The National tribune., 1909-02-11

UP the hillside, and soon We're at the
road at the right of Little Round Top.
The brigade, fortunately, was in the
lead of the corps that day, and thus
came our honor of being engaged in
the brilliant action and in some meas
ure adding to the glory of the Sixth
Corps. As we reached the crest of
Round Top Ridge and obtained our first
sight of the battle. We knew We had
arrived none too soon, for the enemy
was gaining ground. The brave and
dashing Sickles and his splendid Third
Corps, with broken and bleeding lines.
had been forced back. Half of the
First Division, Fifth Corps. had fallen
in the Wheat Field. Longstreet, en-
boldened by his success, was pressing
vigorously to capture the strategic key
to the whole position. The Greek cross
of the Sixth Corps was planted along
side of the Maltese cross of the Fifth,
and the tide of battle changed. Gen.
Sedgwick, when we reached the crest.
directed Col Nevin, who was in COM
mand of the brigade. to form his line
from left to right. The impetuouS and
fiery New Yorker in executing the or
der found Gen. Crawford and his diyi-
sion of the Fifth Corps in his way and
unwilling to move. Nevin relieved his
mind in language more vehement than
elegant giving no heed to the rank of
the offending General, who doubtless
overlooked his violence in consideration
Of the sulphurous surroundings.
Without waiting so long as I have
taken to relate this incident we ad-
yanced, touching elbows with the gal
liant Pennsylvania Reserves, and with
exultant cheers were soon in the con-
iict. With our well-directed fire and
steady lines the enemy is soon driven
from our front, discounted and de-
feated. The victory is ours. The rebel
! yell no longer is heard, but the victori-
Gus Union cheers roll along the lines.
| AS we pushed down the north side of
Round Top Ridge our regiment cap
tured and turned over some 20 prison
ers. Here we halted, where the 139th
Pa. Monument now stands, and re-
mained all next day."
Gen. Sedgwick Leads In.
Here is an extract from the Grafton
made at Gettysburg by Col. +. c. New
hall at the dedication of the 9Th Pa.
Cav. Monument, which is directly in
point as to the manner Wheaton's Bri-
gade made their appearance on the
evening of the I'd at Gettysburg. Col.
Newhall said:
"On the afternoon of the I'd, when
| hurrying towards the ridge. where the
| fighting was very heavy, to find and
report to Gen. Pleasonton, if could,
encountered Gen. Sedgwick, just lead
| ing the Sixth Corps into action. There
never was i better commander of a
better corps. had served at his head
quarters and knew him, and stopped
] to say word to him. A fine-looking
Major of Meades staff galloped up and
| ordered Sedgwick to hasten forward.
Matters were evidently serious just in
front. There was a fearful crash of
| musketry, and thru the smoke l saw
some mea with dubbed muskets in
their hands. 1t was just at the time
Longstreets famous charge of the sec
ond day had reached its climax. Sedg-
wick turned to his leading brigade COM
mander and said: Hurry up there;
never mind forming your brigade; pitch
| in by regiments And nothing could
be finer than the way they did it."
Fr"-~ 4 letter written by Gen. Whea-
ton member of his olh>. brigade,
and d. I'd Fort Occur d'Alene, l. T.,
June 23, 1886, / copy the following in
! regard TO the service Of his brigade on
the evening of the I'd:
"You remember its glorious advance
under Sedgwick's eyes at Gettysburg
and its shouts of delight as it poured
volley after volley into the retreating
| Confederates to the right of the Devils
| Garden, when they made their last des-
| perate effort for Little Round Top. ]
| quite agree with you that Crawfords 6
/ innate modesty never prevented his ap-
j propriating his frll share of all that
was done by his own division and by
| Newton's, temporarily under my CON-
mand, that afternoon, the I'd, at Get
! tysburg"
| The letter from which the above Is
quoted was written when Gen. Craw-
ford's "reminiscences were being printed
in The National Tribune.
1t is hoped blythe writer hereof that
the editor will close his eyes to the
length of this article, and allow it to
slide into the columns of The National
| Tribune. Sometimes ii has appeared
i as If, somehow, the old Sixth Corps
hardly got the recognition and credit
justly coming to 1t for its share in the
lively and strenuous doings on the
slopes of Little Round Top on the even
] ing of July 2. 1853. This may be on
account Of the small loss the corps sus-