The National tribune., 1901-07-25
UNITED STATES REGULARS.
No Monuments Mark the Historic Spots Where
These Gallant Soldiers Fought.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: 1 was
much interested in the article on the
Gettysburg Campaign, by Col. Tyler, Of
the Hist Pa, in the issue of The Ma
tional Tribune for July II. The Incl
dents and scenes Of that eventful cam
paign were yividly brought to mind as
| perused the lines. In the summary of
the article he incidentally refers to the
18th U. S. Inf, and later on to four regi-
ments Of Regulars.
With all due regard to the many
glorious volunteer regiments who, with
cut exception, did valiant seryice-and
no better army ever marched or fought
yet that little band of Regulars of the
Army of the Potomac stood at the front
without wayering while being cut down
like grass.
Without State pride to sustain them,
they fought gloriously for the old flag,
and no troops of the army lost more in
proportion to numbers than the handful
of Regulars.
At Gaines's Mill and other battles of
the Peninsular Campaign; at Fredericks-
burg, Charlottesville, Antietam- Second
Bull Run, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, and
many other conflicts, they showed their
mettle and staying qualities; and particu-
larly on the second day at Gettysburg,
when Hoods men tried so desperately,
late in the afternoon of July 2, to round
up the left of our army and seize Little
Round Top. No one who was a member Of
the Second Division, Fifth Corps, ON that
day will forget the terrible ordeal for a
couple of hours at about sunset as among
the rocks and ribs Of the Devils Den and
in the Wheatfield the little band of Regu-
lars were buffeted and beaten on every
side. But they stood their ground until
over half of their numbers were killed ar
disabled; and they did not retreat until
succor came in the Pennsylvania Re
serves.
There were 10 regiments of the Regular
infantry INSTEAD of four, as spoken of in
the article to which 1 have referred),
composing the First and Second Brigades
and 18th U. S. Inf. QFirst Brigade), and
the I'd, Ith, 10th, 11th and 18th U. s.
Inf. Second Brigadel. Some of these
regiments were quite small, the I'd Inf
being the least in numbers, while the 18th
and 14th Inf. had more men. 1t is not
my purpose to go into details Of this cam
paign or any other. But | wish to call
attention to the glorious record of the
Regular Army during the civil war, al
though at the time they were much de-
spised by the majority OF volunteers. And
the glory and credit of the service must
not be confined to the infantry, as other
arms of the Regular Army are equally de-
serving, as their records will show Who
will forget Battery B, 4th U. S. Art?
And Battery d, 9Th Art, whose brave
commander. Capt. HazIett. gave up his
life on Little Round Top; and many other
batteries of the Regular establishment
did most excellent service. Then, the
grand old Cavalry Corps of the Regular
branch. The 9th U. S. Cav. will never
be forgotten in its splendid fight at Fair
field, and many other fields.
While our attention is drawn to the
Gettysburg campaign, there is one matter
which has been entirely overlooked. As
we so over the battlefield today we see
ablets, monuments and other markers to
show where almost every regiment of vol |
unteers stood in that terrible trial In |
1858, and we are glad it is so. Keep |
their memory fresh by these markers. But |
as we &C over that historic ground about |
the base of Little Round Top, over Plum |
Run, among the wilds of the Devils Dem |
and then over farther to the left on the |
site of the old Wheatfeld. there is moth |
ing to show that that brave band of Reg
ulars were ever there, or that the ground |
was made red with their blood In the |
description of the field and battle by the |
guides, mention is never made of the |
Regulars or the part they performed Eff
forts have been made at various times to
induce Congress to cause the erection of |
tablets on the field. A bill was present
ed in the last Congress by Representa-
tive Mahon, of Pennsylvania, appropriat-