The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-12

tired hrlng. That portion OF the line which
was to the left of the Peach Orchard
namely, the brigades of TiltOn and
Sweitzer, that had been sent out to reen-
force Birney-being now not only assailed
in front but having its right flank exposed,
fell back; and this also involved Birneys
front.
1t is rare that field of battle displays
in more striking manner than was here
presented the influence Of key-points in de-
termining tactical results. The possession
of the Peach Orchard enabled the enemy
to meet and repulse succession of attacks,
and the history of the action OH the left
presents an extraordinary series of efforts
to maintain ground now become untenablc
one reinforcement after another being
thrown forward only to be driven back i'll
whirling vortex Of advancing and retir
ing lines.
TIC original front of Birney had already
gonn on. and disappeared and Barnes's
two brigades sent forward in support had
been repulsed. Hereupon Caldwel's Divi-
sion was detached FROM Hancock's front
and ordered i'm to check the hostile ad-
vance. The disputed ground had come to
be an intermediate position of woods and
wheatfield between Sickles's lost front and
the Round Tops, in the rear now securely
held. Caldwell advanced with his left
skirting Little Round Top. and pushing
forward into the whea tfield engaged the
enemy with the brigades of Cross and
Kelly. This line was much cut up. and
Col f. L. Cross, of the 9Th n. III. (com-
manding the First Brigade}, whose intrepid
bearing had so often been exhibited OH the
field of battle, was killed. To relieve these
troops. Gen. Caldwell then advanced his
second line. made up of the brgades Of
Brooke and Zook. The latter was mortaly
wounded while carrying his troops into ac-
ton. Brooke led his command forward
with much gallantry, and after an exceed
ingly stubborn fight, drove the enemy from
under cover of the woods and from a po-
sition of great natural strength along the
rocky bottom of a creek Mt its margin. (43l
But this success, notwithstanding that
Sweitzer's Brigade was again advanced to
assist the attack, was temporary. Hood
had already carried the whole Of the posi-
tion originally held by the left Of the Third
Corps: and to hold him in check Mt that
point, Gen. Ayres, with two brigades Of the
Regulars of the Fifth Corps. moved for
ward. Caldwell experienced the same fate
rs those that had gone before; for the Con-
federates, penetrating the wide interval
made by the disruption Of Sickles's center
at the Peach Orchard, enyelOped his right,
and penetrated almost to his rear. This
quickly forced Caldwell back. after the
frightful sacrifice of one-haf his division.
Then the enemy. breaking ont through the
woods on the right. hurled Swetzer back;
and the division of Regulars, under Gen.
fought its way with great gallantry and
heavy loss through the enemy to it's origi
nal line Of battle. slinll leave now the
recital of the manner In which he was
finally checked, and take up the thread of
events on the right Of the Third Corps.
where Humphreys yet chung with one of
his tanks to his advanced position.
THE ATTACK oNHuMpHREYs.
1t has been seen that when Sickles's
line was cut in twain Ay the carrying of
the Peach Orchard, Ennaphreys., Joined.
by the brigade of Graham, swung back his
left so as to make chas.s of front, and
with his right still held on to the crest on
the Emmitgburg road. For a considerabl
time, while the contest ragged to his left,
he was not assailed, and the enemy only
made demonstrations of attack; but when
finally the whole left and the troops that
had moved to its support were thrown
back, the hostile force poured through the
interval and advanced to strike Hnmph-
reys, whose left was greatly exposed, and
whose right was thrown much out Of posi-
ton. To support that flank. Gen. Hancock
sent forward two regiments from Gibbons
Division Che 10Th Mass, under Col. Ward,
and the SD n. Y, under Col. Huston),
and to cover the gap on the left, he de-
tached Willard's Brigade from Hays's Di-
vision; 44) but at this moment Hi.i, con-
verting his demonstrations into real at
tack. pressed upon Humphreys. who was
action Gen. Sickles was severely wounded,
losing a leg. Gen. Hancock hereupon
took direction of the Third Corps (now un-
der Gen. Birney) in addition to his own.
WRECK OF HUMPHREYS DIVISION.
den and severe, that two additional regi-
ments Ohe 10Th Mass. under Col. Dew
ereux, and the 42d N. Y, under Col. NAL
lon), which Hancock had sent out to his
assistance, finding that Humphreys was
retiring. could only get quickly into line of
battle, deliver few volleys at the advanc-
ing enemy, and then retire with consider
able loss. The enemy pushed them so
closely that number Of the Confederates,
eagerly pressing forward, fell prisoners
into the hands OF those they were pursuing.
Humphreys, in retiring his men, which lie
refrained from doing until not only pressed
upon by the enemy, but uutil ordered back
felt the Importance of yielding stubbornly
and slowly: for under the circumstances,
he judged that if rapid backward move
ment were made, it would be difficult to
rally the men upon the new line Yet this
imposed obstinacy cost the terrible sacri-
flee of half his small division. What of it's
remains was collected on the original line
was the debris Of many regiments-hardly
more than an ordinary battalion, though
with many colors.(4 (45) Three guns of one
of its batteries had been left on the field,
owing to its heavy LOSSES in horses and
cannoniers. And now the enemy began to
surge against the base OF the crest, and it
became urgently necessary to form a bull
wark of men to resist his oncoming. This
was not an easy task, for the action, as it
rolled on. had fully involved Sykes's Corps
on the left. and large part of the Second
Corps had been thrown in to aid the Third
at different points, and was shockingly cut
up.
oPpoRTUNE FIRST, MINNESOTA.
With all that could be- done the front
was still only patched. and wherever the
head of column could be .tlirust through.
the enemy was quick to.do 50. Thus Han
cock, in riding along the line, suddenly met
force of the enemy, which having, un-
observed, approached vegy close to the line.
under cover of fringe, of underground.
was about to pass through an unprotected
interval. Opportunely. thes1sf Mimi came
up at this moment, and, snaking an exceed
ingly spirited charge, drove it back in dis
order, capturing its colors. The line being,
however, still incomplete,. Stannard's Bri-
gade was brought up, and Gen. Meade led
forward in person part of the Twelfth
Corps, consisting of two regiments of
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