The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-10-08

There is chapter in the history OF this
regiment which has never before been pub
lisheG and yet it is chronicle OF one OF The
most important of the acts accomplished by
members OF the 11ih, Tor winch credit has
never been given. 1t was a squad OF men.
under TWO officers, from this regiment winch
furnished tie information that LIE had re-
treated, aud which recaptured &c tysbuig
after three days OF fighting outside the
town. North and South al Ike were waiting
for The result of the three-days' bait e. and
$4,000 soldiers along the Union lines were
listening for the sound OF the guns and the
rattle OF musketry, when they heard the
cheer which told them that Lee had re-
treated and that the Northern army had
been victorious.
That cheer came up from the squad
from the 18th, and it was heard all over
the country. 1t was the cheer of men
who at The command had taken their
mu keis and stolen across pari of the
meadows where the day before not man
could show himself without being either
killed or wounded. These men did not
know where they would meet the enemy, or
when they would be shot by the sharp
shooters which for three days kept the place
clear. 1t toak brave men 10 move stead
fastly along under such conditions, and yet
there WAS no faltering. TIE news which
the squad brought to the waiting army and
States well repaid them for their bravery.
Among the men of tina, squad was Serg't
Patrick Wade. His story, as told to the
writer is very interesting. Wade said that
the regiment fought the first day on the
north of the town of Gettysburg, on a spot
known az Barlow's Knoll. The 18th oc-
cnpied the left center of the line. During
the day we were driven back by superior
numbers through the town and to a position
outside of and overlooking il. This was on
East Cemetery Hill, and this was the line
the regiment held until after the battle.
We had opposed TO us, In the town, the
famous Louisiana Tigers, aud on the night
Of the ID they charged us with fixed bayo-
nets. II was the brigade of which our regi-
ment was part that destroyed the Tigers,
Tor after their charge they ceased TO exist or
TO be recognized as body in the Southern
army. The 18th held their line in spite of
the charge, and drove the Tigers back with
great loss.
AFTER Picllett's desperate charge, which
came late on the afternoon of the Sd, there
was little or no firing, and this quiet con-
tlnued during the night, with the exception
Of an occasional discharge on the picket line.
This stiffness of the enemy looked suspicious,
for IL was common saying that when the
enemy was qnietest then they were up TO
their greatest tricks, and we suspected from
f. this that they were working up some hind
OF mischief. The rank and file were not the
only ones who suspected that there was
something unusual going on within the
lines OF the enemy.
This suspicion extended TO the officers in
command OF the brigade and the division.
Early on the morning of the Fourth of July,
1868, an order came from Gen. Ames, COM
msnding the First Division. 10 Gen. William
ID. Noble, commander of Amess Brigade, to
send out a skirmish-line consisting of 10
men under Lieutenant and Sergeant
Gen. Noble had just joined the regiment.
having arrived on the battlefield the night
OF July 3, his first appearance with the regi-
,nent since his woundlng in the arm a,
Charlottesville. Va, on May 2. The order
commanded the skirmish-line 10 20 out into
the meadows at the foot of East Cemetery
Hill, and to proceed toward the town, feel.
Eng for the enemy.
That detail consisted of Lieut. Milton II
Daniels. of Co. C; Sergt Patrick Wade, OF
Go. X, and 10 privates. We started ont a,
3:45, deployed IN the meadows and started
for The town.
The journey was what might be con-
sidered a ferloin hope. 1t was hazardous
one. For three days the fire from the
enemys sharpshOoters in the town had beer