The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-30
ONCE EGBERT'S CAPTOR.
Gallant Colonel Rode In Rebel Lines
By Mistake
Philadelphia Record.)

philadelphia RecordD
Colonel Henry C. Egbert of the
Twenty-second regular infantry, who
was killed at Malinta, Luzon, Philip
pines, in the battle of Sunday, March
20, was captured during the battle of
Gettysburg by Major w. w. GoldsbOr-
ough, e-confederate aud now of this
city. In a book entitled The Mary
land Line, C. S. A." written in 1869 by
Major Goldsborough, occurs the fol-
lowing:
while directing the firing of my
men | was approached by an officer on
horseback and asked how the fight
was going. From the shape of his hat,
which L could rather indistinctly see
through an opening in the foliage, i
was satisfied he belonged to the enc
my. l told him l did not know, and
stepped toward his horse to take hold
of the bride. His suspicious were evil
IDENTIFY awakened, and he asked: What
corps is this?' Selling his bridle-rein
and presenting my revolver, ex-
claimed: This is a rebel corps, and
you are my prisoner. Dismount
quickly or you will be shot to pieces
for many of my men had observed his
mistake by this time, and l feared they
would fire upon him. With perfect
lf-possession he dismounted and, I'M
buckling his belt, handed me his sword
and pistol, remarking coolly: They
are ours, and fairly Won He proved
to be Lieutenant Henry Egbert, sta.
officer, who in carrying dispatch had
lost his way owing to the darkness.
at was this way" explained Major
Goldsborough to reporter, when
Ewell's corps made it's advance on
Culp's hill late in the afternoon of
July Stuart's brigade of Johnsons
division took possession of a line of log
breaStworks that had been occupied by
Geary's Pennsylvania division, but the
division had been called off to the left
of the federal line to help repulse
LongstreetS fierce assault and had not
returned. An hour or two after this
Geary returned and was much sur
prised to find his breastworks in pos
session of the rebels. 1t was upon the
return Of Geary's troops that Lieuten-
ant Egbert, with some others, became
entangled in our lines.
Lieutenant Egbert seemed much put
out at this mishaD, and said he could
scarcely realize that he was a prisoner
not over 100 yards from his own com
mand, for the two columns We're that
close to each other. ] made him sit
down behind huge rock to shelter
him from the fire of his own troops,
for which he seemed at the time very
grateful, and some time after, when
there was a lull in the firing, 1 sent
him to the rear.
But l had a substantial evidence of
Lieutenant Egbert's gratitude some
months later. On the morning of July
3, Stuarts brigade attacked Geary and
was repulSed with heavy loss. In the
assault 1 was severely wounded and
made prisoner. In October following
along with others, I was transferred
from the field hospital at Gettysburg to
Vests hospital in Baltimore This
building should never have been Sc
lected for a hospital, as it was on one
of the docks and surrounded by noun
tafns of oyster shells, which emitted a
horrible smell. The hospital was in
charge of DIR. Thomas Hewson Bache
of Philadelphia, one of the kindest men
that ever lived. One day DR.. Bache
brought into the ward an officer who
introduced himself as Lieutenant Hen
ry Egbert He said he had called to
see his lifelong friend Bache, in pass
ing through Baltimore, and in narrat-
ing 10 that gentleman his capture at
Gettysburg and subsequent escape at
Lees retreat had incidentally men
toned my name. and was surprised
when the doctor informed him his cap
tor was in the building. He seemed
pleased to see me, thanked me over
and over for my kind treatment, and
thrusting his hand into his pocket,
drew forth a roll of bills. which he in
sisted | should take, but which l de-
clined. as | was among friends and
had all the financial assistance I re-
CURED. When he took his departure
he begged DR.. Bache to extend me all
the kindness he could consistent with
his duty. and even strain a point
And Dr. Bache did strain a point
for when, some time after at the sug-
gestion of Colonel William H Forney
of Alabama, a fellow-sufferer, I asked,
as a great favor. that Forney ind my
self he transferred to the hospital at
Fort McHenry, DR.. Bache said Il
promised Egbert [ would strain Il
point to serve you. and 1 will. In two
weeks after my arrival at Fort Nc
Henry 1 was conva!escent. Had L re-
manned in Vests miserable hospital I
would most assuredly have died. Have