The National tribune., 1901-05-09
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have TO Say
About Their Campaigns.
GETTYSBURG.
Rapid March to the Battlefield and Heroic
Part Taken in That Action by the Tooth Pa

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: | have
before me a statement, taken from your
valuable paper, written by Comrade John
Goldsmith, Co. Z, Oath n. Y. In it he
attempts 10 assume the role of a military
critic. He quotes part, but not correctly,
what was written by me and printed in
The National Tribune as a partial history
of the 109th Pa. from 81 to '65. Com
rade Goldsmith quotes me as saying:
"After fighting and beating the rebel
army at Cedar Mountain, Aug. 8, 1862,
the Tooth Pa. fell back on the Rappahan
mock River, repulsing the rebel army
making it appear as if that regiment did
all the fighting, gaining victories on both
occasions.
If the cOmrade will read your issue of
The National Tribune of June 81. 1900,
he will see nothing is said by me about
whipping Jackson at Cedar Mountain. 1t
was believed at the time the Confederates
had whipped us, they having possession
at night of part of the battlefield. Some
of our troops We're not up in time to take
part in the battle, and many never fired
shot, they holding another line nearer Cul-
peper Court House.
ne IOJlu ulu Dtl WILD UOE re-
pulse the rebel army at any stage of the
game, neither did it put down the rebel
lion; but it always was in the front line
or where duty called, doing its best, and
was second to none in helping to crush
those who were striving to destroy and
overthrow our Government. The cOmrade
says Greeiey's History is the true his
tory. Let him turn to page III, and he
will learn that the 109th Pa. was up
against a "Stonewal'' at Cedar Noun
tain. Again, the comrade comments upon
the statement made by me that the 109th
Pa, Second Brigade Gen. Kane). Second
Division Gen. Geary), Twelfth Corps
Gen. Slocum), was within supporting dis
tance of the First and Eleventh Corps
early in the afternoon, July 1, at Gettys-
burg. Goldsmith says: Il think all the
First Corps boys will say with me that
the 109th cOmrade is mixed as to his
time"
Now, / have waited to see what com,
rade OF the First or Eleventh Corps would
say that the white Star Division"
Twelfth Corps, was not up and in line
on July /, but mary" boy in blue comes
to the aid of Comrsde Goldsmith; but
maybe this will stir them up.
In the issue Of The National Tribune
OF June %, 1900, Gen. Eugene Powell
writes of the splendid work done at Culps
Hill, Gettysburg, by the Twelfth Corps,
Of which the 109th Pa. was part, losing
two color-bearers and q number of men,
July and 3.
Gen. Powell says: "At the time of the
battle of Gettysburg 1 was attached to
the Army of the Potomac as a Lieuten-
anti Colonel, in command of the 88th Ohio,
Geary's Division, Slocum's Corps (the
Twelfth. Our arrival on Cemetery
Ridge, overlooking Gettysburg, was early
in the afternoon of July 1. Cur march
thereto had been a forced one, we being
well aware from this that something inn
portant had or was to occur in which we
ought to or were to take part. We soon
found that if the opening of the battle
had not been suspicious it had been cred
liable to our troops. The Union losses
were the largest on July l, as the purpose
of the enemy seemed to have been to cap
ture or annihilate the First and Eleventh
Corps before reinforcements could reach
them"
The 1O9th Pa. was in Geary's Division,
and had been making forced marches
since June 26. We passed through Fred
erick City on the 29th and heard that
Meade had taken command of the
army, and, again, that Mcclellan had as
sumed command; rumors flew thick and
fast When we arrived at Littletown, on
thinking we were only militia. The pris-
oners we took seemed surprised that the
Potomac Army was hot on their trail.
We marched all night of the Both, and at
the first dawn of day took up the line Of
march.
1 have a letter in my possession from
Comrade John L. Patton, Co. X, 109th
Pa, who says on the morning of July l.,
between Z and 8 o'clock, Capt. Davis, of
Gen. Geary's staff, rode down the line of
march and urged the officers to close up
their men and double-quick, as fighting
was going on at Gettysburg, and McClel-
Ian was waiting for us.
This order, l remember, was obeyed by
the different regiments of Geary's Divi-
sion with alacrity, and they arrived in
time to take position on Cemetery Ridge
and Little Round Top, on the extreme
left, while the 109th Pa, with Kane's
Brigade, was posted to prevent the en-
emy from flanking our army on the right.
Gen. Reynolds was carried through our
line. Men from the First and Eleventh
Corps came through our line wounded,
and we also stopped some stragglers who
were attempting to go to the rear; but
all those who were there know how well
the First and Eleventh Corps fought;
| their valor and their bravery were of the
| best, and no true soldier wishes to appro-
pirate it as his own, or for his corps.
Comrade Goldsmith should read Gen.
| Hancock's report of that battle. He will
| learn that Gen. Geary's Division Twelfth
| Corps was ordered as fast as they came
| up to take position on and around Little
| Round Top. The rebel skirmishers had
| possession of part of Little Round Top,
when the 147th Pa. and the 9TH Ohio went
| into position and drove them away. Thus
! the arrival of Geary's Division, Twelfth
Corps, early in the afternoon of July i
at Gettysburg saved, no doubt, the posi-
ton to our army, and prevented the First
| and Eleventh Corps from being out
fanked, captured or annihilated. No line
of battle had been clearly defined or Sc
| lected. Hancock's order to Geary was
known by after-events to have been very
advantages of Cemetery Ridge and its
natural strength, having such hills as
| Culp's on the right and the Round Top
on the left; but if Geary had not been
within supporting distance that portion
of the First and Eleventh Corps that oc-
cupied Cemetery Ridge on the right would
have been cut in two and compelled to
retreat, possibly to Pipe Creek, where
| Gen. Meade had selected a line of de-
| fense.
Gen Hancock sent to Meade repeated
requests to come to Gettysburg, which he
did, arriving some time during the night
of July /, and after consulting with Han.
cock and other Generals decided that the
entire Army of the Potomac should take
and hold the line selected, and upon which
the battle of Gettysburg was fought and
won.
The first to arrive after the Twelfth
Corps was Gen. Sickles's Corps. between
5 and o'clock p. m, July 1, which Joined