The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-07-07

mishes.
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Below are the words: Erected by
the State OF Minnesota"
On the side of the monument towards
the Round Tops, the side shown in the
cut, on another bronze tablet, and in
raised letters, like the other record, is
the following brief and comprehensive
history OF the battle, prepared by Judge
Lochren:
On the afternoon of July 2, 1868
Sickles' Third corps, having advanced
from this line to the Emmetsburg road,
eight companies OF the First Minnesota
regiment, numbering 262 men, were
sent to this place to support battery.
Upon Sickles' repulse, as his men were
passing here in a confused retreat, two
Confederate brigades. in pursuit, were
crossing the swale. To gain time to
bring up reserves and save this position,
General Hancock, in person, ordered
the eight companies to charge the rap
idly advancing enemy. The order was
instantly repeated by Colonel Vim. Col
will, and the charge was instantly made
down the slope at full speed, through
the concentrated fire of the two bri-
gades, breaking with the bayonet the
enenly's front line as it was crossing the
small brook in the low ground There
the remnant OF the eight companies,
nearly surrounded by the enemy, held
its entire force at bay for a considerable
time, and until it retired on the approach
OF the reserve The charge successfully
accomplished its object. 1t saved this
position and probably the battlefield.
The loss OF the eight companies in the
charge was zig killed and wounded
more than 50 per cent In self-sacrihc-
ing, desperate valor this charge has no
parallel in any war. Among the severe
ly wounded were Colonel VIM Colvill,
Lieutenant Colonel Charles p Adams
and Major Mark w. Downie Among
the killed, Captain Joseph Periam, Cap
tain Louis Muller and Lieutenant Wal
do Farrar
The remaining side OF the tablet block
has a bas-relief in bronze, by Fjelde,
representing the charge, the attitude OF
the figures indicating motion in the di-
rectlon OF the famous charge. The six
figures brought out in the front are like
nesses of Colonel Colvill, Colonel Ad-
ans and Major Downie, the wounded
staff officers: also Captain Nathan S.
Messick, Captain Wilson B. Farrell and
Captain Louis Muller, who were in the
charge, and died at Gettysburg; the first
two in the last days fight, and Muller in
the charge,
The general appearance OF the monu-
ment is said to be pleasing, impressive
and happily symbolic An afterthought,
which caused the word Minnesota" to
be carved on all sides of the fourth step,
makes it especially conspicuous and
commanding to the casual observer
A less pretentious monument stands
where the regiment fought on the Sd,
and should ever be source of pride to
Minnesotans, for it tells the world that
in the supreme moment OF the high tide
OF the confederacy the First Minnesota's
remnant was in the very center OF the
bloody and decisive STRIFE Moreover,
companies F and c, spared the ordeal of
the day before, here showed themselves
worthy companions in arms OF the men
who had participated in the charge.
This monument to the third days
fight is also OF Barre granite. The base
is single stone g feet a inches square;
the next course is 5 feet and inches
square, and foot thick: third, also a
single stone, is d feet inches square,
and 2I inches thick. The die is 3 feet
and inches square, and feet and
inches high, with huted square columns,
carved in each corner. The plinth is
feet and inches square, and I6 inches
thick. 1t has the trefoil insignia of the
Second corps raised on each side The
shaft is feet square at the base and Is
feet high.
The monuments have been completed
FOR four years, but no action was taken
for their dedication until the last legis-
lature appropriated $1,000 for that pur-
pose, and named Colonel William Col
vile, of Grand Marais; c. B. Heffel-
finger and William Lochren, of Mime
apolis, and Matthew Marvin, OF Wi
mona, as commissioners to superintend
the expenditure of that sum- Section /
OF this act, which was approved April 8,
1897, is as follows:
Section J. The monument erected BY
the state OF Minnesota on the battlefield
OF Gettysburg to commemorate the i'm
mortal charge OF the First Minnesota In
fantry shall be dedicated by the COVER
nor of the state and his military staff,
with appropriate ceremonies, on July 2,
1907, the anniversary OF the battle, IN the
presence of those veterans who were
mustered into said regiment for the
term of three years prior to said battle
and who participated therein. or who
were prevented from participating there
in by reason of wounds received in bat
tie while member OF said regiment, or
by reason of sickness incurred while in
line OF duty on the march from Fall
mouth, Va, to the battlefield, and all
members of said regiment who were dis
charged by reason of wounds at any time
prior to said battle.
Thus it Was that some 100 veterans of
the old First went to Gettysburg at the
expense of the state with the governor
and his staff to participate in the dedica-
ton OF the monument.