Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-06-27

| SlckleS' retreatIng forces. RESERVES
had been sent for but were too ia
away to hope to reach the critical
position until it would be occupied by
the enemy, unless that enemy were
stopped. Quickly leaving the fugi-
tives Hancock spurred to where we
stood, calling out as he reached US !:
What regiment is this?'
First Minnesota, replied Col
onel Colvill.
" Charge those lines! commanded
Hancock.
every man realized in an instant
what that order meant-death or
wounds to US all, the sacrifice of the
regiment to gain few minutes time
and save the position and probably the
battlefield. Every man saw and
accepted the necessity for the sacrifice
and responding to Colvill's rapid or
ders, the regiment in perfect line
with arms at right shoulder shift,
was in moment sweeping down the
slope directly upon the enemy's center.
No hesitation, no stopping to fire,
though the men fell fast at every
stride before the concentrated fire
of the whole Confederate force direct
ed upon us as soon as the movement
was observed. Silently, without or
ders and almost from the start, dou-
ble-quick had changed to utmost speed,
for in utmost speed lay the only hope
that any of US would pass through that
storm of lead and strike the enemy.
" 'Charge!' shouted Colvill, as we
neared their first, line and with
leveled bayonets, at full speed, we
rushed upon it-fortunatelY as it was
Slightly disordered in crossing a dry
brook at the foot of tke slope.
"The men were never made who
will stand against leveled bayonets
coming with such momentum ard des-
peration. The first line brcke in our
front as we reached it and rushed
back through the second line, stopping
the whole advance. We then poured
in our first fire. and availing ourselves
of such shelter as the banks of the
dry brook afforded, held the entire
force at bay considerable time and
until cur reserves appeared on the
ridge we had left.
Had the enemy rallied quickly
to counter charge. its great numbers
would have crushed us in a moment
and we would have made but a slight
pause in it's advance. But the fero-
city of our onset seemed to para1yize
them for the time and although they
poured upon US such a terrible and
continuous fire, from the front and en-.
veloping aanks, they kept at respect
full distance from our bayonets until,
before the added FIRE of our first re-
serves. they began to retire and we
were ordered back.
"What Hancock had given US to do
was done thoroughly. The regiment
had stopped the enemy and held back
its mighty force and saved the por-
tion. But at what sacrifice? Nearly
every officer was dead or lay weltes-
ing with bloody wounds, our gallant
colonel and every field officer among
them. Of the 262 men who made
the charge, 215 lay upon the field.
stricken down by rebel bullets, 47
were still in line and not a man was
missing. The annals of war contain
no parallel to the charge. In it's des-
perate valor. complete execution, sue
cessful result and in its sacrifice of
men in proportion to the number en-
gagged. authentic history has no record
with which it can be compared.
The wounded many of whom re-
covered later were gathered in the
darkness by their surviving comrades
and sent to field hospitals, and the
fragment of the regiment lay down
for the night near the place from
which it had been removed to support
the battery. July 3rd we were Joined
by Company F, and by all men of
the regiment who had been detailed
at brigade, division or corps head
quarters and the skeleton regiment
remained at the front until the battle
was virtually ended with the repulse
of Pickett's charge
Colonel Fox, in his carefully pre-.
pared work on Regimental Losses in
the American Civil War;" speaking
of the Second corps at Gettysburg
says:
"Tbe fighting was deadly in the
extreme, the percentage of loss Of the
First Minnesota being without ar
equal in the records of modern war
fare.
He quotes General Hancock as say
ing of ''the charge of the First Min
nesota. - "There is no more gallant
deed recorded in history. ! ordered