The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-08-13

on the Emmitsburg road. I approached
dense wood on the west side OF the
road, and on entering it formed NV
regiment tas ordered) to support the
advancing line of skirmishers. and fol-
lowed at supporting distance. They soon.
however. became hotIy engaged. and
by order of Col. Berdan | advanced
douole-quick to the line they occupied.
and instantly formed my regiment nm
der heavy fire from the enemy. which
we returned with 2 good Will Here I
labored under Il decided disadvantaee
which will account for my heavy loss.
The skirmishers were well secured be-
nind trees. while my battalion filed the
intervals. The enemy showed himself
IN overwhelming force. but so well did
we hold our position that his advance
was much checked and very disastrous.
and not until ordered by Col Berdan to
fall back did y single man leave the
ranks. with the exception of those
slightly wounded. when 1 retired Civ
ing an occasional voilcy to check his adj
vance. which now became quicker.
I was Obliged to leave my dead and
seriously wounded on the field. and on
arriving at the road formed my regi-
ment, which had gotten somewhat con-
FUSED from loss of men and Instructions
in our retreat
This engagement was short, but very
severe. and serves TO give me a renewal
of confidence in the men I command.
sustained loss of as in killed, wound
ed and missing"
The importance of this reeonnois-
sance was afterward testified to most
literally by Gen. Longstreet and other
Conf"derates. It greatly retarded Long
streets preparations for the attack The
enemy could not understand such a bold
assault by so small a body of men and
1t seemed to them that their movements
were discovered and that the Union
army was preparing 10 attack them be-
fore they could complete their forma-
ton. 1t certainly delayed Longstrept
for over an hour in the attack which
Lee was awaiting with so much impa-
tience. s .s-
The sorry Of istoricus." --.sz-
Some time after the battle an ac-
count appeared in the New York Her.
aid, signed "Eistoricus.' which was he
lieyed with good reason to have been
written by one of Gen. Sickness staff at
his dictation. 1t gave great offense TO
Gen. Meade. who appealed to the War
Department about it. and was so perti-
nacious in his demands that President
Lincoln, finally had to quiet him with
the admonition that there was much
more important work for him to do
than to engage in a newspaper contro-
versy with Gen. SickIes. That portion
of the article relating to this episode of
the fight reads as follows:
The critical moment had now AR
rived. The enemy's movements indi-
Gated their purpose to seize the Round
Top hill. and this in their possession
Gen. Longstreet would have had easy
work in cutting up our Left Wing To
prevent this disaster Sickles waited no
longer for orders from Gen. Meade but
directed Gen. Hobard Wards Brigade
Cpnith'c 70
| cure that vital position, and at the same
| time advancing his line of battle about
| 900 yards, so as to hold the crest in his
front, he extended his left to support
| Ward and cover the threatened rear of
| the army.
These dispositions were made in the
very face of the enemy. who were adj
vancing in columns of attack, and
| Sicllles dreaded lest the conflict should
open before his dispositions were COM
pleted. At this iuneture he was sum-
moned to appear in person at head
quarters to attend a council of corps
commanders. His preparations were of
such moment and the attack so near
! that Gen. Sickles delayed attending the
! council while giving all his attention to
the carrying out of his orders.
| "A second peremptory summons came
| from Gen. Meade, and leaving his I'M
| finished task to the active supervision
| of Gen. Rirney and Gen. Humphreys.
| Sickles rode off to the rear to head
quarters. Before he reached there the
sound of cannon announced that the
| battle had begun fastening rapidly on.
| he was met by Gen. Meade at the door
| of his quarters, who said, General, I
will not ask you to di5mount: the enc
I, my are engaging your front; the coun-
Gil is over 1t was an unfortunate mo-
ment, as it proved, for a council of
war. Sickies, putting spurs to his horse.
| flew back to his command, and, finding
| that Graham's Brigade was not adj
vanced as far as he desired. he was
pushing that brigade and a battery for
ward about 100 yards when Gen. Meade
at length arrived on the field. The fol-
lowing colloquy ensued, which I gath
cred from several officers present: Are
you not too much extended. General?'
said Meade. Car you hold this 'front.'
Yes replied Sickles. until more troops
are brought up; the enemy are attack
ing in force, and 1 shall need support
from, paoa 4braa ga