Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1908-12-24
THE BATTLE OF the CENTURY
Continuef. from Isl mage

| Pennsylvania did their whole duty
and, in their heroism, were excelled by
none. To understand truly and to es-
innate properly the fighting qualities
of the men and the organizations of
I those armies, one must take the cold
figures Of the percentage of losses in
killed and wounded and compare them
! with similar results in other wars and
! by troops of other nations.
GETTYSBURG BEATS WORLD
When reading the following, let us
not fail to remember the record of the
bravest troops in Europe. The Third
Westphalian, at Mars la Tour, lost 40
per cent killed and wounded the
Garde-Shutzep, at Metz, lost 461 per
cent; the Light Brigade, at Balaka-
/ va, lost 1916 per cent. This is story
of brave men and splendid organiza-
ton, and tells of the greatest loss on
record in single engagements in Euro
/ pean wars. Not one of them lost 80
per cent, in killed and wounded, in
there were at least seven regiments
from this State that lost so per cent.
and some of them more than that.
Let us recall the story of these COM
mands. About II O'Clock on the first
day the head of Roy Stones brigade
all Pennsylvanians-ar on the
field, and was placed by General Dou-
bleday on the left of the Chambers
burg pike, the left of the line resting
near the right of the Iron Brigade.
Shells were flying as the Pennsylvan-
ians moved into position, and it was a
hot place to form. Stripping for the
fray and unslinging knapsacks, the
men called out, 1--WE have come to
stayp
When evening came fully so per
| cent. of the gallant brigade remained
on the fatal ridge. Stones brigade
held the key to the first days fight and
every man seemed to realize the i'm
portance of holding out to the last. AL
though some two hours elapsed from
the time the brigade arrived until the
first serious attack of the Confederate
infantry. 1t was anything but an in
terval of peace. Exposed and in full
view of the enemy, the line was pound
ed by batteries from the distant hills,
| both north and west, and many were
the casualties.
JOHN BURNs, THE HERO.
Then the whole valley of Willoughby
Run and the country beyond was in
clear view, and every man saw for him
self what was coming-the Confeder
! ates, in continuous double line of de-
ployed battallions en- masse in reserve.
| To meet this tremendous onslaught
| stood one thin line, and not man in
reserve. 1t required courage of high
order to quietly await the attack, but
Stones men were equal to the occa-
! sion.
AS Colonel Huidekoper and Major
| chamberlain were chatting, while
| awaiting the attack, unique, antique
and most picturesque figure approach
| ed 1t was citizen John Burns, of
Gettysburg. Tall, and bony of frame,
with deliberate step, he came to the
'front.' carrying in his right hand rifle
| at trail" He wore blue swallow
| tail coat, with brass buttons, dark
trousers and high hat, from which
the nap had long since disappeared
Although three-score years and ten,
| and bent with age, he said, "Can /
| fight with your regiment" just then
! Colonel Wister came up and in his
! bluff manner asked "Well, old man,
what do you want ?' 81 want chance
to fight with your regiment" "You
do? "Well, where is your ammuni-
! tion ?' "Right here, said the old hero,
slapping his trousers pocket, which
was bulging out with cartridg es.
"Good," " replied Wister, 81 wish there
were more like you" advising the old
! man to go into the woods and fight
where he would be more sheltered
! But John Burns was not the kind
that looked for shelter, and he fought
during the day not only in the open,
but in the very front. When evening
fell he was still there, but badly wound
ed. At 1870 O'Clock the whole line of
the enemy was seen advancing, and for
more than two hours the devoted brig
ade of Roy Stone 143d, 10th and
15Oth Pennsylvania Regiments-met
and checked the eXulting foe.
| ONE THIN LINE.
Never in the history of wars did men
stand up under like conditions and
make such a defence. There they
were, one thin line, without man in
reserve, meeting charge after charge,
and seeing beyond as far as the eye
could reach, other lines offresh troops,