The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-01
THE STORY OF GETTYSBURG FROM THE FARMER FILES
 OF FIFTY YEARS AGO


 particular peril. The regiment lost eighteen of twenty-srx officers, and three-fourths of it's men. Lieutenant Colonel Arrowsmith was killed or wounded. The s2nd Ohio, Colonel Robinson, lost IS officers. The 26th Wisconsin lost all but one of it's off, cers. This regiment last fall Joined General Siegel at Fairfax with nearly the maximum number and then ap- peared splendid.
 It has been in two fights -ChancelI- orsville and Gettysburg came out with one company. The 74th Pennsyl- vania. brought off sixteen men. Cap tain Dilger's battery did splendid ex- ecutfon, constantly changing position as circumstances required. At one time he disrnounted an entire rebel battery, at another rushed up two pieces in front of our line to assist Colonel McGroarty, who had daringlE advanced his regiment to the front.
 Our right flank was completely turn ed and our left at the same time so superior was the eneny's force The First Corps was giving way and the Eleventh found it impossible to maintain it's position the First dfyt- sion retired in good order and the Third fell back nearly at the same time.
 Gen. schinrnelpfennag's two aids, Captains schelter and Klenker had their horses shot under them. Gen. ] Schinrn nelpfennig's horse was shot un- der him on the retreat, and he was captured It is presumed that he was wounded. possibly killed before he | was taken.
 The two divisions fell back slowly, pausing occasionally and endeavoring to stem the rebel advance. At this l 1uncture the First brigade of Gen. Sternwerh'e division was ordered up. The brigade was commanded by Col 1 Coster, and the forces engaged con- sisted of three small regiments. The brigade formed on the right of Penn sy1vania. college, little below the foot of Washington street. The bri- gade was too late to more than check the rebel advance for few minutes They were scarcely formed when they were attacked by three rebel columns and completely enveloped on the right 1 Col Coster and his men did all that | brave men could do; but it was so late when they were called out that it was scarcely worth while for them to be slaughtered by the infantry and artillery force to which they were ex- posed.
 The rebels had two batteries playing upon our right flank and rear almost from the time the Eleventh corps first arrived on the field The ubtquitous Dilger with his battery was on Col. Coster's left, in the road on an emil nence It did terrible execution with grape and canister on the advancing rebels The 82nd Ohio was supporting this battery, and 1t was here that Col Robinson was wounded and taken prisoner.
 Our men retreated slowly through Washington street, the rebels closely pursuing and being in advance of many of our troops on the east side of the town. Captain Dilger's battery -e@S ey+1- ook and gave the rebels a parting charge of grape
 As we passed through the town, shot, shell and bullets were whistling masi- caI1y around US, sometimes striking the houses. A shot rfcochetted over a regiment in front Of me and pierced the wall of an inhabited house. A bullet grazed the ear of Captain New comb, with whom I was riding and struck a house near us.
 The ladies of Gettysburg deserve especially honorable mention. While we were retreating they came out up on the sidewalks with composed though anxious faces and offered our soldiers everything needfuI in the way of refreshments. The shot were whistTng meanwhile; but they ap- peared elevated by noble impulses took the most tender care of our wounded as well as those of the reb- els who were captured during the day. How we grieved to leave this inter esting town in the possession Of rebel soldiers,
 We fen back into a, position. south of the town cemetery, which General Howard had at first selected as the only good position that we could se- cure The rebels did not seem % think 1t best to attempt to dis1odge US. The enemy occupied the town on nd fT1efT Fz11a 0f- CTS were stationed in houses near us
 The battle today was well fought. We had 22,o00 against 5o.oO0
 General Howard distinguished him. self for bravery and composure while