The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-05-30
Stories Emireny Worth Telling Of Experiences and Adventures
in the Great National Struggle.

laithlul an oiHcer as any that fell tina
day in defense of his country. The
First Brigade fell back, and no Other
troops taking their place on the right
left our brigade in critical situation
We were directed TO fall back. which
was done deliberately and in good or.
der, the regiment halting and firing un
Iii well into the woods. We then moved
hy The left flank, struck the Wheat.
icld and passed along its border to the
Peach Orchard road. where we took po-
. sition parallel 10 it, facing this field
The First Division of the Second Corp:
had moved forward and was engaged
in these woods in our front. Gen. Zook
had just been carried from the field
mortally wounded. While we moved
along the edge of the woods before
reaching the Peach Orchard road sew
eral of our men were struck by stray
shots. and when i'm line on that road
the command was ordered to lie down
to avoid the flying bullets. Lieut.. Scott
Mcdowell was killed and several men
wounded while the regiment occupied
that position. After remaining on the
clay road about 20 minutes Gen. Cald-
well requested Col. Sweitzer to take the
brigade to his assistance in the woods
beyond. Before starting a struggling
line came back through our ranks. We
then moved forward across the Wheat
field in splendid style. When this point
was gained we became holly engaged
with the enemy in front: the ed in the
position indicated by this monument
and these markers, the 4th Mich. on
the right, and the 32d Mass. on the left
About the time we moved forward
across this field Graham's Division had
been driven from the Peach Orchard
and Humphreys Division. being threat
ened in reverse, changed front and
moved further to the rear. These oper-
atoms made a large opening in the line,
through which the Confederates has
tened to enter in strong force. We had
not been long in this advanced position
when shots were noticed striking our
line from the woods TO our right and
rear. Gen. Wofford's Brigade of Geor-
sia troops held the Peach Orchard road
and the elevation at looks monument,
and was firing into our command. Col.
Boyd McKeen, in his report Of the First
Brigade, First Division. Second Corps,
says: "They were relieved by a bril-
gade (Sweitzer's) of Barnes's Division,
Fifth Corps. Passing the relieving bril-
gade by file they were enfiladed by a
calling fire." Thus showing that the
enemy made his appearance on our
we moved from the Peach Orchard
road.
The Brigade Nearly Surrounded.
The 4th Mich. and the ed changed
front to the right to meet our enemies
in that direction. The brigade was
now nearly surrounded and in a very
perilous situation. Attacked in front
right and rear, its chances of extricat-
ing itself were anything but good. Gen
Barnes exclaimed: There goes the
Second Brigade: we may as we'll bid il
goodbye" But it was not the first
time the Second Brigade had been ir
critical positions, and by good judgment
and indomitable pluck came out al
right. The command was terribly ex.
posed in the open field, while our enc
mics had the cover of the woods. The
mems blood was up. and they fought
with desperate resolution. The brigade
fell back diagonally across the field
fighting every foot of the way, the COM
mand repeatedly halting and firing a:
it retired. The 4th Mich. and ed be.
came mixed up with the enemy, ant
many hand-to-hand conflicts ensued
Col. Jeffords. of the 4th Mich, was rur
through with a bayonet while gallant!
defending the colors of his regiment
When we were engaged at the stone
fence a large squad of prisoners hat
been taken and sent to the rear, an(
when the regiment became entangle,
with the enemy the opposing forces, a
times. could not fire into each other fol
the unarmed captives between the lines
When we emerged from the coils of i'm
pending capture. broken and cut Il
pieces, Gen. Crawford led Col. McCan1
less.s Brigade of Pennsylvania Reserves
| in a sweeping charge. which again
cleared the Wheatfcld. Our brigade
! took position in support of battery OF
! a line just to the right of Little Rount
| Top Extension, where ii remained un
| till the army moved in pursuit of Lee
The ed lost heavily during the after
noon of the I'd. particularly in its pas
sage across the Wheatfield. The stor.
of its casualties is chiseled on this mar
lille shaft. 1t marched TO the Loop will
| % officers and 400 enlisted men in line
/ and emerged from the Wheat1ield Will
! II officers and 239 enlisted men: fou
officers and "a enlisted men had beel
killed. 10 officers and 81 enlisted mel
wounded, and 40 enlisted men takeI
prisoners loss ratio of 81 per cent o
the officers and 40 per cent of enliste
men. Two of the officers died in a fey
days after. and it is safe to say that no
loss than Is enlisted men died fron
iNc effects of their wounds. The fig
ures given on this monument are tailel
from the official records of the Wa
Department, and show a percentage o
casualties greater than the famous Ligh
Brigade suffered at Balaklaya. Lor
Cardigan took into action 613 officer
and men. and lost 113 killed and 10
wounded: total, 247. or 36.7 per cent.
/ OF those who passed through the figh
unhurt, Gen SweitZer had several clos
calls; his horse was shot under hir
and the crown of his hat laid open by
mimic ball. Col. Hull's tall form wa
conspicuous in the engagement, movin
: about with his accustomed GOODNESS. Iii
recting the manuvers of the regimen
He passed the ordeal of the Wheatfiel
unframed. TO meet his fate like a gal
liant soldier in the Wilderness. Lieu
Seitz ran into the enemy's lines at tn
Peach Orchard road while trying I
communicate with Gen. Barnes: he ha
his horse shot and barely escaped car
ture But | cannot go into further pai
ticulars The officers and men did the
whole duty, and the regiment adde
still another laurel TO its wreath of hi
roic deeds.
No point in the extensive lines
Gettysburg saw fiercer or more contir
, uous fighting than here. This field ha
been taken and retaken. the lines swa,
ing back and forth repeatedly durin
The progress of the contest that aftel
: noon. 1t has been fifty styled ii
y i"Whirlpool of the Battle."-W. J. Pa
+. terson. Lieutenant commanding Co.
. e2d Pa, Pittsburg, Pa.
Who Knew This Comrade:
n Editor National Tribune: The pre-
v ent widow of John Ryner, Co. II, ;