Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-10-31
HERO OF MANY BATTLES.
GALLANT RECORD OF PATRICK DE
LACY, OF SCRANTON.

|
at Gettysburg, the Wilderness. Cold Har-
Dor, spottsylvania and on Other Fields.
Given Medal by Congress.
Although the conspicuous gallantry
displayed in the civil war by Captain
Patrick De Lacy, Democratic nominee
| for secretary Of internal affairs, is
| familiar topic among Union veterans of
this state, especially of this county and
Lackawanna, details of some thrilling
| adventures in which the captain figured
are given in response to inquiries from
many who have listened to him during
his tour of the state with George A.
jerks and other speakers. Nautilus
SHUTTER, of Lehigh township, in that
county, who was drill sergeant under
De Lacy, in Company A, of the One
Hundred and Forty-third Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers, tells this
story:
''The men held DeLacy in such regard
that his advice or request to them was
at all times obeyed At Gettysburg |
was sharpshooter on the first day, and
was shot through the right arm, at or
near the Mcpherson barn. When the
regiment was hotly engaged along the
Chambersburg pike l went into the barn
about the time that the rebels drove
the One Hundred and Ffticth Pennsyl-
vania back. and the One Hundred and
| Forty-third Pennsylvania changed front
to the left and rear to meet the attack
| tbnir loft I urit bn 81.
sergeant and colors of the One Hundred
and Forty-third 90 down and at that
moment | saw Sergeant De Lacy and
heard him call out to Major Conyngham
! to rally the regiment on the colorS,
which was done and the colors were
saved
Company A was deployed on the
skirmish line May 5, 1864, and we open
ed the Wilderness fight. The woods
were so dense that it was impossible to
preserve our alignment and the regiment
soon after it became engaged was com
PEELED to fall back owing to its hanks
being turned on the hill in the rear of
the first positions. De Lacy rallied the
regiment, or that portion of it that fell
back across the swale. Soon after that
time the regiment all fell back to the
field, where we reformed, and the brigade
soon after made charge to the left of
the first position, where their regiment
became hotly engaged and fought until
dark
just before dark Sergeant Hub Noglc
was shot through the right breast. De
Lacy rushed to him, picked him up and
carried him off the field On the morn
ing of May 6 the battle was renewed
with terrible impetuosity, and De Lacy
was with us urging the boys on, and
holding them steady under the terrible
fire. In the afternoon of the 9th we
fought at the Cross Roads, where De
Lacy led the charge that recaptured the
works, which the enemy had taken from
the Union soldiers of another command.
de Lacy here captured rebel battle
flag, for which act he was presented with
medal of honor by congress. At North
Anna he saved the colors of the regiment.
He rallied the company as no other man
could at Cold Harbor, Laurel Hill
Bethesda Church, Tolopomy, Spottsyl-
vania, Petersburg, Weldon Railroads.
Vaughan Road, Hatchers's Run, South
side Road and second Hatcher's Run.
''1e had command of the company
two-thirds of the time, and was consid-
cred by all the boys as their leader, and
the company relied more upon him in
time of battle than upon any other officer
of the company. The rest of the officers
were either killed, sick or wounded. At
all times De Lacy was kind and looked
after the interests of the company. The
members of the old One Hundred and
Forty-third hold him in the highest es-
teen for the meritorious service he rem
dered his country and flag"