News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1910-04-20
Der separated from the main body and
escaped by running the gauntlet to the
right of the First Texas Regiment"
LEADER COMMITS SUICIDE


escaped by running the gauntlet to the
! right of the First Texas Regiment"
LEADER COMMITS SUICIDE
"While these movements we're in prog
ress l could plainly distinguish Gen:
Farnsworth, who led the charge, and
who / theo supposed to be Fitzpatrick.
He wore linen havelock over his mill
tary cap and was evidently wounded at
the time he entered the woods. Here,
with his little handful of followers he
rode upon the skirhish line of the Fourth
Alabama Regiment and, pistol in hand,
called upon Lieut.. Adrian, who COM
handed the line, to surrender. The
skirmishers in return fired upon him,
killing his horse and wounding Gen.
Farnsworth in several places. AS he fell
to the ground Lieut.. Adrian approaches
him and demanded his surrender. He
CURLY refused to surrender, at the same
time killing himself with the pistol he
still held in his hand. During the after
noon the pickats of the First Texas Regi-
ment had been so near the point where
the federal cavalry were preparing for
the attack as to hear their voices dis
tinctly when raised at all above the ordi-
nary tone. Just before the charge was
made they heard someone say in an an
CRY and excited tone: Colonel, if you
are afraid to attack, by -, | will lead
the charge myself l afterward learned
that the words were addressed to Gen.
Farnsworth, who was aware of the diff
culties of the movement and would not
have made it if the matter has been left
to his own judgment. However this may
have been, he certainly bore himself with
most conspicuous gallantry throughout
that fatal charge.
Mayor Clifford of Thompson, who was
on Gen. Pleasanton's staff, states that
when Gen. Fitzpatrick ordered Gen.
Farnsworth to charge, the latter refer
ring to the two or three stone fences be-
tween his command and the enemy, re-
piled that in view of the obstacles it
would simply be slaughter of men.
Fitzpatrick answered in effect that il
charge he would lead it himself, and
Farnsworth Replied" Gen. Fitzpatrick,
you can't lead men anywhere. l can not
90. sIt you give the order to charge 1
will do so, but you take the responsible
ty" just before the battle Custer, Mer-
rift and Farnsworth were recommended
for brigadier generals, and were given
such commissions. Farnsworth' S commits
sion was dated June 20, five days before
his death. AS I've had been on detached
service it had not reached him, being
carried among Pleasanton's headquarters
papers until after the battle. His pre-
vious rank had been captain in the
Eighth Illinois Cavalry.
AFTER THE BATTLE
Gen. Longstreet, aware of the danger
that threatened our right from the at
tack of Kilpatrick's division" says Gen.
Law, "came over to my position late in
the afternoon and expressed his satsfac-
ton at the result, and the promptness
and good conduct of the troops engaged.
We had all day held our front line.
gained the evening before, ready and able
to repel any attack from the superior
force on our frort, and with troops
drawn from that line had given to Gen.
his congo on our right flank.
1t seemed to us on the confederate right
that there was at least one little spot of
" silver lining inkthe cloud that hung
so darkly over the field of Gettysburg,
after the disastrous charge of Pickett.
Late in the afternoon of the 3rd I was
ordered to withdraw to the ridge near
the Emmettsburg road. We remained
quietly in our new position until near
daylight on the morning of the 5th, when
we took up the line of march with the
rest of the army toward Fairfield Gap
and the Potomac"