Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-07-17

their strong defensive position. Five times
they rallied and charged us-twice coming SO
near that some Of my men had to use the bay
onet-but vain was their effort. It was now
our time to deal death and destruction to the
foe, and the account was speedily settled. with
a large balance IN our favor. But this state of
things could not long continue. With with
erihg and deadly fire pouring in upon us from
every direction it seemed that the entire COM
mand was doomed to destruction.
Captains Hill and Park suggested that or
der a retreat, but this seemed impracticable.
My dead and wounded were greater than those
on duty. Out of GA men and az officers had
lost 343 men and 10 officers. The dead literal
ly covered the ground. The blood stood in
puddles on the rocks. hoped for REINFORCE
ments. It seemed impossible to retreat. /
therefore replied to my captains: "Return to
your companies! We will sell out as dearly as
possible!'' Hill made no reply, but Park smil-
ed pleasantly, gave me the military salute and
replied, Gail right, SIR" On reflection, how
ever, o few moments later I did order re-
treat, but did not undertake to retire in or
der. I had tho officers and men advised that
when the signal was given every one should
run in the direction whence we came and halt
on top of the mountain (Round Top).
The flight of the Alabamians was past q
stone wall where Captain Morrill's skir-
mishers and handful Of Michigan sharp
shooters, cut off from the regiment, had
taken shelter From behind the wall ter
rible fire was poured into the retreating
COnfederates.
4 Captain Samuel J. Miller of the Twen-
tieth Maine says the distinct and signal
services of his regiment at Gettysburg have
sometimes been disputed for the reason
that the regiment fought in the woods and
their movements were concealed from view.
"Colonel Oates unconsciously pays high
tribute to the men who successfully re-
pulsed the gallant assault made by the Fiji
teenth and Forty seventh Alabama regi-
ments in their desperate attempt to turn
the left of the Army of the Potomac on the
I'd of July. With the exception Of the as
sistance of Is sharpshooters every shot fired
on the Fifteenth Alabama came from the
Twentieth Maine, and previous to the
flight of the Forty-seventh Alabama the
right wing of the Twentieth alone contend
ed with that regiment. The Twentieth car
ried into action 1853 men and lost 1870 killed
and wounded. Colonel Oates admits that
his regiment numbered nearly 700 men and
officers and at roll call that night only 225
responded. Fifty Confederates lay dead in
front of the Twentieth Maine, and the regi-
ment captured more prisoners than it had
men engaged.
s'Had the Twentieth Maine failed to
check the assaults Of those two Alabama
regiments, concludes Captain Miller,
.'the successful Confederates would have
fallen upon the rear of the other regiments
Of Vincent's brigade and Hazlitt's battery,
already heavily engaged with the enemy
In their front, and their escape from cap
ture or destruction would have been mir
acle. With Little Round Top In their pos
session the whole line Of the army would
have been thanked" ~
Although the Twentieth Maine had been
at the front nearly q year the struggle on
Round Top was the first stand up fight of
the regiment. GEORGE l.. KILMER.