The National tribune., 1910-10-06

heard Buford had three cannon shots
open on the enemy, and the battle of
| Gettysburg began"
Now, at o'clock the corps had not
left camp at Marsh Creek. At 9, before
coming within sight of the roofs and
steeples of Gettysburg, we heard Bu-
| ford's three signal guns, followed by
muffied sSirmish firing. After an hours
| fighting the cavalry leader says he be-
gan to grow anxious, fearing he couldn't
! hold out, when his signal officer in the
cupola of the Seminary announced the
/ head of column of the First Corps in
sight. Now we can hold on joyfully
cried Buford.-
1t was 10 when Reynolds met Bu-
| ford. Fifteen minutes later he ordered
Cutters Brigade and Halls Battery to
the firing line. 1t was good Is min
utes thereafter when the 56th Pa de-
! livered their first volley, and it was a
quarter to II that Doubleday says he
galloped to the front and overlook the
! Iron Brigade just as it was going into
action in McPherson's Wood.
! 1t was here and at this moment that
Gen. Reynolds was killed. presumably
! by sharpshooter. He was mounted
and had partly turned about in his
anxiety to see if any more of his troops
were coming up, when the fatal bullet
entered the back of his head, passing
thru it and lodging under the left eye.
He was dead before his body touched
the ground. Orderly Vail, his only at
| tendant near him, eaSed the body to
the ground, and it was from him a few
days after the battle that L got these
particulars of his death.
Mai. Wallis Devotion.
Some weeks ago The National Trib-
une noted Maj Vaips demise. l knew
him very well. as did all the Generals
military family. He was a handsome,
sturdy young fellow, member of the
/ Pa. Reserves He conveyed the Gen.
erals body to his home at Lancaster,
Pa, less than so miles from the place
where he perished. For his devotion
Vail received several handsome ac-
acknowledgements from the Generals
family, and thru them he obtained a
| Lieutenancy in the Regular Cavalry,
| and later rose ts distinction as an In
dian fighter in New Mexico.
The First Corps deeply mourned Rey-
nolds's loss. 1t never had so welI-be-
loved a commander. "Well," said Gen.
Meade. when told of his fate, "he was
the noblest and bravest gentleman in
the army" And from his adversaries
came many expressions of sincere re-
| gret. Gen. Heth, against whom he was
Immediately waging.battle and who was
himelf wounded that day, testified 10
the respect and admiration felt on his,
the Southern side. toward Reynolds,
at whose death the Nation might well
mourn, and in doing SO honor herself"
| And il was further said of him as Of
an Old World hero, and it constituted
n fit epitaph, that mo one died with
more glory than he; yet many died, and
| there was much glory"
| knew him, was the recipient of his
kindly offices and had opportunities OF
observing his fine traits of character
and of familiariZing myself with his
unblemished career He was one to IN
spre hero worship in an ardent youth
from his gentle. kindly, yet sufficiently
tdigniiied. tho undemonstrative demean-
or, his daring and perfect insensibility
to danger. his impetuosity in leading
his men to an attack, tho it was alto
gether different from the fiery reckless
ness of Joe Hooker; his superior mill
tary capacity, his modest. unassuming
manner in which no trace of self-con-
lsciousness or vainglory was even sfignt-
lily manifest, these, with his tall, sol'