The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-04-03
Col. McGilvery's Brigade {
Gettysburg.

l..
recently came across an article giving
graphic description of the battle in which
the brigade of artillery commanded by
Lieut.. Col. McGilvery of Searsport 81
greatly distinguished itself under his
leadership at the battle of Gettysburg
The account was written by the late
Wbitelaw Reid, Ambassador to England
who was at that time correspondent fol-
the Cincinnati Gazette, and was an eve
witness of the battle Of Gettysburg. He
says: "Some Massachusetts batteries
Capt Bigelow, Capt. Phillips and two or
three more under Lieut. COLI McGil-
very of Maine, were planted on the ex-
IRENE left, advanced now we'll down
to the Emmettsburg road, with infantry
IN their front-the first division of
S1ckles corps. A little after five, fierce
Confederate charge drove back the in
fantry and menaced the batteries. Or
ders were sent to Bigelow, on the ex-
IRENE left. to hold his position at every
| hazard short Of sheer humiliation, till a
couple more batteries could be brought
to his support. Reserving his fire a
little, then with depressed guns opering
with double charges of grape and canister,
he smote and shattered, but could notbreak
the advancing line. His grape and canis-
ter became exhausted and still, closing
grandly up over their slain, on they rush
ed. He fell back on spherical case, and
poured this in at the shortest range. On,
still onward, came the artillery defying
line, and still he held his position They
got within six PAGES of the guns-he
fired again. Once more, and he blew
devoted soldiers from their very muzzles.
And still, mindful of that solemn order,
he held his place; they spring upon his
carriages and shoot his horses! And then.
his Yankee Artillerists still about him.
he seized the guns by hand, and from
the very front of that line dragged two
Of them off. That single company in
that half hours fight, lost thirty three
of its men, including every sergeant it
had, and the captain himself was wound
ed. Yet it was the first time it was ever
under fire. The Confederates now
poured upon Phillips battery, and it, too,
was forced to drag off the pieces by
hand, when the others were shot down,
From new position it opened again;
then the two reinforcing batteries came
up on the gallop. An enfilading fire
swept the Confederate line. Sickle's
gallant infantry charged the confederate
line, swept back on a refuent tide-the
unlonlsts regained their lost ground, and
every gun they had lost in this splendid
fight"
The same article has this to say of the
march of the Union Army toward
Gettysburg: cat distance of fifteen
miles from Gettysburg, where the arm
les were massing, were first caught the
murmurs of the opening battle, ar d from
that time the scene was all enthusiasm
among the weary, footsore federals,
who counted as nothing all the pains of
march of nearly two hundred miles, now
that they were within striking distance
of the foe. Most of the way the ambu-
lance train had been crowded with both
officers and men, weary, worn and hag-
gard; but the cannon rattle as it became
more and more distinct, changed them
in twinkling into new creatures"
1t is not difficult for us to picture to
ourselves this scene. for we know what
spirit animated these brave men in their
defence of the American Union. We
do not question the length of their long
est march, their starting point, their
courage, their bravery, or their honor;
but for the boys who did not come away
from that battlefield; for the veterans
who have since then passed one by one
into the great beyond; for Capt. Fogler
the best and kindest and one of the
bravest officers; for the first man to
stack his gun on that march and for the
last weary soldier whose indomitable
spirit alone gave him strength to stack
his gun at all, we feel only respect, veneer
alton and gratitude, as we approach the
fftieth anniversary of the battle of
Gettysburg. R. 7. NEWELL.
A Dogs Epitaph.