The National tribune., 1902-07-31
FIRST SHOT EF%@TTYSBURG.
Gen. Beveridge Claims Homer for Capt. Jones
9Th HI Cav


EDITOR NATIoNALTRIBUNE: In the is
sue of May is an article with the heading
Lone Cavalryman 'at Gettysburg: Open
ing Shot of the Great; Battle Fired by
Alphonso Hodges at Heath's Advancing
Column fje4.y,
l do not question the sincerity of the
cerity or bravery of Corp'l Hodges, both
Of the 9th n. Y. Cav, mentioned by the
writer, but they are evidently mistaken.
On the afternoon of June 30, 1868, Gen.
Buford, with Calif's Battery and two
rigades-Gamble's and Devens, of his
Diyision-marched into Gettysburg, the
Sth lii. Cav, commanded by myself, in adj
vance. Candles Brigade moved out on
the Cashtown or Chambersburg pike and
encamped west of Seminary Ridge, the Sth
Ill. Cav. on the left Of the pike, under the
next ridge, the Sth N. Y. Cav. to the left
and rear of the Sth Ill. Cav, and the 18th
Ill. Cav, the Sd Ind. Cav. and Calif's Bat
terry on the right of the pike.
Deven's Brigade, to which the 9th n. Y.
Cav. was attached, moved out on the
Mummasburg road and encamped north of
Candles Brigade. A squadron of the Sth
Ill. Cav, under the command of Capt.
Buck, was sent out on the Cashtown pike
to picket. Capt. Buck halted at a way
side inn about mile and half from
camp, and sent Capt. Marcellus Z. Jones
with Co. Il, Sth Ill. Cav, forward to es-
tablish the picket line. Capt. Jones moved
west on the pike to the ridge east of
Marsh Greek, and established three picket
posts along the ridge south of the pike,
two north of the pike and one in the pike
at shop near the stone bridge across
Marsh Creek, holding his reserve in the
pike on the summit of the ridge. The Sd
Ind Cav and 18th Ill. Cav had pickets
to the right of Capt. JOnes's line.
In early morn of July 1 the enemy
marched down the pike, Archer's Brigade,
Heth's Division, in advance. As the head
of the column reached the bridge the Off
GERS leading halted at the west end. Capt.
of the ridge, took the carbine of Serg't
Shafer, raised it to his shoulder, took aim
at the halting officers, and fired the first
shot az the battle of Gettysburg.
Just over the fence from the pike, in a
private dooryard on the summit of the
ridge, stands simple stone five feet high,
Is inches square at the base and nine
inches square at the top. On one face is
inscribed, First shot at Gettysburg, July
by Capt. NJ. T.. Jones, with Serg't Shafer's
carbine, Co. L, Sth Regiment, Illinois Cav
airy" On another, Erected by Capt.
Jones, Lieut.. Riddler and Serg't Shafer."
and on the fourth, Erected 1886" To
indicate the spot where the first gun was
fired at Gettysburg, and by whom, these
three veterans, actors and eye-witnesses of
the events, carved in rock, a quarter of a
century after the events, happened, pur-
chased the ground and erected there their
memorial This stohe, beyond the do
main of the Gettysburg Battlefield Memo
rial Association, far removed from the
many monuments on the Gettysburg field,
stands alone, solitary and silent witness
to tell the true story Of the opening of the
great decisive battle of the war on the
morning of July 1, 1868,
The Cashtown pike was in Candles i'm
mediate front. Deven's Brigade was to
the north on the Mqmm4sburg road. II
Capt Cheney, with a detail of the 9th n.
Y. Cav, picketed on the pike, it must
have been in the rear of the 9Th Ill. Cav.
picket line. Corp'l Hodges could not have
advanced along the pike, beyond the Sth
Ill. Cav. picket. The enemy advanced
down the pike, according ito the writer in
the said article. Corpl Hodges fired after
the enemy had crossed the bridge. Capt.
Jones fired before the enemy crossed, and
hence fired first, even il all the other incl
dents related by the writer and Capt.
Cheney are true.
| do not write this to detract from the
gallantry of Corp'l Hodges, but to vindi-
cate the claim of Capt. Jones and the
truth of histOry.-JOHN l.. BEvERIDGE,
Major, Sth III. Cav, Colonel 18th Ill Cav.
and brevet Brigadier- General