Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-22
STORY OF A FAMOUS CHARGE.

Minneapolis Journal.-H History has
recorded no Drawer charge than that
led by Rough and Ready" Col. Will
liam Colvill at Gettysburg. The charge
prevented the utter rout and destruc-
ton OF the entire left wing Of the Un-
ION forces. 1t was the First Minnesota
against an advancing, victorious
army. 1t was the salvation of the day
at cost of humiliation.
From the hill, where the gallant
First lay in reserve, they could see
Birneys and Humphreys divisions.
the one on the line from the peach
orchard to Devils Den, the other on
the Emmetsburg road, battling for life
sturdy infantry. On their right in the
depression in Cemetery ridge, which
was Sickles' original position, there
was not man. This dangerous gap
was, perhaps, half a mile long.
Slckles' men were in the form of an
angle. the point toward the enemy,
ana We're being raked with a calling
crossfire. While Sicl1les was able to
hold out in front all was well; but
once ee ne began to lose ground the open
space to the left of the Second corps
was a dangerous place. Gradually the
Union men were forced back through
the space between the First Minnesota
and Little Round Top. Every moment
the retreat became more Of rout, till
finally the men of the First Minnesota
lying In double battle line formation,
had to turn on their sides to permit
the horde of disordered, defeated, de-
lected troops to pass through. Will
lard's brigade had been ordered to re-
lieve the threatened point, but could
not arrive in time.
At this juncture Gen. Hancock, with
a single aide, rode up at full speed
and for moment vainly endeavored
to rally Sickles' retreating men. Then
his quick eye caught sight Of the per-
fectly formed First Minnesota Gallop-
ing up to 1t. the handsome general, his
face all aglow with activity and ex-
element, cried:
What regiment is this?"
First Minnesota" replied Col. Col
Charge those lines" commanded
Hancock.
Every man of the First realized In
an instant what this order meant
death or wounds to all; the sacrifice
of the regiment to gain few mo-
ments' time and save the position
probably the battlefield Every man
saw and accepted the necessity of the
sacrifice and, responding to the unhes-
ltating orders of Col. Colvill, the regi-
ment In perfect line, with arms at
right shoulder shift" was In mo-
ment sweeping down the slope direct
~ upon the enemy's center. No hest
tat1on, no stopping to fire, though the
men fell fast at every stride before
the concentrated fire of the whole
confederate force directed upon 1t as
soon as the movement was observed
Silently without orders, double quick
was changed to utmost speed; for In
utmost speed lay the only hope OF
passing through that storm of lead
and striking the enemy
Charge" shouted Colvill.
With leveled bayonets the regiment
rushed upon the first line Of the con-
federates, who in turn had been
slightly disordered by crossing a
brook at the foot Of the slope. Mer
We're never made who could stand
against leveled bayonets driven with
such momentum and desperation The
first line of confederates broke as the
steel of the First Minnesota reached
1t, and rushed back through the sec
ond line, stoppin gthe whole ad-
vance.
The First Minnesota then poured ir
Its first fire, the men awaiting them.
selves of such shelter as the low bank.
OF the dry brook afforded, held the Ell.
tire, force at bay for q considera biz
time and until the union reserves ap.
peared on the brow Of the hill the
brave First had recently left.
Had the enemy rallied quickly to {
counter charge, their vastly greater
number would have crushed the FRS
Minnesota men in moment. But tn,
ferocity of the onset seemed to par.
alyze them for a time, although the,
poured In terrible, continuous frt
from front and enveloping TANKS
Then. under the added fire of the ad
Vancing union reserves, the confeder
ates began to retire and the First Min
nesota was ordered back.
What Hancock had ordered Col Col
will to do was thoroughly done Blu
nearly every officer was dead or la,
weltering with bloody wounds. Amont
the latter were the gallant Col Colvil
and every field officer.
| OF the 262 men who made tn,
charge Els lay upon the field Stricken
by confederate bullets. Forty -sever
only We're still in line. And not MAJ
| was missing.
There is no parallel to this charge
III it's desperate valor, complete execu
ton, successful result, and in it's sac
rifice of men in proportion to the mum
Der engaged authentic history has NJ
record with which it can be compared
Col. Colvill fell shortly after he CAV
the order to charge, and his dauntles
regiment executed his final orde
without his leadership. He was sho
iE the shoulder and in the foot, bein
manned for life, though he insisted o.
rejoining his regiment as soon as HI
condition could permit.
| (Col. Colvill died suddenly on Tues
day last at Minneapolis, where he ha
gene from his home at Red Wing t
attend a reunion of his old regimen
He was rs years old. He settled /
Minnesota in 1854, and entered the un
ion army in April, 1861, as captain &
Company f, First Minnesota infantr,
He became colonel of that regiment i
May, 1853. Col. Colvill was five time
wounded in battle.)