The National tribune., 1898-04-07
A DAY At GETTYSBURG.
New Yorker Tells of Lively and Rather
Uncomfortable Experience.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Having
seen nothing of late from any comrades
of the 10Th n Y, will try to stir them up
| by calling to mind a few incidents connected
| with the battle of Gettysburg.
On the last day of June. 1863, the 18th
N. Y. was mustered for pay by Maj. Grover,
commanding, but it being late in the day be-
fore the business was completed, and one
company being on picket, the certificates OF
muster were not signed that night by the Off
Ger.
Before another sun had set, Maj Grover,
with nearly one third of the men who had
answered to their names at this muster, were
mustered into that great army from the roll
call of which none will be absent.
Mai. Grover was killed early in the action
and Capt John f. Cook, being ranking officer,
took command Lieut.. Cahill, of Co. B, fell,
and Capt. Story, Lieuts Button and Carter, all
of Co. 3, were wounded. Capt Story died in
Gettysburg.
saw Frank Gay, a tent-mate of mine for
two years, fall, struck by bullet 1 stopped
to pick him up, when second shot struck his
head and he was past help. L left him and
went on after the regiment.
| passed up the hill through the corn,
while the bullets were coming after me lively,
and the Johnny rebs were calling Halt, you
Yank.n There was so much noise there
Just then that did not try to hear, and did
not halt There was n wood-pile on top of
the hill, and | wanted to find out what was
behind it.
got there and found one of my company
Charley Hill, another of my old tent-mates.
/ asked him if he knew where the rest of the
regiment was?
Yes" he said; ''what is left of them are
down there in the woods
/ had been having little fun with the
Johnnies over in the cornfield and been left.
/ did not know when the regiment started to
leave the field
The 10th went into the fight that morning
with 34S men and u officers, and i'll half an
hour lost two officers killed and 16 wounded,
27 men killed and IA wounded, making
total in half an hour of 19 officers and 151
privates, or over half the former and nearly
half the latter.
Hill and | left the shelter of the wood pile
to hunt up the regiment, and came across
Lieut. s. T.. Sanders Co. G., shot through the
foot, and unable to get to the rear as fast as
lie would like. We helped him off the field,
carried him to town. and put him in a ware
house beside the railroad track.
After binding up his foot the best / could,
| took cantecn and went for some water. L
went downstairs and opened the door to 90
out. The streets were full of men in gray
and butternut The greeting was: Hello,
Yank; whar yo'uns goin'? l reckon yo's our
prisoner Whar's yo' gun?"
| told them my gun was upstairs, and |
was going across the street for some water,
pointing to pump in sight.
''All right" they answered; "be quick
about it, and don't try to 90 any farther"
/ got the water, went back into the house,
and went to work dressing wounds. Our
Surgeon in charge conferred with the rebel
Surgeon, and got a number of US prisoners de-
tailed to work in the hospitals.
So put white cloth around my arm rs
hospital badge, and went to work taking care
ofthe wounded. We came and went wherever
we liked inside the rebel lines, and worked
number cf days bringing off wounded from
the first days battlefield.
In the second days fight we came near
being wiped out by our own shells falling
onto the first days field while we were at
work there.
When Gen. Lee gave up the job OF going to
Washington by the way of the Baltimore
pike, he left me in Gettysburg. Any Of you
who want to know how it was done, ask Sam
Sanders, the Lieutenant that was shot through
the foot. Wake up, members of the old 10th,
and let us hear from you. Fight the old
battles oyer.-C. W. Cook, Sergeant, Co. c.,
10Th y. Y, Grinnell Iowa.