The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-02
OPENING THE BATTLE.
How I Saw the First Shot Fired at Gettys.
burg.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Gen.
Buford's First Cavalry Division, Second
Brigade, reached Gettysburg at noon,
June &c. 1868. The 9th N. Y. Cav. was
encamped in field west of the town. l.,
with some five others. was detailed to
stand picket on the CashtOwn road. l
went on picket ut o'clock the morning
of July 1. There was n slight fog that
morning. ] was stationed by the side of
the road. under cherry tree. When it
grew light and the fog lifted, l could see
about n mile or mile and half down the
road. From where l stoodIt was gen.
tie descent about half way to brook,
then raised gradually to the top Of a
hill, where / could see house and barn
opposite each other. Soon after daylight
l saw stir at the house and barn. Short
ly after an old man and boy came rid
ing down the road to the picket post. He
told me that his daughter had field glass
and that from her chamber window she
saw about a mile or more away Il column
of Confederate infantry and they filled
the road from side to side and reached
back as far as she could see, and were
coming this way.
He wanted to know if I thought there
would be fight, and what he had better
do. I told him that there would be n
skirmish, and that he had better take
himself and family into some secure place.
Crhe general impression among US was
that the main battle was to be fought
on other grOund)
Then l moved out into the middle of
the road, where could have a clear view
of the top of the hill and house and barn.
About the time l thought the head of
the column would come over the hill,
Capt. Cheney, 9th n. Y. Cav, came to
relieve the pckets of Co. /, same regi-
ment. who were ordered to report to Gen.
Sickless headquarters.
l reported to the Captain what the
farmer had told me, and the Captain, in
his quick, short way, said: "Corp'l
Hodge, take two men and ride as far as
the top of the hill. If you see anything
suspicious, send one OF the men back,
and you 90 on and see if you can see any
thing of the column of COnfederates."
Corp'I Hodge galIoped down the road,
and while the Captain was talking to the
Sergeant l was seated in my saddle.
watching the top of the hill, wishing that
the column would appear, as the boys
were pOking fun at me. as they did not
Just then l saw the flash of their guns
in the morning sun. They were march
ing route step, and completely filed the
road.
/ said: "There they GOMEZ and glanc-
ing down the road, saw COrp'l Hodge and
men. who had nearly reached the brook.
They stopped and looked at the column.
and then he sent two men back to the
picket post. BY this time the column was
in plain view of him. / saw him rise up
in his stirrups and fire his carbine, turn
his horse slowly and ride back far enough
| to reload his carbine. Then he turned and
fired again. / glanced back at the column
of Confederatcs. The firing had had no
effect, but to cause them to change from
route to column step.
1t was the most beautiful sight I ever
saw. as they changed step, with the
bright sunshine ON their guns, and / was
wondering if we could ever stop them,
when | was aroused by Capt Cheney s
sharp words saying: Sergeant, take your
men and report to Col. Sackett that there
is large column of Confederates coming
| down the road. / will try and hold them
in check with my pickets, until relieved or
reinforced"
As we rode to the rear we heard our
| pickets firing their carbines. You know
the peculiar sound of Sharp's carbnes. as
of two boards slapped together. That is
the way | saw and heard the first gun
fired ut Gettvsburg-JoHN p. ROBERTSON,
Go. !, 9th n. Y. Cav, st. James, Mo.