The Republican journal., 1896-07-16
War Sketches
By Those Who Took Part IN the War of the Re-
aclifOn.
The 10Th Maine Infantry in the Gettysburg Battle

gade, 2nd Division, End Corps, and at that
time was commanded by Colonel Heath.
On the lst day of July, 1868, we marched
thirty miles in scorching sun, camping
for the night within about two miles of
the battlefield. On the morning of the End
We all fell in after partaking of a short
ration OF hardbread and pork and march
ed slowly and solemnly to our future bat
tlefeld. We soon reached the front and
lay for awhile in support of Gen. Howard,
who was holding a position on Cemetery
Ridge at the vortex OF the angle. Here
we ate our dinner. | remember how sud-
denly my appetite left me while dining on
hardbread and fried pork from greasy
tin plate. Our brigade lay en- masse with
the 10Th Massachusetts, in our front. |
had taken but few morsels of this pal
atabe food when a shot OF shell came
bounding along through the 18th Massa-
chusetts, killing and woundng many not
more than rod from where | lay. | did
not want any more pork that meal |
nevar shall forget the scene, which beggars
description, of the retreat Of the 3rd
Corps. One division Humphreys. passed
over our regiment as we lay fiat on orr
faces First came the wounded and stray
glers, then the division en- masse. Some
OF their men were completely whipped,
while Others were unconquered. As they
passed over us some of them would say
Run, boys, We are whipped the day is
lost. Others cried out with tears in
their eyes for Joy in finding oul line there
i'll position, Hang TO it, boys, give it to
them We will form in your rear" And
theV did Another moment and they had
passed over us. Then was heard above
the din OF battle the command Of our
colonel to give it TO them. We sprang to
our feet and sent sudden volley into the
teeth Of the advancing enemy but few
rods distant, who must have thought that
God had suddenly raised from the ground
an army to oppose them. We poured
volley after volley at them, loading and
firing as rapidly as possible Yet on they
~ee4AiFs SlUNIS anu SulItuly, Oul OuWdIu
Oh, my God | thought, would they never
stop Their fire was making fearful havoc
III our ranks. Were our bullets Furnishing
them as severely? We could not tell
Our left flank became badly exposed To
remain longer in that position meant de-
struction. To attempt a change of line
by throwing the left to the rear was a
most desperate expedient. None but the
Drayest troops could perform that move
ment at such time. For when ones
back IS turned the bravest becomes a
coward and the legs evince, to an astonish-
ing degree desire to perform good ser
vice. But each man of the regiment
knew that If we gave way there would be
nothing TO oppose the further advance of
the enemy 4hen it was that our colonel
had the sagaaity to command, and his
troops the courage to execute, the most
difficult and dangerous movement in the
midst OF the terrible conflict. 1t was
done, and We now had the advantage of
position, and though a whole division of
warriors opposed rs we We're as immov-
able as the hill we stood upon Their
snail-like advance was at last checked.
and as the smoke Of battle lifted for an
instant moment later-it seemed but
momenr-it showed us their ranks in con-
fusion. OH, the ineXpressible delight and
10Y and thankfulness to God that SIGHT
rTba+
Jumped to the front with one short COM
mand, Come on, boys and off we
started like tornado let loose, down he
hill, across the field at the heels OF he
enemy, yelling all the time at the top of
our voices, until we had nearly reached
the Peach Orchard and had captured
many hundred prisoners, one stand of
colo1s, and retaken with our own hands
two pieces OF artillery which the rebels
had taken from the Bird Corps but few
hours before. This closed that glorious
day, saved by the valor of the old End
corps. And this reminds me of remark
MADE to me after the war by that great
man and solIier whom we all admire. the
hero OF Round Top. When l first heard
his lecture upon the 10Th Maine at Gettys-
burg, with some feeling said to him, 81
see, General, you claim that the goth
Maine saved the day at Gettysburg
Certainly he replied ''Hitherto.' |
said, Il thought it was the 10Th Maine
that saved the day. ''And you thought
nightly he quickly responded. ''Don't
you know that every picket that sticks to
the fence may claim the credit of keeping
the pigs out of the garden That was
very simple and sensible explanation
which l could understand, and now
know that the members of any other
regiment whose operations did not wit
ness and, therefore, cannot describe will
not take offence at anything | may say in
praise OF my own regiment That night.
july md, we camped on the field. Though
we were victorious felt sad at the loss of
so many brave comrades. We dreaded
another day. Some of us wandered back
10 the field hnS,,ita1 -,