The National tribune., 1901-01-17
FIGHTING THFMOVER.
What the Veterans Have TO Say
About Their Campaigns.
THE LIST MINIS DARING.
Ordered Into the Jaws of Death, 1t Responds
Nobly and is Victorious.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the is
sue Of July 5, Gen. Palmer described in
glowing colors the fierce struggle ON The
extreme right of the Army of the Potomac
at the battle of Gettysburg, in the after
noon and evening of July >, 1863, and pic
tured the great danger that existed in the
evening or the army being annihilated.
But about the same danger, if not a
greater one, existed on the left center on
the same afternoon.
Allow me TO give the facts, as described
by William Lochren, Adjutant, of the 1st
Mimi, after the battle:
AT a quarter before 6, on the morning
of July 2, we arrived on the battlefield,
and the Second Corps was placed in posi-
ton on the line to the left of the Gene
terry, being joined on its left by Sickles'
CThird) Corps, which extended that line to
the vicinity of Little Round Top.
For some reason the 1st MINI. was not
placed in this line, but, apparently, in re-
serve, short distance to the rear. Co. l.
(sharpshooters) was detailed to support
kirby's Battery, near the Cemetery. and
did not rejoin us during the battle. While
lying here one man was killed and Sergt.
o NJ. Knight, of Co. /, was severely
wounded by shells from the enemy.
| Some time in the afternoon Sickles adj
yanced the Third Corps half mile or
more, to slight ridge near the Emmitts-
burg road, his left extending to Devils
Den, in front of and near the basis of Lit
tie Round Top, and Co. + Capt. John
BalD was detached as skirmisherS in that
direction.
Soon after the remaining eight COM
panies of the regiment, numbering 262 men
Go. O was also absent, being provost
guard of the division), were sent to the
center of the line, just vacated by Sickles'
advance, to support Co. G., of the 18th U. $.
Art. No other troops being then near us,
we stood by this battery, in full view of
Sickles' battle in the Peach Orchard, half
a mile to the front, and witnessed, with
eager anxiety, the varying fortunes of that
sanguinary conflict, until at last, with
gravest apprehension, we saw Sickles' men
| give way before the heavier forces of
Longstreet and Hill, and come back, slow
| ly at first, and rallying at short intervals,
but at length broken and in utter disorder,
| rushing down the slope by the Trostle
House, across the low ground, up the slope
on our side, and past our position to the
| rear, followed by strong force-the large
| brigades of Wilcox and Barksdale-in
regular lines, moving steadily In the flush
| of victory and firing on the fugitives.
They had reached the low ground, and
| in few minutes would be at our position,
on the rear of the left flank of our line,
| which they could roll up as Jackson did
| the Eleventh Corps at. Charlottesville.
There WAS no organized force near to op-
| pose them, except our handful of 262 men.
| Most soldiers, in the face of the near ad-
vance of such an overpOwer:ng force,
| which had just defeated a considerable
portion of corps, would have caught the
panic and Joined the retreating masses.
But the LIST MINI. hau never yet deserted
any post; had never retired without Or
ders, and, desperate as the situation
seemed, and as it was, the regiment stood
firm, whatever might come. Just then
Hancock, with single Aid, rode up at full
speed, and for moment yainly endeayOred
to rally Sickles' retreating forces. Re
serves had been sent for, but were too far
away to hope to reach the critical posi-
ton until it would be occupied by the
enemy, unless that enemy were stopped.
Quickly leaving the fugitives, Hancock
spurred to where we stood, calling out as
he reached US:
What regiment is this?'
First Minn.,' replied CO., Colvill.
" Charge those lines commanded Han
cock.
Every man realized in an instant what
that order meant-death or wounds to us
all, the sacrifice of the regiment to gain
few minutes time and save the position,
and probably the battlefeld-and every
man saw and accepted the necessity Tor
the sacrifice, and, responding to Colvill's
rapid orders, the regiment, in perfect line
with arms at right shoulder shift was in
moment sweeping down the slope direct
ly upon the enemy's center.
No hesitation, no stopping TO fire.
though the men fell fast at every stride
before the concentrated fire OF the whole
Confederate force, directed upon us as
soon as the movement was observed. 81
lently, without orders, and almost from
the start, double quick had changed to ut
most speed, for in utmost speed lay the
only hope that any of us would pass
1ph hnt on of Inu1 a,,I III {. Il,
enemy.
'.Charge" shouted Colville, as we
neared their first line, and with leyeled
bayonets, at full speed, we rushed upon it.
fortunately as it was, slightly disordcred
in crossing dry brook at the foot of the
slope. The men were never made who
will stand against leveled bayonets, com
ing with such momentum and evident dcs-
peratiOn.
The first line broke in our front as we
reached it, and rushed back through the
second line, stopping the whole advance.
We then poured in our first fire, and, avail
ing ourselves Of such shelter as the low
banks of the dry brook afforded, held the
entire force at bay for considerable time,
and until our reserves appeared on TIE
ridge we had left Had the enemy rallied
quickly TO counter charge, its great num-
bers would have crushed us in a moment
and we would have made but slight
pause IN It's advance. But the ferOclty of
our onset seemed to paralyZe them for the
time, and although they poured upon us a
terrible and continuous fire from the front
and enyeloping tanks, they kept at re-
spectful distance from our bayonets, I'M
til, before the added fire of our fresh re-
serves, they began to retire and we were
ordered back.
What Hancock had given us to do was
done thoroughly. The regiment had stop
ped the enemy and held back its mighty |
force and saved the position. But at what |
sacrifice! Nearly every officer was dead or
lay weltering with bloody wounds, our gal |
liant Colonel and every field officer among |
them. OF the 262 men who made the |
charge, 215 lay upon the field, stricken |
down by rebel bullets; Al were still in line |
and not man missing" 'nm
The annals of war contain no parallel |
to this charge. In its desperate valor, COM |
plete execution, successful result, and in |
its sacrifice of men, in proportion to the |
number engaged, authentic history has no |
record with which it can be compared. Col. |
Fox, in his very carefully prepared work |
on "Regimental Losses in the American |
Civil War;" says, at page r6S. speaking of |
the Second Corps in this battle:
"The fighting was deadly in the ex-
treme, the percentage of loss in the LIST |
Mimi, Gibbons Division, being without |
an equal in the records of modern war |
fare" |
In another place page 26) he writes |
that Gen. Hancock, In speaking of this |
charge, is reported to have said: 'There is |