The National tribune., 1908-10-08
THE THIRD CORPS AT GETTYS-
BURG.
The Battle Began Later Than Stated.
The COrps's Disndyantageous Position.


Editor National Tribune: Your ac-
count of the part taken by the Third
Corps and how it was done does not
follow the most important facts as L
saw them in many points. The answers
as to why the Third Corps was not fol-
lowing the Eleventh so as to be on the
field the first day is satisfactory, but
you are not correct as to how late 1t
was before we knew there had been
battle that day. No sound, no word
carne-te US until we had gone into camp
for the night, and then when we were
busy in preparation the bugle call to
fall in was sounded. AS it began every
one stopped instantly until it was known
what the call was. Then everyone yelled
and threw down whatever he had in
hand, and made ready to march. 1t
was very few seconds until the order
Forward" and we were off. Word
soon passed along as to the battle, the
death of Gen. Reynolds and the loss of
many men. This was the first We knew
of it. I wrote Gen. Howard as to the
reason of such long time before we
were ordered up. In reply he gave me
the name and address of the officer
sent to notify us, and / wrote, asking
why we were not notified earlier in
the day His reply was, Il lost great
deal of time going backward and forth
from the 'Fmmitsburg road to one west
for fear. of passing on the wrong road"
This was years ago, and l have forgot
ten the name, but, of course, it can be
Oh ersty ~
opinion of his excuse. We reached the
field just as night was closing in, and
the amazing thing was that we went
into brigade formation and camped for
the night.
You don't get the time correct, If my
recoliections are right, for the begin
ming of the engagement of the Third
Corps, and have the Government map,
giving position each day and move
ments that agree with me. We re-
mained in camp all night and the
morning of the I'd. Noon came; we
were still at the same place. Why we
were not sent out so as to form a care
fully selected line I leave for some one
else to answer; but supposing Long
street had got around little sooner,
say, two or three hours, we would not
have been there at all, and he could
have had free sweep on the left.
The map showing the march of
Hoods men gives p. m. the earliest,
and then on to 5:45. This agrees with
my recollections. Whatever time it
was whenwe moved from nights camp,
we reached the line where we met the
enemy only few minutes before we
were attacked. AS for a strong posi-
ton, it was just the reverse. We We're
in the open woods pasture to the south
and east of the Wheat Field, and the
enemy We're only 80 PAGES actual meas
ure from us when the first shots were
fired They had rocks for cover; We
had none. You don't tell of the Third
Corps being driven, but We were, and
had to give way. The break began to
the left of us, and finally came to US.
Co. e of the goth Ind. was the extreme
right flank of Wards Brigade. When
we left the rebels were forming to ad-
vance, and 1t was one of the strange
things of the battle how slow they were.
1t was long before the Fifth Corps
reached the ground. In falling back
took it as slow as they let me, taking
pot shots into their ranks as they came
marching-no rush, no shouts-just
east of the Wheat Field. Why it was
they took so much time I cannot ex-
plain; just state 1t as / saw it. 1 had
to run thru the Wheat Field. / was in
the road to the north when Sykes's Di-
vision came marching in from the west.
How the fight went after that did not
stay to see, but went on the hunt of
my company and the corps. / could
find nothing of it that evening. The
next morning went out to the Round
Tops, where / found the Fifth Corps
but nothing of the Third. / then went
back towards the center, hunting my
command. 1 finally found them near
Gen. Meade's headquarters and just be-
low the brow of Cemetery HILL The
10th Ind. with the Sd and 4th Me. was
sent here in reserve on account of the
heavy loss they had suffered.
Look at the map, and you will see
you are too early in the day with the
beginning of the battle. You say De
Trobriand sent the 17th Me. to fill the
gap between him and Ward. They did
not fill the gap. In fact. the right of
Ward was just even with the left of
Hoods men. Neither side had even a
company to throw on the others flank,
and there was no damage to either
side. How far it was to any ether
| troops do not know, as saw none on
our right, not even line of skirmish-
ers- The 99th Pa. was taken from our
right and moved to the left just before
the fight opened. This left the goth
Ind. the right of Wards. The break
came to the left of us, so we were the
last to give way.-N. B. Easton, Ser
9nfh Ind Cf;lJ,yofar