The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-07-17

verdict OF the hundreds OF thousands
who wore so fortunate as to see for
themselves Is thpt 1t surpassed any
other event in its marvellous greatness
and bearing upon our National life
and character. $4,000 union and 90
900 confederate veterans who on many
battlefield contended for the mas
terry met at Gettysburg as friends and
fellow countrymen, buried forever all
bitterness, all sectionalism and "highH
ly resolved" that from this time on
ward and forever, there shall be one
country and one flag. This was the
great object accomplished at this I'M
ion of the Blue and Gray.
Skowhegan was represented by
Charles Smith and Henry J. Varney,
First Maine Cavalry; w. Harrison
Weston and Samuel F. Emerson. Third
Maine Infantry and Xanthius A.
Withee, seventh Maine Infantry.
Leaving here on the noon train June
%, and reaching the encampment on
the battlefield at p. M, June 80. The
Maine delegation of about 500 was
encamped to the left of the Confeder-
ate line of battle where Pickett
crossed the field in his famous charge
on the Union Center
1t was my purpose to visit every part
of the battlefield and note the more
important places and with other
comrades | started out Monday morn
ing for the extreme right where the
battle opened the first day, July l.,
1868. The first corps, Gen. Reynolds
and eleventh corps. Gen. Howard
fought here on the first day. The
18th Infantry and second battery were
the Maine organizations that were
engaged. Hills corps and Eweil's
corps on the Confederate side were en-
gagged. At ten o'clock Gen. Reynolds
was killed while sitting on his horse
anxiously looking for re-enforcements.
stood by the monument that marks
the spot where he fell, mile north
west of the town. All along this
front are monuments and markers in
dicating the position of the different
troops on the firing line.
The first day proved disastrous for
the union side and the First and
Eleventh corps were driven back
through the town and during the night
took position with other troops on
Culps and Cemetery hills and along
Cemetery ridge south and southeast
of the town
On the second day, July 2, the bat
tie opened three miles to the south
west of the town in the vicinity of the
peach orchard and wheatfield. Here
was the third corps Gen. Sickles com
handing. The third, fourth and sew
enteenth Maine regiments of Infantry
were assigned to this corps. The
Third being the first regiment to en-
gage the enemy consisting of Long
streets corps. Corn and wheat fields
AMI farm dwellings now cover this
part of the battlefield where fifty
years ago the great conflict was on
AS in other parts of the field monu-
ments and markers tell the story of
each regiment or battery engaged
Here Gen. Sickles was wounded and
lost leg. Here the Third regiment
lost 122; the Fourth, 144 and the
Seventeenth, 1873.
From here we pass nearly a mile
southeast to the Devils Den where
some of the most desperate fighting
took place. BY force of numbers the
Union troops were driven from here
and took position on Little Round
Top, one-third of a mile east and
along Cemetery ridge to the north.
The Devils Den Is rightly named
Large ledge-like boulders are in
abundance where the soldiers on both
sides fought to desperation and where
so many sid by side went down to
death | drank from the spring that
afforded water to the wounded and
dying Covering Little Round Top
are statues, markers and monuments
showing where the different commands
fought so desperately in order 10 hold
this all-important position from the
assaults OF Longstreet's corps. Here
is a granite bonlderfat on the top.
five feet high and about eight feet
across. where Gen. Warren stood
watching with his glass the on-comlng
of Longstreet's columns. moving on
our left flank His statue on this
boulder is one of the most impress
siye yet erected on the field. Warren
sent word back 10 hurry up troops
of the Fifth corps as rapidly as pos
sible or all would be lost. II vas
close by here that Gen. Weed who
commanded a brigade in the Firth
corps fell mortally wounded aud as
Lieut.. Haslet In command OF battery
bent over him 10 receive his dying
message, he too. was shot and fell
dead across the body Of the dying
general a tablet marks the spot
where they fell Ia front Of this
point to the west whore the con
filct ragged so fiercely ! cut hickory
cane and have II as a souvenir from
Little Round Top
From here We 10 on 10 the South
and climb the slope OF Big Round
Top 10 the summit IL Was a. this
highest point that the twentieth
Maine Infantry Of the Fifth corps
reached the crest Iuat In time 10 pre-
vent the enemy taking possession. On
the extreme height OF Big Round Top
We 20 10 the top OF = steel obserYs-
tory. nearly one hundred feet high.
and get magnificent view OF the sur
rounding country To the north and
northwest for a distance OF five miles
is the battlefield aud with the eve We
follow across Little Round Top. along
Cemetery Ridge To Cemetery Hiii
thence 20 Cuip's Hlll, thence westerly
To the town OF Gettysburg aud the
battlefield OF the first day plainly
marking the stone house where Gen
lee had his headquarters the monu-
ment where Gen Reynolds was killed
and the Lutheran Seminary. IN the
cupola Of which Gen buford hrst OBJ
served the approach Of the confeder-
ate troops from the northwest. thence
south along Seminary Ridge 10 the