The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-06-17

COLONEL c. F. TAYLOR. the battle of
KILLED at Gettysburg.] Gaines Mill,
when Porter retired across the river,
the 'Bucktails'' covered the withdraw
al and were under fire of the Confeder-
ate batteries over two hours. Forced to
retreat at last, they fell back under fire
for a distance of three miles, getting
out with only 1876 men in the eight
companies. At the battle at Glendale,
in the "Seven Days." Stone rallied the
broken commands of the Reserve divi-
sion on his little line Of sharpshooters
until he had parts of six regimen is with
their battlefags around him. Although
wounded, he led them against the ene-
my.
While north, recovering from his
wound, General Stone was authorized
to recruit "Bucktail" brigade in
Pennsylvania, but failing to get four
regiments together he took the field
with de1nibrisado Uonsisting Of the
One Hundred and Forty-third,t One
Hundred and Forty ninth and One Hun
| dred and Fiftieth, which were to make
history in the terrific combat Of the
Chambersburg pike. No command
fought more desperately or suffered
greater losses Stone was fearfully
wounded in the hip and lay upon the
field two days. His successor was also
terribly wounded. Lieutenant Colonel
Walton Dwight of the One Hundred
and Forty ninth was wounded. and his
successor, Captain Scofeld, killed.
Colonel Wister of the One Hundred and
Fiftieth was wounded while command
ing the brigade, and his lieutenant
colonel and major were both wounded.
The last commander of the regiment
that day, Captain Widdis, was also
wounded. Part Of the time the "Buck-
tails fought the Confederates across a
fence and again used the bayonets in
| deadly onset. Colonel Stone recovered
and fought in the Wilderness, where
his Gettysburg wound was reopened,
and he was compelled to leave the field.
The second colonel of the original
''Bucktails" was Colonel Hugh Watson
Mcneil. He was elected to succeed
Colonel Biddle in the fall of 1861. He
first led the united regiment in battle
at Antietam When the 'Bucktails"
attempted to advance, they were greeted
by a storm of shots and bullets, and
Colonel Mcneil, stepping to the front
of the line, started to run, exclaiming,
Forward, Bucktails, forward!' After
carrying the first line the colonel start
ed toward the second, and was shot dead.
McNeil's successor was Colonel Charles
Frederick Taylor, brother Of Bayard
Taylor. Taylor's company was with
Kane in the valley, and being taken
prisoner there he did not get into battle
with the full regiment until Fredericks-
burg. He was wounded at the stone
wall, but recovered in time to lead his
regiment at Gettysburg. In the wheat
field in front of Round Top he was shot
through the heart by a Confederate
marksman.
In telling this story of the hardy sons
of the Keystone State, do not pay
tribute to rank because it is rank, but
because the accident of position gave
valor a chance. It was no accident
either that made Stone and Mcneil and
Taylor leaders among the "Bucktails. .
They were selected by the men them
selves. And it is worth while to note
that all three were college men-Mo.
Neil from Yale, Stone from Union col
lege and Taylor from the University Of
Michigan. The mountaineers Of western
Pennsylvania had keen wits as well as
sharp eyes and steady nerves. Kane's
old regiment lost 6O4 men killed and
wounded out of 1895 on the roll In
front Of the stone wall at Fredericks-
burg its casualties were 1871. Roy
Stones .Buoktail" brigade lost 1000
out Of total enrolment Of 1000 men.
GEORGE l. KuNER