The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-01
FIRST DAY AT GETTYSBURG.
Experience of a 10th Me. Man on That His
toric Field.

Experience of 10th NE. Man on That Els
toric Field.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In my
communication in The National Tribune
of April IS, 1901, | failed to give you the
full account of my experiences the first
day of July, 1868, ut Gettysburg, Pa
When A. L. Hills Corps came upon US
from the west and doubled our left, and
Jubal 4. Early struck us from the east
all hope of escape was gone. Some OF
the men, by order of Col. Tilden. broke the
flagstaff and tore the flag into many pieces
which are held dear now by the men OF
the 18th Me.
When the crash came the regiment fell
back. and as they moved out they ran
against line of COnfederates in battle
array. | took off at right-oblique and
ran into a piece of woods, mostly hazel
brush and some large trees. | continued
through the brush and came out into an
open field right in front of Confederate
line of battle, not Il hundred yards
away. They all yelled Halt" and shot
at the same time. ] took position behind
a tree about 10 or II inches in diameter.
Just then Thomas j. Gould, a cOmrade Of
Co. |, 10th Me, came to my support. We
shot at the rebels and the whole line shot
at us. How they did pepper that tree,
and how the bark did fly.
We held our position for some time,
but decided that odds were against us,
and the best thing to do was to retreat.
The enemy did not advance ON us. | look
ed to the rear to see how the land lay,
and there appeared woods about as far in
our rear as the enemy was in front. How
the rebels did shoot and yell as we ran.
When we reached the woods there APP
peared n steep bank, down which we
rolled. | thought of the saying that de-
lay is dangerous" and moved through the
woods to an opening. | thought | would
straighten up before L moved again, as
the firing seemed to be on all sides. To
my horror Thomas J. Gould was missing.
He was captured near this spot.
When / arrived at the edge of the
woods, | could see a column of our men
double-quicking to the rear or somewhere,
| could not tell where. | started along
near the edge of the woods in the direc-
ton they appeared to be going, but before
had gone far l ran against Confeder-
ate line of battle. They were standing
at attention They all yelled "Haltr and
fred, but did not hit me. | was running,
and soon was out of their sight around a
bunch of brush.
As came around the woods | could see
the town, and at the right, between the
town and the Seminary there were in
fantry and u battery fighting. Here the
railroad crossed the road that ran out
through the town and passed the SeTnin-
airy, a little to the right. | made for this
! lace. One cannon was to the right of
the road and the others to the left. Just
as | reached the road that ran into town,
the COnfederates were making "A charge
on this battery. Pandemonium reigned.
The Confederates were yelling and all
seemed to be doing their best.
Just then | overlook my Captain on
stretcher, being carried by four men into
Al, ,.rIt IL lnI 20
TO stop, but | pressed on. Brick, glass and
everything seemed to be flying about; the
street was full of wagons. ambulanccs and
all kinds of war material. i came to a
corner; turned to the right; there was in
fantry going i'll the same direction. Just
then there was a cannon discharge that
shook the sidewalk. | looked down the
street and it was full of every kind of
vehicle that Uncle Sam ever had i'll war.
The Confederates Were coming up the
street. and to me it seemed that each one
made ii little more noise than the other.
was thirsty, having had nothing to drink
since noon. At that moment / saw NO
man with Il bucket i'll her hand. | inquired
if she had water in it, and she answered
Yes" and handed me a cup of the best
water | ever drank. She said: They will
kill us all. won't thavf" | told her
guessed not Something struck the side
of the house to my right and crashed in
to it. making a hole about two feet in di-
amcter. The woman jumped about four
feet and | jumped too. | have never seen
her since. | went on up the street with
the Confederates pursuing, still yelling
and shouting; no Comanche Indian ever
made such hideous sounds. In the town
the noise was frightful. On my right and
rear | could see the Confederates rush
ing ahead to cut off our escape. 1t was
neck and neck for a while. Right here the
crowd was halted to get out lot of pris-
oncrs.
Finally we moved on and the COnfed
crates and | had race for life. When
was out of town | went to the left to
Cemetery Hill, among the graves, where
u body of troops were hurrying to form
a line of battle. Excitement was ut fever
heat. About this time Il Confederate line
appeared advancing i'll battle array. /
don't know how many there were, but 1t
was long line drawn up i'll crescent.
and it looked as though everything were
lost. Just then Il 24-pound cannon came
from towards diminishing. The artillery
men halted and were in action quicker
than | can tell it. Oh. how the cannon did
make things howl. Then some infantry
arrived and dOuble-quicked OF rather ran
oyer to the right and formed in line near
Culp's Hill There seemed to be six Con
federates TO one of our boys i'll blue. Sud
denly the COnfederates halted, and we
were saved.
. | do not criticise any soldier on that
field. as | think they did all that men could
do, both Union and Confederates.
| give this description of the first day
of July. 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa, as seen
by private soldicr.-SAMUEL PEABODY,
Go. !, 10th Me. Burlington, Iowa.
Why the Cause Was Lost.