The National tribune., 1908-11-12
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sny.s sl,sa frealI and eager for a
chance TO nglis. Gen. Shaler's Brigade
of the eeFps had taken a conspicuous
part in the lighting of the early morn
ing, away to the right. at Culp's Hill,
where Gen. EiHard Johnson's Division
was driven out of the rifle pits Of the
Twelfth Corps, which they had walked
into late the night before, while their
owners were away aiding the Third
Corps in its desperate contest with
Iongstreet the greatest fighting Of the
entire three days. cowan's Battery of
the Sixth Corps had left the Artillery
Brigade, near Rock Creek Bridge, on
the Baltimore turnpike, at daybreak.
July under orders 60 report TO Gen.
John Newton, the successor OF Gen
REYNOLDS.
The battery had arrived at Rock
Greek, ON the Baltimore turnpike, July
2 at ! O'Clock p. m, following the lead
ing brigade of the Sixth Corps, which
had started from Manchester. Md. the
night before at 9 o'clock. The march
was slow and tedious thruout the night,
but from Union Mills. where we halted
less than FIVE minutes after sunrise, il
became a race. The Sixth Corps bat
teries under Col. c. II. Tompkins. were
put in position, commanding the road
and the Rock Creek Valley, about 6
D. M I was warned to keep my men
night in readiness for any move of
Johnsoa's Confederate Division, but at
dayhreak, July 2. I was ordered to re-
port to Gen. Newton, and marched
sway. guided by q staff officer, until /
reached Newton's headquarters, beyond
the Taneytown road on the right of
Little Round Ton. where j reported TO
Gen. Doubleday. In the absence of New
ton. who wag cut on the line. At the
opening of the clBnonade ] was posted,
by DoubIeday's order. at the extreme
right Of the First Corps, the next bat
terry on Hy right being battery on the
lire held by the Second Corps. This
brings Cowan's Battery to the neigh
borhood of webb's Philadelphia Bri-
gade, and the famous 'clump of trees
and begins the story of the part it had,
under Capt. Andrew Cowan's COM
rland. in the repnlse of Pickett's Diyi-
sion (not under the command of a
Capt Wheeler, a. The National Trib-
ue correspondent statcs).
The Batteries aud the oannonadc.
The batteries engaged at this point
curing the cann0nade preceding Long
Etreet's assault were Cushing's Regular
Battery. in the angle 10 the right of the
ciunp Of trees, and Browns Rhode Is
F: land Battery. on the left of the trees.
Those two batteries covered the entire
front held by Webb's Brigade Of four
En,an regiments Immediately on the
left of Browns Battery was Battery b
list " Y. commanded that day by
Capt Rorty. while Cowan's Battery
came in on the left of Rorty's Battery
snd occupied the lowest edge of the
slope. The cannonaae may have lastef
about an hour " hen an officer, riding
al gallop across my battery, shouted
to me:
cease firing. Hold your fire for th'
tafaHtry."
We we're enr,loped in the smoke o
eur own guns and that from the bat
tsries to our right. which was biowin2
towards us. The smoke was lifting
when another staff officer rode furi
~ously past me ard shouted:
Report to Gen. Webb on the right
I hesitated, for l was there with tn,
First Corps under poubleday's orders
and 1 knew that webb belonged to tn,
Second Corps But | saw a battery
withdrawing from the left of the. trees
ard an officer waxing his hat towards
me- The officer YVES Gen. Webb, anC
the battery was Browns. disabled and
out OF ammunition, having been aIsc
heavily engaged in the battle of the
previous day. I gave the order a
2ace, Lir,hcr 70 the right and moved
al a aFgallor. behind Rorty's guns, to the
position on Webb's line vacated by