The National tribune., 1906-10-11
Going Into Gettysburg.

Editor National Tribune: The even
ing of the last day of June the First
Corps went into camp about midway
between Emmitsburg and Gettysburg,
Gen Reynolds taking up his quarters
for the night at house now a post
office. which stands at corner where
a by-road leads off from the pike
Here the corps filed off to the right,
going into camp in an old peach or
chard but a short distance from the
pike. There had not been up to this
time hint of any trouble ahead, and
the boys thought more of securing a
supply of the fine wheat bread and
fresh cherry pie just out of the oven,
supplied by the thrifty farmers wives,
than they did of the enemy. Our
march through Maryland had been a
regular picnic, compared to conditions
we left in desolated Virginia, and when
we struck Gods country once more
we felt like "Caddy," of Co. B, who
used to say (whenever there We're in
dications of ''trouble'') Say, boys, !
amt got nothing against the rebs; have
you?"
But our fancied security received a
sudden jolt as We. filed out onto the
pike in the early morning headed to-
ward Gettysburg, and heard the deer
detonations of Devin's guns. We con-
graduated ourselves that the firing
must be fully 20 miles away. but we
were soon disabused of this fancy when
an orderly few past us to the rear and
we were ordered to give way to let two
batteries pass going at a break-neck
pace-one battery of steel guns. the
other brass "Napoleons." They ratified
over the little covered bridge which
spans Marsh Creek, shaking it to its
very foundation and giving no heed
to the IS penalty for driving faster
than a walk!
We Immediately fell in and follow
ed at double-quick in the wake of
the batteries. AS we approached
Gettysburg we noticed many of the
residents along the pike leaving by the
crossroads, their families slowed away
in the front of their wagons, with what
goods and chattels they could pack in
big bundle in the rear.
As we came in sight of the town we
passed at the gateway of a farmhouse
very aged man, his hair long and
silvery, and hanging down well over
his shoulders. His voice was tremu-
lous and he tottered on his cane, be-
ing supported on the other side by his
granddaughter, blooming lass of IA
or Is years. AS we hurried by the old
man exhorted us in beseeching, tremu-
lous tones--Whip 'em, boys, this time
If you don't whip 'em now you'll never
whip EN-" The boys replied with a
Bully for the old man" and a Hip
hip for the girl as We quickened our
pace to take up our position where our
monument now marks the extreme
right of the first days fighting, which
position We held late in the day, until
the Eleventh Corps gave way and we
were fianked and forced to fall back.
The first intimation we had of the
seriousness of the engagement was
/ 4
field very near the little stone house
where Gen. Reynolds died As his white
haired, boyish orderly dashed by us
with strange expression in his face
/ that we read as bad news, one of the
! men asked, Whats the matter, OF
derly?" and we could Just catch as h
passed, Gen. Reynolds is very badly
wounded"
had often recalled to mind in later
years the old man and the fair girl
whom We passed that day, and when
I Joined the boys on the field to dedi-
| cate our monuments, while riding over
| the battlefield with my wife and an old
terminate who has just answered tn,
last roll call. I inquired of the colored
driver If he could tell me who he was
His reply was prompt: Yes indeed
that was old Mr.. Rogers. He owned
| that farm and he stayed right thar in
the house all through the fight, and
the girl she stayed thar, too, nursin
the wounded and cookin'- for the Isl
Mass. boys, who fought all over the old
mans farm. The girl, she's married
now. and lives out West, and when the
1st Mass. put up their monument they
sent for her, and they called her out
| on the platform and pinned a beauti-
full diamond pin on her" rs the old
man dead?" queried. EYES," he,
dead long ago; and they say he cried
| for Joy when he heard the rebs has
retreated."