The National tribune., 1901-09-19
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By Capt. Nj. H. MCNAMARA, 9th Mass.

The Army of the Potomac was rapidly
concentrated in and about Aide, from
which place Gen. Hooker, still in com
TaId. moved his columns down in pur
suit of Lees army, which was rapidly
advancing through Maryland upon Penn
sylvania, TO carry out his scheme of re-
taIatlUn, and to encourage the great peace
party, which he imagined then existed III
the North, but in which he eventually
found himself wofully mistaken.
We passed rapidly through the several
towns and cities of Maryland, and on
reaching Frederick City, Md. learned
that Hooker had been relieved by Gen.
Meade. We were followed by the good
wishes Of nearly all the inhabitants, and
or the morning of July l crossed the
PENNSYLVANIA State line, close upon the
rear OF Lees InTading army The same
night we arrived at Hanover. Pa, and
encamrcd within q few miles of the NELL
orIbe field of Gettysburg. The next day
cur regiment was sent on picket on the
extreme right CT the line of battle; but we
were called in, later in the day, to partici-
pate in the great battle that was then
raging; but as night was advancing, We
were not very prominently exposed.
AT GETTYSBURG.
The position of the regiment was
changed to the left on the Sd and 4th, and
we were engaged in a heavy skirmish
with the enemy in front, and succeeded IN
maintaining our position, though opposed
by q heavy force. The position where
they were placed was CT great Importance
to the success of Gen. Meade'S plans; and
the general opinion WAS, that il the right
of Lees army pressed tkeir attack on tins
wing, the 18th, unless strongly reinforced,
would be anEih.iateG In fact, the rcgi-
mcnt moved forward to their position with
a sort of misgiying that we should have
very hot work, and that to escape with
out terrific loss of life would be next to a
miracle; but even this did not lessen the
ardor of our brave boys, and they took
their position and firmly maintained it.
The terrible onsiaughts of Meade on
Lees front were of that powerful nature
that demanded all Of the enemy's strength
TO resist, and before he could well turn
his attention to other sections of has elon-
gated frCIt, the battle had been decided
and the invader ignOEIinouSy beaten. the
other regiments of our brigade, detached
from us, and more Immediately in the
midst of the fight, were terribly cut up.
They fought with great Sdilantry, and
in the midst of the dire conflict the muir
muir ran through their lines, Where's the
9Th? Why have they been taren from
us?' But the 9th. solitary and alone, held I
their place in distant part OF the field
and they asked, Where's the rest of our
brigade? The dividing of the brigade, the
regiments Of which had so often met the |
enemy side by side, caused much dssatS-
faction.
Ii is not for US to present a picture of |
the terrible field of Gettysburg. We fear |
a true and faithful account can never be |
written, or the many tableauX of that |
panorama of brave deeds, indomitable |
courage or of carnage, destruction. and |
terror, be depicted. The vacant chair n
many home, the scared spot IN many a
heart, the epitaph for many a grave may !
be read in the familiar name. .'Gettys |
burg" while, towering above all. it forms /
a monument of Meade's genius, which |
will last even when the great shaft that
there commentaries the dead has crum- |
bicd into dust.
Gen. Lee, having evacuated his position
and commenced his retreat, was closely |
followed up by our army. On the 9th Of
July, Kilpatrick's Division of Cavalry, |
which had been sent out early ia the day, |
returned, and reported that Les army |
WAS making for Williamsport. We there
fGrr Immediately moved by way of South |
MeinIain, passing through BOOEsborc' |
and 1emblinstown, and soon came uiiom
the onemy in position a shor: distance
from WllliamspOrt, his left within a few