The National tribune., 1902-10-02
Adventures of an Iron
A;Bri6ade Nan ~
By CAPT. r. K. BEECHAM, I'd Wis.


the battle was on.
Early's Division had crept up the lane
and rayine as far as possible without at
tracing the attention of HOward's men,
and then, with Hayes's Brigade OF Loulsi-
ana Tigers in the lead, charged straight
for Howards line of infantry, yelling and
firing as they came on. Howards men
seem to have been caught mapping. 10
my mind their line was too near the loot
of the hill, and Early's men We're almost
OIL them before they We're discovered.
Howard's men returned the fire, but soon
gave way before the celebrated Tigers
who paid no heed to. musketry or canister
for time; they dashed through all oppo-
sition, and swarming over the wall and
up the slope, captured two guns of Rick
ett's Battery and fought hand to hand
with the gunners for the others. Finally
they advanced so far up the hill that their
left flank was turned for a moment in the
direction of the guns of the 9th Me-, on
Culp's Hill. which raked them fore and
aft with canister. At the same moment
Battery B, 4th q. S. Art, gave them
canister in front at short range. Nothing
human could withstand such a reception,
and they fell back to shelter. A moment
later the infantry line was reinforced by
CarrOll's Brigade of the Second Corps,
which dashed down the slope of Cemetery
Hill. clearing both lane and ravine.
This was Early's only attempt to climb
Cemetery Hill, and there many of his
brave followers found a cemetery. OF the
Tigers who led the charge less than 300
returned to their lines, and the Organiza-
ton was wiped from existence. 1t was n
bold and desperate effort, but, for the
COnfederates, most discOuraging failure.
This battle was of short duration, but ex-
ceedingly sharp while it lasted. Carrolrs
Brigade lost 211 men. while the Eleventh
Corps lost 500 or 900; or from 1000 to
LOO in all. The Confederate loss was
very severe, the Tigers alone losing about
1,200, or more than our entire loss.
CULP's HILL.
simultaneously with Early's attempt to
carry Cemetery Hill - just before sun
set of July 2 - Johnson's Second Divi-
sunset of July 2-Johnson's Second Divi-
sion of EwelTs Corps, which held the ex-
treme left of Lees line, made vigorous,
determined and, for time, successful
attack on Meade's extreme right on Culp' S
Hill, held by Slocum's Twelfth Corps.
Culp's Hill was the strongest natural
position along our whole line. 1t Is
high, rocky ridge extending southeastward
from its point Of highest elevation to Rock
Creek, distance from the valley separat-
ing it from Cemetery Hill of about mile.
The west prolongation adjoining the
Eleventh Corps was held by my old divi-
sion CWadsworth's), the First Division of
the First Corps. This was joined on the
our line to and beyond Rock Greek. The
face of the hill and ridge to the north and
east is abrupt and easily defended, but as
it nears Rock Creek it slopes away more
gradually, ending in level meadow 3OO
yards wide, through which winds the
creek. Back of this ridge small branch
heads in the valley west of the Baltimore
Ilr- Cryafr hn NIL
and empties into Rock Creek east of the
termination of Culp's Hill. Spangler's
Spring, of which 1 shall speak later, is
situated just back of the easternmost
prolongation of the ridge and about 5O
yards north of the branch, with which it
is connected by an outlet. These valleys
uniting at this point make wide, open
space that lay at Slocum's right, penetrat-
ing far to rearward, which had to be
guarded carefully.
While the battle of Peach Orchard was
in progress and Sickles was being hotly
pressed, Slocum was ordered to reinforce
the left with every man he could spare
from his line. Slocum had in his Corps
$3.50 men to hold line mile long and
guard the valley and creek on his right.
OF these he sent nearly all except Green's
Brigade to Sickles's aid, and when John
son attacked the right on Culp's Hill at
sunset he found it very weak. Green's
Brigade. however, held the hill and the
main portion Of the ridge, but johnson
swept in along the creek and carried the
ridge northward for space OF about 5oO
yards. The Cd Nd. (Confederate) infan-
try penetrated up the ridge to the farthest
point occupied by any of Johnson's troops,
and in 1900 their monument stood on the
crest with monuments of the Union regi-
ments, showing the exact spot which
marked the division Of the contendlng
forces. johnson then moved the main por-
tion of his troops up the valley of the
branch in rear of Culp's Hill as far as the
Baltimore pike without meeting any oppo-
sition. Four hundred yards farther, just
north of Powers Hill, was parked
Meade's whole ammunition and supply
train, but johnson did not know it. 1t
was after dark. The battle was over,
not a shot was being fired, and johnson
really became alarmed. To his staff he
said: "This is too easy; l believe the
Yanks have set trap for us" SO he
marched his division back to the vacant
line on Culp's Hill, and waited for morn
ing. The Twelfth Corps troops did not
get into the engagement on the left, and
were even then returning. They followed
johnson as far as the branch in rear of
the ridge, where they also waited for day
light, and during the night both john
sons troops and Slocum's forces drew
their supply of water in peace from Span
gler's Spring, that was thus placed be-
tween the lines.
THE NIGHT AND THE COUNCIL.
Again merciful night spread his mantle
over the battlefield. The dead slept in
peace, the wounded suffered and endured,
and the living prepared for the morrow
and the renewal Of the sanguinary strug-
gle.
The Sixth Corps (Sedgwick's) arrived,
and reuniting the Army of the Potomac
in its full strength and completeness, and
from that moment Lees last chance fol
the realization of his ambitious dream was
at an end.
While the Army Of the Potomac had
lost 10000 men during the previous two
days, it would confront Lee on the NOR
row with an unbroken front four miles
long, with GO, 900 men in line and on re-
serve, with our left buttressed upon
Round Top and our right upon Culp's
| Hill; but the leader for the hour and the
occasion was not there. Defensively oul
position was impregnable, for the tempo
rary lodgment of johnson on the south
eastern spur of Culp's Hill could be read
lily overcome, and on our flanks were oul
cavalry, active and watchful, ready t.
grapple with and turn back Stuart On hi
approaching from either direction. OF
fensively, Meade had already abandoned
the idea, If he ever entertained it. Lee
held the Hagerstown and the Emmitsburt
the moment the necessity arrived, ant
Meade would never attempt to cut hi
army in two or crush his right in order t,
get pOSsesSion of that hack door Yh,