The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-06-11
THE FIELD OF BATTLE
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
THE WAR.
The Veterans of the Rebellion Tell of
iVhistling Bullets, Bright Bayoncts,
Bursting Bombs, Bloody Battles,


Bursting Bombs. Bloody Battles.
Camp Fire, Festive Bugs, Etc, Etc.
Deeds Zone at Gettysbur~.
Comrades in the Western Society of
the Army of the Potomac met in the
clubroom of the Sherman House, in
Chicago, recently, for the regular quar-
terly meeting of the society. The in
terest centered in a paper read by Col
onel Il. S. Thompson, entitled "a Scrap
of Gettysburg" AS scenes in the mcm-
orable battle We're recalled the veter-
ans glowed with enthusiasm. Colonel
Thompson was presented by the chair
man as Il member of the society and Il
soldier in the Twelfth New Jersey vol
unteers. He was in Colonel Thomas A.
Smythe's brigade of General Alexander
Hays division of the second corps. He
held the rank of captain, but was act
ing major of the regiment during the
battle. He gave vivid portrayal of
the events which occurred before his
eyes as the two great armies surged
back and forth. His command was
stationed on the left center, the right of
the division resting on Ziegler's Grove.
he also compared the action of the
two divisions of the Second corps
those of General Hays and General
Glbbon-showing that General Hays
division, consisting of two brigades
and one regiment, was confronted with
four brigade of Heth's division and
two brigades of Pender's division.
while General Gibbons division was
confronted by the three brigades of
Pickett's division.
In relating what was accomplished
by his division he said:
An army or an army corps may suf-
fer great loss and yet not accomplish
the task assigned to it. Not so with the
Second corps at Gettysburg-what it
was given to do it did. 1t arrived at
Gettysburg in the early morning of
July ., with less than 10000 men in
line. Its loss during the two days,
July 2 and 8, was 4,0O1 men and $40
commissioned officers, of which num-
Der only 36S We're reported missing
The two brigades of Hays division
were confronted and engaged with four
brigades of Heth's division and two
brigades of Penders division. The en-
emy left on the field $500 stand of
arms. Over 1000 prisoners and fif-
teen battle flags We're captured The
killed and wounded in the six brigades
which confronted Hays division were
more than double the killed and wound
ed in the three brigades of Pickett. No
enemy crossed the line of Hays divis-
ion excepting as a prisoner of war;
There We're many minor incidents
which occurred during the great battle
that are interesting. In the cartridge
boxes of the enemy's dead were found
cartridges with England's Tower of
London stamp on them.
The soldier who reached the foremost
point in front of Hays division was
beardless youth, a mere boy, and next
to him North Carolina colorbearer. In
death the boy still grasped his rifle and
the color-bearer his standard.
A Confederate major, terribly wound
ed with buckshot, was brought within
the line. He begged to be laid upon
the ground, and. after his pain had
been somewhat relieved by dose of
morphine. he noticed our division flag
a blue trefoil on a white field. He
stated that before the column started
they We're addressed by their officers
and told that they would have to meet
nothing but green Pennsylvania mill
tia, and added: But when we saw that
old clover leaf unfurled we knew what
kind of green militia we had to contend
with" Then, turning his head a little
his eyes, on which the shadow of death
was settling, rested upon the graceful
folds Of Old Glory. An expression of
gentle sadness came over his face as he
said: after all. after all, this is the
glorious old flag"
Colonel Thompson's paper evoked
great interest. and he was frequently
interrupted with applause. The paper
was ordered printed in full. to be pre-
served in the archives of the society.