The National tribune., 1909-04-29
RICKETTs's BATTERY.
II Was One Of Those at Gettysburg
Which Came TO Stay.

WHICH, SuiilS 10 Sidy.
Editor National Tribune: In read.
ing A. III. Huber's article concerning
the 33d Mass. in The National Trib-
une of March IL, there comes vividly
to my mind the part that Rickettss
Battery played in that part of the his
tory of Gettysburg on the evening OF
| July 2, 1868. So far as 1 know, / am
the only one living who was on the
immediate gun which was the first of
| Ricketts's guns reached after Wied-
rick's Battery ceased firing. 1 pulled
| the lanyard for every shot from that
gun, and at the same time tried to see
everything that was going on; but 1
assure that 1 saw but little My posi-
tion was No. on the left gun close to
the stone wall running up and down
the hill. with Wiedrick's guns to the
left. Wiedrick's guns had ceased firing
! for few moments when 1 saw from the
fash of their guns the rebels creeping
up. ! have always thought that the first
men to reach our guns came from over
the stone wall. Our gunner did not seem
/ to see them, but was giving them
canister straight to the front, down the
| hill. As soon as our gun was over
powered, of course they would be COM
| ing in an oblique direction and would
soon reach the second and third gun.
This was as far as they got when Car
rolls Brigade drove them back AS it
was quite dark there was an exciting
| time for few moments. Huber's
mention of Stevens's Battery prompts
me to write from my viewpoint how
they helped save East Cemetery Hill
that night. While Rickettss men were
holding on for time, and Carroll came
in the nick of time. Stevens was pour
ing shot and shell across our front,
where no support could form or live.
This made it easy for CarrolPs men to
drive the enemy clear back to where
| they started from. 1t needed us all
that night to save East Cemetery Hill,
that Pickett could have a chance to
| try his hand at routing us. A little
| Incident occurred on our gun which
shows why we won at Gettysburg. and
whipped Bobby Lee, and the feeling
and sentiment that prevailed from
Gen. Meade down to the last private
Our first position was in the old ceme-
terry, where we had a splendid view of
the ripe wheat fields, the Round Tops,
the valleys, the well-painted farmhouses
and barns. the little town at our feet
a scene grand enough to inspire one,
and doubly so with the battle impend-
! ing. We were soon moved across Bal.
timore pike and took position, where
we remained until July s. Our No. l.
the man who rams the shot-stood over
six feet and in the prime of life. When
we got our gun unlimbered and in
position, he took off his shoes from
his sore feet and coolly set them beside
the wheel. O. G. Larribee, the man
who thImbed the vent. said: John, you
had better keep your shoes on. We
may have to get out lively" by
G." answered John, looking over
the surroundings, 'if we can't whiI
them here. We can't whip them no.
where. I'll never run from here. 81
And he never did run. He was wound
ed in the mix-up and taken prisoner
He lived only to get home and die OF
his wounds. The sentiment of the
officers and men at Gettysburg was the
sentiment of John Givens-Oney f
Sweet. member of Ricketts's Battery
from '61 to '65, Hampton, Iowa.