The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-07-03
In Honor OF the First Minnesota.

ON Monday the 2|th OF une tram lett
st. Paul, carrying the remnant of the
brave regiment of the late war, the First
Minnesota infantry, as the guests Of
President I'LL Of the Great Northern
Railroad. to Getty sburg. During the
last National encampmemt at St.
Paul, Mr.. Jill entertained these
old veterans at his mansion on
Summit avenue, and at that time
them to Gettysburg to attend the dedi-
cation of the monument 10 be erected
by the State of Minnesota upon that
historic battlefield TO the memory of
those who fell on July ,, 1863, and to
honor as well the heroic manner in
which this regiment performed their
duty on that memorable day. They
will reach Gettysburg OH July ,, the day
on which the monument is 10 be dedi
Gated, just thirty-four years after the
events which this monument Is to COM
memOrate. Only veterans can under
stand the mixed feelings Of pleasure
and sadness with which these men Will
tread upon the same soil and view the
same landscape Ger They viii see
many changes, but all places Of impor-
tanre are well marked. About four
hundred beautiful monuments mark the
positions Of regiments, batteries, etc.
They will see the peach orchard, the
wheat fields, Devils Den, Little Round
Top, Cemetery Ridge and many other
places that Will bring tears 10 their eyes.
1t was generous act on the part of
President Hill 20 give these men an OPP
portunity to once more visit that his
toric field, and if he is one of the party
lie will feel a hundred times repaid by
witnessing the JOY brought to the hearts
of these men. 1t is well to now recall
the principal event in which these men
took part, and let us quote from the
report of the Acknowledgement of the
State of Minnesota:
" Some time after noon Sickles adj
vanccd the Third Corps half a mile or
more, to ridge right near the Emmeta-
burg road, his left extending to Devils
Den, III front of and near the base of
Little Round Top, and Company +
Capt. John Ball) was detached as Skin
mishers. and sent in that direction.
Soon after, the remaining eight com
panlCs OF the regiment, numbering two
hundred and sIXty-twc men Company
G was also absent. being the provost
guard Of the dIyision), were sent to the
centre of the line Just vacated b. Sickles'
to support Battery { of the
Fourth United States Artillery. No
other troops were then near us, and we
stood by this battery, in full view Of
Sickies' battle in the peach orchard
half a mile 10 the front, and witnessed
with eager anxiety the varying fortunes
of that sanguInarY conflict, until at
length, with grayest apprehension, we
saw Slckles men give way before the
heavier forces Of Longstrett and Hill,
and come back, slowly, at first, and raj
lying at short intervals, but at length
broken and in utter disorder, rushing
down the slope, by the Trostlc House,
across the low ground, MP the slope on
our side. and past our position 10 the
rear, followed by a strong fOrCe-thc
large brlTaies Of Wilcox and ParkSkalc
in regular lines, moving steadily In
the flush Of victory, and firing on the
tugItlycs. They had reached the low
ground, and in few minutes WOnld be
ut our position, on the rear Of the flank
OF our line, which they could roll M, as
jackson did the Eleventh Corps at
There was no organ
lied force near to oppose them, except
our handful of two hundred and sixty
two men. Most soldiers, in the face OF
the near advance Of such an oyerpow-
erIng force, which had Just defeated a
d. a. -.