Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-03-31


Some years ago we had reunion of
the Iron brigade at Lancaster on the
anniversary of the battle of GAINESVILLE,
which occurred on August %, 1862.
Our old commander, Gen. John Glib
bon, was present. At the evening meet
ing that day / attempted to describe
that battle. General Charles King.
whom we remember as lad in Vir-
nigia, with his father, General Rufus
King, our first brigade commander
and then our division commander, in
his book, The Iron Brigade, says it was
in that and the next two days battles
that the Iron brigade first earned its
name. In part [ said:
We have heard from members of the
second and sixth regiments quite fully
as to the part they took IN the battle
of GAINESVILLE, but nothing yet from
any of The seventh. Some Of the boys
have asked me to tell how 1T seemed to
US right down in the line of the
seventh.
August %. 1862, half past seven. The
battle was then on. We had been down
at Fredericksburg, and beyond with
McDOWels' corps, and then on forced
march over to Cedar mountain, and
skirmishing to hold Lee in check along
the Rappahanock. We had before re-
ceived repeated sprinklings Of fire, but
GAINESVILLE was regular immersion.
1t was our first stand up-and- shoot
fight in line of battle. Later the boys
learned to dig, and fifteen minutes on
threatened line was enough for them
to throw up and get behind some sort
of breastworks. But here there was no
time for that and nobody thought Of
it il there had been.
To get between Stonewall jackson
and Washington, we left camp at War
| renton that morning. Marching down
the turnpike through GAINESVILLE, we
turned off to the right into a field
where the cOmmissary issued fresh
beef ratiOns, the first we had received
since leaving Fredericksburg. There
we remained until towards evening,
when we returned to the turnpike and
resumed our march, the right in front.
General GibbOn has told how the
battle opened. We all remember that
battery of artillery up at the edge of
the woods to the left, and how the
enemy opened on US, as we we're march
ing quietly along with empty guns.
Colonel Dawes has told how close to
the sixth those first shots came. I dis
tinctly remember thaC they came di-
rectly over the seventh. The gunners
did not seem to have very good aim.
We didn't complain of that, though.
General Gibbon says he was as scared
as any Of US. IF he was he had a happy
faculty Of keeping it to himself. And
so had Frank Haskell, too, who leaped
his horse over the fence and rode up
toward the battery to recOnpOiter the
enemy's position, and then turned and
walked his horse back as calmly as
though there was not a rebel within a
thousand miles.
When those shots came how Quickly
the boys, without any command. fell to
loading their guns. And then the sec
ond came to front, and advanced in
battle line into that little piece of
woods on our side Of the open field
between us and the enemy. Then we
marched forward to the ground thew
had just left, and "Halt!--Front face
and Forward in line" was the word
We remember that tremendous crash
OF musketry that opened on the sec.
ond, and the flying bullets too. as we
emerged from the woods and oblioued
to the right. to take our place in line
Of battle on their right flank. And as
we came up TO the right Of the second
and delivered our fire, Colonel Fair
child came running down their line
and cried to Colonel Robinson. "Fo1
Gods sake colonel deliver your fire ,7r
to the left. We are all cut to niecae
and the enemy are advancing on Us.
The command Of Colonel Robinsor
then, as ne looked over the field anf
took in the situation, was battalion
Change front forward on tenth com
pany! By company, left wheel
March! Forward March," And then
as company after company came intc
the new alignment along the foot n
that slope, and poured in their fire. On,
right striking right into the enemv,.
lines along the edge of the woods. anc