The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-16
GOLD HZRSz'vv FORGOTTEN .
Nv CAPI7OL FRESCOES.
Gen. WD. Washb,n Expresses Regret That So Notable
Subject for the Mural Painter Has Been Neglected
-Gettysburg Charge Worthy ofa Painting.

made late in the afternoon and some
time before sunset. This charge
checked the movement Of the enemy.
the reinforcements from the rear within
a short ime, and the battle substantial
ly closed on this part Of the field for
the day.
During this charge every commits
stoned officer above the rank of first
lieutenant was either, killed or wound
ed. The command of the regiment then
devolved on Major c. B. Heffelfnger
Of this city, he being the ranking first
and he continued in COM
mand during the remainder of the day
and the succeeding day, during the
Pickett charge.
Had it not been for this charge,
made at the moment, there can be little
doubt that the confederates would have
What the result of this might have
been no one can say, but there can be
little doubt that it would have been
most disastrous. -' -~' - =:
When this charge was ordered it
was made so furiously. that, evidently,
the confederates were led to think
there was much larger force close at
hand than there really was, and, con-
sequently, fell back, and the day was
saved. 80
The regiment was SO nearly wiped
out it was relieved from duty with
the, battery and ordered to Join the
brigade, which was some distance on
Met Pickett's Charge.
-. This position, on July 8, brought
the regiment in line and in the imme-
date front of Pickett s famous charge
on that date. In this position the other
two companies had Joined the regiment,
Pickett, the regiment lost thirty seven
men and officers.
The Pickett charge was at the time,
and has since been, considered the most
furious and terrible charge made by
the confederates at any time during
the war, but was finally repulsed with
great slaughter. By military men, I,
turning point in the battle of Gettys-
burg, and to this result the First Min .
nesota contributed thirty-seven men
from its already terribly decimated
ranks.
Colonel Fox in his work on regi-
mental losses says, speaking Of the sec
ond corps in this connection: 'The
lighting was deadly in the extreme. The
sota, Gibbons Division, being without
equal, in the records of modern war
fare.'- In another place, Colonel Fox
says that General Hancock, in speaking
Of this charge, is reported to have said.
There is no more gallant deed record
there because [ saw I must gain five
minutes time. Reinforcements were
coming on the run, but before they
could reach the threatened point the
confederates,, unless checked, would
have seized the position. would have
ordered that regiment in if 1 had known
every man would have been killed. 1t
had to be done, and was glad to have
such a gallant body of men at hand
willing to make the terrible sacrifice
that itthe occasion demanded
7 Subsequently, General Hancock, on
q visit to Minnesota, was asked by a .
charge and replied: CAS- much as I loved
the First Minnesota regiment, I would
| have sent them in if I had known I
would have lost every man.
! Made Balaklava Seem Tame. ,.
Light Brigade at Balaklava. This
| charge has been made immortal by Ten
| nysOn's vivid description of it, yet this
charge seems to be almost tame when
compared with the charge of the First
] Minnesota on the second day of July,
/ 1868. - ,.- ~ -.
In the latter case, 262 men went in.
on the charge and forty seven returned
unscratched; 215 were killed or
wounded and left on the field, or about
SO per cent. At the charge of the
Light Brigade only 40 per cent were
In the case Of the Light Brigade "some
one had blundered,' but in that of the
| Minnesota: First, it was not so. General
Hancock did not blunder, but with quick
military genius ordered charge which
most likely saved the day.
/ 'When can their glory fade:
Oh, the wild charge they made;
| ALI the world wondered
1t seems to me the time has come
when steps should be taken to perpet-
uate the memory, the services and his
| tory of this remarkable regiment, a
| regiment which rendered such a grand
service to the cause Of the union and,
at the same time, has shed luster on
the state of Minnesota that should
never be dimmed.
It occurs to me that no more suit
able occasion or opportunity can ever
apart the finest space in the mural
decorations of the new capitol, where
should be placed a representation of
the charge of the Minnesota First on
the I'd Of July, 1854 decoration of
the highest art that can be commanded.
think this subject should be
called to the attention of the present
legislature, with the view of securing
a handsome appropriation for this pur-
1 pose. If it should conclude to do so,
I do not believe there is man, woman
or child in whose veins courses one drop
Of red blood, but would commend and
approve it. - w. D. Washburn.
/ Fair Oaks Ian IL. lQQ5