The National tribune., 1900-06-28

able to take advantage Of, az these were
important factors in determining that fight
and that it was theirs to have been upon
the defensive and not the aggressive was
unexpected good fortune, which they fully
realized placed them upon the vantage
ground.
The situation of the Union cause at that
time Was such that the defeat of Lee was de-
manded; that the Army of the Potomac was
able TO meet that demand was source Of
the most pre- found rejoicing TO its members;
for none knew better than they as to the
power and desperation of its enemy, of the
uncertainties of battle, Of the flckleness
of fortune, and much more than satisfied
were they when victory perched upon their
banner.
MARCHING TO THE SCENE OF ACTION.
AT the time Of the battle of Gettysburg,
IwaS attached to the Army of the Potomac
as a Lieutenant-Coloneli in command of the
66th Ohio, Geary's Division, Slocum's
Corps (the Twelfth. Our arrival on Gene
terry Ridge, overlooking Gettysburg, was
early in the afternoon of July 1. Our march
thereto had been forced one, we being well
aware from this that something important
had or was to occur in which we ought to
or was to take part.
As we approached Gettysburg, on the
Baltimore pike. we passed crowds of men,
women and children whose hurried steps,
excited, frightened appearance told as plain
RS words that the event that had occurred
has gone against us. These fugitives
were citizanS of Gettysburg seeking safety
in the rear of our army, having left their
homes in possession of the enemy. Upon
the part of these people as they passed us
there We're no demonstrations, no cheering
by them for us soldiers, as we moved on to
the front in defense of all that they held
dear upon earth; they simply stared at Us
in a vacant, frightened stare. as if in doubt
whether we could successfully cope with |
these Southern soldiers. To this there was
no hoaSting, no response by our men, but
outfrom that gloomy greeting by our fellow
countrymen our soldiers the more strongly |
nerved themselves up; seemingly each one
TO himself was making silent resolve, and |
at an increased pace pressed forward.
We soon found that if the opening of the
beeae had not been auspicious, it had been
creditacle 10 our troops. And here the
Eleventh Corps, again defeated, but not
suited, as at Charlottesville, had won
eSaenulng praise Dy us stubborn nPnLlng
" the open field against heavy odds; by
maintaining its organization whilst being
aercely driven back, by promptly taking
position on Cemetery Ridge and showing
bold front TO the further advance of the
enemy, thus helping to hold for the main
Army of the Potomac, then coming upon the
field where the decisive battle of the war
was TO be fought, was certainly glory
enough for one day, and was enough to
cover its former defeats. In proportion TO
the number of the forces engaged, the
Union losses were the largest on the 1st of
July, as the purpose of the enemy seemed
10 have been TO capture or annihilate the
First and Elventh Corps before reinforce
mentS could reach them, and nothing but
the most stubborn fighting and endurance
to stand up under the terrible Punishment
inflicted could have averted such a result.
1t is claimed by military writer's that good
generalShip would have been displayed by
Withdrawing those corps at an earlier
hour TO more defensive position, and not
to have held them III the open field out be
yond Gettysburg 10 struggle with a much
stronger foe; but those sacrifices and that
stubborn fighting gave TO the Army of the
Potomac the much stronger position, on
which the final tests of strength and en-
durlnce were made, and that position and
its advantages were worthy of such heroic
efforts, as subsequent events fully proved.
(To be continued.)