The National tribune., 1910-04-14
DEATH OF GEN. REYNOLDS.
II Came From a Volley, and Not From
n Sharpshooter.

Editor National Tribune: I have read
with interest an article in your paper.
entitled with Gen. Reynolds When
Killed" It relates to the death of Maj
Chas. H. Veil, formerly of the 9th Pa.
Reserves. 1t is stated in the article that
when Gen. Reynolds assumed COM
mand Orderly Veil was continued on
his staff. and at the battle of Gettysburg
was entirely alone with the General
when he was killed, and saw him fall
from his horse"
l assume from the above that Mai
Veil at that time was an enlisted man
and not commissioned officer. and his
statement that he was entirely alonr
with the General when he was killed
is so directly opposite to the facts
which I have heard from many others
that do not feel it right that the state
ment should go unchallenged
was with the First Corps, command
ed by Gen. Reynolds, at the battle of
Gettysburg, but was not with him at
the time of his death. and therefore am
not speaking from absolute personal
knowledge. l have however, often
heard the story related by schoolmate
of mine, Capt. John p. Carson. of the
lst Me. Cav, who died last week.
had always intended to obtain from
Capt. Carson a statement concerning
the circumstances. but put il off too
long
Capt. Carson and a company from
the 1st Me. Cav. had long before been
detailed at Gen. Reynolds's headquar-
ters, the men to act as Orderlies for the
General Just before Gen. Reynolds
was killed, and while he was surround
ed by his staff. including Capt Carson.
word was brought to him that Just over
the hill in front of him lay line of
Confederate troops. Gen. Reynolds
started to ride up the hill to see for
himself. Members of his staff tried to
dissuade him from doing so, saying he
had no right to thus endanger his life.
AS all know, Gen. Reynolds was reck-
less in such matters. and without even
deigning a reply he spurred his horse
up the hill. The members of his staff
accompanied him. Just as he reached
the crest of the hill and came in view
of the line of Confederates they rose
and poured a volley into the group of
officers, killing Gen. Reynolds. Capt.
Carson was close at his side. and his
horse was killed by the same volley and
fell, the Captain coming down upon his
feet. He reached up and eased Gen.
Reynolds from the saddle and laid him
upon the ground. Doubtless there were
others who assisted.
Capt. Carson, tho a country boy, was
one of the brayest officers that ever
drew a sword, and he was possessed Of
rare presence or mind. He took in the
situation in minute. The loss of Gen.
Reynolds at that critical moment was a
very severe one 1t was of the greatest
Importance that the next in rank, Gen.
Doubleday, siIould be notified in order
that he might. with the very least pos
Isible delay, take command of the corps,
which needed a commander at that
moment as much as it ever did during
its existence. Capt. Carson did not seize
the opportunity of taking or assisting in
taking the body of his dead comma nder
to the rear, but vaulted into the saddle
of Cen ReyTolGs's horse and galloped
down the line under a whitening fire,
and found Gen. Doubleday and inform
ed him that he was in command of the
corps.
1t was a brave and sensible act, and
the fate of a battle is often decided by
the act of a cool-headed, far-seeing man
like Capt. Carson.-Thos. S. Hopkins,
10th Me, Washington, D. C.