The National tribune., 1907-04-11

i read with nuCn Interest SoIIlIdue
Vests article entitled "On Little Round
Top" in number 1917. 1t was the first
mention in The National Tribune, since
/ became a subscriber, from any one
connected with the Army of the Poto-
mac.
The Third Brigade, First Division,
Fifth Corps, was at the foot OF Little
Round Top on that eventful day, to
which the writer can give his personal
testimony-July 2, 1863.
The part this particular brigade en-.
acted on that occasion, it seems to the
writer, has never received the prom1-
hence in any history or report of that
battle, that the writer has ever seen,
that it deserved, as will be shown later
on. Even Comrade West does not seem
to be aware that the Third Brigade did
any special meritorious act in that bat
tie. The brigade was composed of the
44th N Y, goth Me-, SD Pa, and the
10th Mich.
Going Into Position.
In the afternoon of July 2, at about
o'clock, the Third Brigade was de-
tached from the division and moved at
double quick for over a mile to the
extreme left of our army, While max
ing this move an orderly rode up toI
Col Vincent, who commanded the bri-
gade, saluted. and what he said the
writer did not hear, but heard Col Vim
cent say, after returning the salute,
"Coi. Vincent's compliments to Col.
Sweitzer and tell him received the
order some time ago thru an Aid, the
only proper way it should be sent. AS
Comrade West says. Col. Sweitzer was
not with his brigade, l write this to
show he must have been actively en-
gagged somewhere on the field. The
position to which we marched, on the
extreme left, was what was afterwards
known as Little Round Top. We were
posted, the Goth Me, on the extreme
left, the SD Pa. next on their right.
then the 44th n. z, and on the right
the 18th Mich. The ground was rough
and rocky, many rocks being large
enough to afford protection to single
man, from the enemy's bullets. The
writer was behind such rock, the thot
coming TO his mind, as soon as he was
located, that now We are fighting on
our own native soil, and as for me, Il
will never this position alive while there
is an enemy in front.
The brigade had just been placed in
position when a loud, fierce, distant
yell was heard, as If all pandemonium
had broken loose and joined in the cho-
rus of one grand universal war-whoop.
On looking to the left and front, wei
saw Hoods whole division of Long
streets Corps, about quarter of a
lille distant, Charging III three lilies III
a double-quick, and with bayonets
fixed, coming down upon us. Fearful
as was this sight, the writer felt not
the least dismayed, or disturbed about
being driven out of our position, and it
appeared that every man in the bril- |
gade was imbued with the same spirit.
The enemy had his eye upon this posi-
ton, but he was too late. He was now
determined to atone for the loss by |
driving ZIG of if that If !
was the extreme left of our line, and a
strong position to attack, and could he i
by an overwhelming force disiodge US
from 1t, he would have splendid field
of operation on the left flank and in the
rear Of our army.
Advance of the Enemy.
The moment the enemy had emerged
from the woods and began the charge,
the batteries on Little Round Top
opened fire uHon them. We could see
men at every bursting of the shells drop
from the ranks, the others scatter and
then close the gaps and come rushing |
on.
The moment, too, that Col. Vincent
saw the enemy's force he fully compre-
hended the danger. We had LAO guns
in our brigade. We were about to sus-
tain the shock of a whole division.
Turning to Adjt-Gen. Clark, he said:
go and tell Gen. Barnes to send me
reinforcements at once; the enemy are
bers."
Dismountlng from his horse, he
mouned a rock that he might overlook
end direct the operations of the i'm.
pending battle. On came the enemy, |
running and yelling like fiends, the ar
tillery on Little Round Top making
large gaps in their ranks at every step.
nIrr nJlr
ekirmishers were driven in, the enemy
following closely. They at once at
tackled the whole line, but threw the !
weight of their force against the center,
where lay the SD Pa. and 44th N. Y. |
In an instant sheet of smoke and
flame burst from our whole line, which |
made the enemy reel and stagger and
fall back in confusion, but, soon rally
ing, they advanced again to the attack.
Taking position among the rocks, they
poured deadly fire upon our troops.
Hundreds of them approached within
Is yards of our line. but they approached
only to be shot down or hurled back
covered with gaping wounds. 1t was a
death grapple, in which assailant and
assailed seemed resolved to win or fall
in the struggle. The enemy had every
thing to gain If they carried the posi-
ton; everything TO lose II they failed,
and they fought desperately and de-
terlninedly. Perhaps the whole history
of the war does not present a more |
desperate or heroic struggle for the |
mastery than the little valley between
those hills presented on that day. But
the men of the SGD Pa. and 44th y. Y.
stood as firm as the rocks by which
they fought. The drummers had
thrown their drums aside, seized mus
kets and taken their places in the ranks. |
The color bearer planted the flag staff
in the erevice of rock, seized mus /
ket, too, and fought like a hero. For {
a whole hour" says Col. Rice, in his
official report, the enemy tried in vain
to break the lines OF the 4ith and SD, /
charging again and again, within few
yards of those unfiinching troops, but
every charge was repulsed with terri !
bic slaughter"
Attacking the Right.
Despairing of their success at this
point, they made a desperate attack
upon the extreme right of the brigade. |
The 10th Mich, though a valiant regi- |
ment, not having the same protection
and more exposed to their fire, became |
somewhat thrown into confusion, and
portion of them ran TO the rear. and
this is probably what Comrade West |
means when he says the Third Brigade |
was driven back, which might so APP
pear, but was not the case, for at the
close Of the engagement every regiment
of that brigade was just where it took
Its position at the beginning.
The 10th Me-, on our extreme left,
received a severe shock on their flank