The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-01-25
THE 10TH N. Y. CAV.-PORTER
GUARD.
The Great Cavalry Battle ON the Right ut
Gettysburg.

Editor National Tribune: On a
beautiful September day Of the past
year l stood beside monu-
ment situated about three miles
east Of Gettysburg, Pa, along the road
leading to Hanover. This monument
was erected in honor Of the 10th NJ Y.
Cav, and denotes that this regiment
was present July 2 and 8, 1868, and
participated in the great conflict that
took place on this historic field, and
was actively engaged in the cavalry
fight of July 8, known as the saber
fight, on account Of the deadly hand
to-hand fighting with the saber.
The 10th N. Y: Maj. M. H. Avery;
list Me-, Lieut.-Col. Charles H. Smith;
4th Pa, Lieut.-Col. William E. Doster,
and the 10th Pa, Lieut.. John X.
Robinson, comprised the Third Bril-
gade. Second Division, Cavalry Corps,
Army Of the Potomac. Col. ]. Irwin
Gregg was in command of the brigade
and Gen. David Mem. Gregg Of the divi-
sion, both Regular Army officers and
experienced cavalry commanders
Gen. Clusters Brigade of Kilpatrick's
Division was ordered to report to Gen.
Gregg. This brigade consisted of the
1st. 5th, 9Th and 7th Mich Cav, and was
known as the Michigan Brigade. Gen.
Gregg had about 5000 men, and with
this force he was ordered to protect the
guard against any attempt Of the enc
my to turn 1t. On the Confederate left,
and opposite Gen. Gregg, was Gen. J. E.
b. Stuart, with Wade Hampton's, Jenk-
mss, Fitz Lees and w. II. F. Lees Bri-
gades Of veteran Confederate cavalry.
numbering 5000 men. With this force
Stuart was guarding the left flank Of
the Confederate army, which consisted
OF Gen. EwelPs Corps of infantry The
heavy fighting of July / and had
ceased, and a council of war at the
headquarters of Gen. Robert z. Lee on
the night of the I'd determined upon
the following plan Of battle for the
morrow:
To mass the Confederate artillery and
at the proper signal to open fire with
all the guns that can be brought to
bear upon the Union line of battle on
Cemetery Hill for the purpose Of ST.
lencing the Union artillery and demon
alizing the line of infantry After this
had been effected an assault by Gen.
Picketts Division of Virginia infantry,
who had just arrived upon the field
from Chambersburg. and had not as
yet been under fire in this battle, was
to be made upon the Union center on
Cemetery Hill. At the same time, and
in conjunction with this assault. Gen.
Stuart was ordered to turn the right
of the Union army and gain a position
. u. al
3. the Confederate artillery opened fire
and was at once responded to by the
Union guns, and for 40 minutes the
ground trembled from the heaviest ar
| tiilery firing ever known on the West
ern Continent. The assault of Pickett
| followed, and the whole world knows
the result of that brave but fruitless
assault
In the meantime Gen. Stuart attempt-
| ed to carry out his part in the battle
| Moving rapidly, he made the attempt to
turn the Union right. AS he reached
| point known as the Rummel Farm he
| came In contact with the Union cavalry
under Gregg, and the battle was on
Irwin Gregg's Brigade had been posted
so as to connect with the right OF the
Union infantry at Wolf Hill. With Nc,
Intosh's and Clusters Brigades Gen
| Gregg awaited Stuart's attack. Before
o'clock p. m. the commands were des,
perately engaged. Stuart was well aware
that, could he break Gregg's lines. his
way would be clear, and nothing could
prevent his gaining q position I'm the
Union rear, where were situated the re.