The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-02-13
"reminiscences of the Civil War

VI llIC Alvu w al
Gardner L. Hatch of Citypoint and
Silas Beckwith of North Belfast, who
be longed to Co. D, 10th Maine Regiment,
are survivors of the battle of Gettys-
burg. Mr.. Hatch looks forward to TAX
ing the trip with the veterans next July
and viewing once more the battlefield,
which has always remained vivid pic
ture in his memory. At Gettysburg was
killed his wife's nephew, Robert T.
Newell, who was his intimate friend,
and who was also the writer's brother;
and on account of this sad occurrence
the memory of the Battle of Gettysburg
has ever held for him an element of per-
sonal sadness and loss. Robert Newell,
beloved and honored by all who knew
him, was one of the many who, in this
battle. gave their young lives cheerfully
for their country's need and whose men,
DRY the nation will honor SO appropriate
ly on this 50th anniversary Of the battle
Mr.. Hatch has not often talked to US
of his experiences in the war, and we
have felt from his reticence that the
subject, and especially that of the battle
of Gettysburg, was more or less pain
when we have been fortunate enough to
find him in a reminiscent mood we have
listened eagerly to his stories, every
word of which teemed with interest.
Recently he told US the following facts,
which are given in his own language as
nearly as we can remember:
"We made forced march from Chan
cellorville to Gettysburg. 1t was the
last of June and the weather was very
hot; so hot one day that one by one the
officers and men fell out of the ranks,
and at the end of the march that night
there were only FIVE Of US who stacked
our guns. They were Robert Newell,
John A. Lord, Charles Cooper, Chas.
Murch and myself. The rest of the regi-
ment kept coming in all the evening up
to midnight. We marched thirty-fve or
thirtysix miles in day. We reached
Gettysburg on the evening of July first.
after the first days fight was over,
marched up near the front and camped
that night. The next morning we took
up our position on Cemetery Ridge The
battlefield Oh the first was because the
18th Maine was the rear guard all day
and was far behind, picking up stray
glers. You know there is always a rear
guard to pick up those who fall out of
the lines from sickness or other causes.
In the morning our regiment was in
hot place, right in front of the rebel |
charge. We fought until the rebels were
repulsed. Robert was a corporal and on
the color guard, and there was half the |
regiment between u.s. | didn't know
what had become of him until the next
morning when found him in an orchard
wounded i'll the leg. Icarried him under
a big apple tree, brought him water and
food, found men with stretcher. and we
got him into barn. l gave him my
blankets and found a piece of carpet
which took to make him comfortable.
His leg had to be amputated. l was
after water and food when the doctors
got ready, and he wouldn't let them
touch the leg until got back. Later he
was removed to tent. Another ampu-
tation became necessary, and from this
he died. carried water to the wounded
men from spring that was walled up
near an old stone barn, and scouredl the
country for food. / think l could locate
the spot now where the spring and the
old stone barn were. Col. Fogler of Bel
fast was then our Captain. l consider
him one of the best and kindest hearted
officers in the whole army. After |
found Robert Capt. Fogler gave me five
dollars and told me to get any food |
could find for Robert and other wounded
men. This was before the sanitary COM
mission had come up with supplies for
the sick. | hope to be we'll enough to
take the trip next July" .
On the goth of June the following
year, Mr.. Hatch, who had been trans
ferred to Co. C. of the 1st battalion. 18th
Regt., V. R. c., was wounded in the
shoulder by fragment of shell, and has
always suffered from the effects of the
wound Of the battle in which he was
wounded he tells the following story:
''We were at Whitehouse Landing on
he Pamunky river not far from Rich
nond. Sheridan had left his wagon train
IN the south side of the river, and had ;
eft our Company and Co. A. and half
three pieces of artillery, to
guard it, Ewhile he went after WAGE
Hampton to clean him out. 1t was a