brigade composed Of
four small regiments, with about nine hun.
dred muskets, repluse four distinct charges
made by the entire Division Of Rebel Gen
eral Hood, composed of seventeen regi-
ments carrying about twelve thousand guns.
This stubborn fighting by our boys saved
the left of our army, and perhaps our entire
army from defeat. Relative 60 the matter
OF saving Little Round Top to our army,
the historian has been glaringly misleading
TO the minds of the masses. This statement
we possess the ability 10 prove beyond all
reasonable doubt but we have not the time
at our command to-day to discuss the Ques-
ton, but leaving our declaration open, we
pass on. Upon this decisive field of Gettys-
of the Potomac, treason could net successful
iy endure.
Again, back through the terrible wilder
ness, what scenes of slaughter rise up be-
fore us Fighting by day and marching by
night, until the mighty stronghold of Peters
burg looms up before us. Our daily exper-
fences of that long wintry siege; the sap
ping and deadly picket firing I; how their
memory is impressed upon our minds AL
most daily fighting is indulged in, and we
are at Five Forks. Here, after a bloody
hght the rebel line is pierced their flank il
turned and the powerful works which held
us at so great cost, together with theiI
Capital City, falls before the conquering hos
I of the boys in blue. The Fifth Corps, TO which
our organization belonged, by a nights
march, covering thirty miles in distance
keeping pace with Sheridan's cavalry plant
ed themselves across Lee line ofmarch ant
forever sealed the inevitable doom Of thu
once proud army Of Northern Virginia
which had so often exhibited q courage
worthy better cause and as treason and
armed rebellion sunk Down into its grave
beneath the apple blossoms Of Appomat-
tox, "Old glory" rose higher, her stripes
appeared broader, her stars brighter be-
fore the nations of the earth. Our "Unior
. is savedP' was the cry that flashed from
: heart 10 heart, from town TO town, and ia
reverberations resounded from the Atlantic
: TO the Pacific from the Great Lakes Of
q the North down TO the Rio Grande Of the
South the supremacy of the Union is ack
nowledged, and the boys are marching
, home. But notall. Onlya few of the Tio-
I u h. Ia.