The National tribune., 1897-08-19
THE 18TH N. Y. At GETTYSBURG.
Graphic Description of What a Veteran Saw
on the First Day.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Toiling
along muddy road that leads from Emmets-
burg, Md, to Gettysburg, Pa, moved a
weary column. The day was bright and
warm, and Nature had put on her loveliest
aspect, for it was Midsummer, the 1st day of
| July, 1863. The trees were in full foliage,
| the meadows were green, and many fields OF
waving grain stood nearly ready for the
harvest. The scene was beautiful and, but
| for the threatening aspect of the armed
columns, peaceful.
| But the marching men were tired, for it
was already noon, and they had been on the
| way since early morning. The song, the
jest, the innocent raillery with which they
were wont to beguile tedious hours had long
since died away, and many if not ALL were
impatiently awaiting the signal to halt for
the midday meal.
| Not man in all that line-and they were
thousands-knew he was to go into battle
! that day, although all understood that the
enemy was somewhere in front, for they had
followed Lees army from the Rappahannock,
| In Virginia, across the Potomac and the
State of Maryland, up into Pennsylvania.
| Wearily and listlessly, the long line
dragged along, when Hark! What sound
was that?
1t was the rumble of distant cannon that
family Jared upon the ear. At the same
instant q tremor of the earth beneath the
feet sent a thrill like an electric shock
through every tingling nerve.
Instantly every man was alert. Uplifted
was every head, and the CLINT of fire flashed
FROM every eye. The nostrils dilated, the
breath guickened and deepened. Each
weary form was now erect, and every drag
| ging limb received new strength The step
| was longer and the pace more rapid. Weari-
ness, hunger, THIRST, were all forgotten. 1t
| was the excitement of ex pectancy.
Onward, and more rapidly now, they
moved, for our First Corps had been engaged
| since morning and was hard pressed. Its
gallant leader, Reynolds, with hundreds
more, had already fallen before the gather
ing foe. Lee, hitherto victorious, was mass
| ing his confident forces to deliver crushing
blow upon our army.
Eighty thousand veteran troops were with
him. He had taken up his strong position
upon Seminary Rfdgeyand as we approached
the little town. aofa Gettysburg we got
glimpses of his lines, marked as they were
by the smoke of his muskets and the belch-
ing of his batteries. ~
The citizens, grateful for our promised
protection, met us at their doors with food
and drink, although many, fearful, had fed
the town. But we had no time to pause.
Hastily filing our canteens with water or
coffee from their pals and slipping into our
haversacks the food they offered, we hurried
on, and as we cleared the town swung into
line-of- battle in the open field.
Now we were exposed to the enemy's fire,
aud among the first TO go down, seriously
wounded, was our beloved Colonel, J. Z.
Lockman, but not to die, for he survived to
lead his veteran regiment through many
subsequent conflicts, and still lives an
honored Christian gentleman.
Obedient to command, forward again we
moved straight on to the death that hurtled
from the enemy's hidden lines. We re-
turned volley for volIey, and the suIphurous
air seemed filled with Kissing bullets and
bursting shells. Our line was suffering
cruelty; comrades were going down by
dozens and by scores We were outnum-
bered two to one, for Lee had his forces well
in hand, while our own army was strung
along over four or five different roads, and
much of it far to the rear.
Meade had not intended to fight the battle
here but had planned to concentrate his
forces upon line much farther south. But
we knew relief was coming, and if We could
only hold on all might yet be well.
The thunder of the cannon was terrific
now, for our own artillery were firing over
our heads as we of the infantry lay fiat on
the ground. So the horrible, screaming,
hurtling messengers of death flew over us
from both sides. Solid shot, fragments of
shells dropped among and around us.
Sometimes a shell buried itself in the
ground and exploding hurled a cloud of
nd 1nuf Juh into ho 81 ~,
heavier portions rained down upon us.
while the lighter floated away, and, joining
with the smoke of the heavy guns and. the
volleys of musketry, made still more dense
the heavy atmosphere.
In such a storm it seemed miracle that
any were left alive. But now a favoring
breeze drove back the smoke, and what did
we behold? Away to the east, and covering
our right and rear, a long gray line appeared
1t was Early's Division, of Ewells Corps.
One mile from right 10 left it reached and
coming down in excellent array, the sunlight
flashing from their fixed bayonets and un-
sheathed swords, it was q beautiful but ap-
palling spectacle for it rendered our line
untenable and defenseless.
Without means to meet this new danger
we must retreat, and soon the order was
given. Little by litlle, at first, the troops
gave ground but being closely pressed in
front and flank the retreat at last broke
into disorder and, in some portions of the
field, rout Many regiments and bri-
gades lost all organization, and it was every
man for himself. e
Back across the field and through the
town the broken and scattered battalions
flew, the victorious enemy close upon their
heels. 'lEse
Bullets. shell, and solid shot were all this
time still flying Men were falling every
| where. More than half of our regiment
was gone, and the corps had lost 5000.
But now we were back through the town
| again, which we left for the present in the
| possession OF the rebels.
And here was Gen. Howard forming a
new line. AS he rode up and down the yet
thin and struggling line he was swinging
Tonic eand Blood Purifier