Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-06-27
FAMOUS CHARGE
NOW RECALLED
GALLANTRY OF THE FIRST
MINNESOTA.
Narrative of Unequaled Deed
Written by Late Judge Loeb
rem. Sam Smith, Christ Klein
and c. K. Light Leave for
Gettysburg Today.

Samuel Smith, Christian Kline
and ". c. Light leave today to attend
the celebration of the 50th annivers-
ary of the battle of Gettysburg, in
which they participated.
They will leave on the II :25 train
this morning and will be escorted to
the depot by the citizens.
Mr.. Smith was member of the
First Minnesota and participated in
the famous charge which won for the
First Minnesota a glorious name in
the military annals of all time. He
was a member of Company K, which
came back from the charge with only
one corporal and four men. They
went into the battle the next day,
the regiment having $50 men in line,
including the few survivors from the
charge and also companies F and c.
which we're not in the charge.
Mr.. Light was a member of the
F. 98rd Pennsylvania Volunteers. and
enlisted on June 25th. only a rew
days previous to the battle. He was
then only in his 18th year. He was
in the line of battle on the third
day when Iickett's charge was re-
pulsed and served thru the rest of the
war.
Mr.. Kline was a member of the
10th New York Cavalry.
The state legislature made an ap-
preparation in behalf of the surviving
members of the First Minnesota regi-
ment and of surviving members of
other regiments, Union or Confeder.
ate, now residents of this state, who
participated in the memorable battle
of Gettysburg so years ago, to enable
them to attend the semi.centennial
of that battle in July next, at Gettys-
burg. Pa, the following extracts from
the late Judge William Lochren's
Narrative of the First Minnesota"
are of special interest.
''The Second corps Ito which the
First Minnesota belonged) was placed
in position on the line to the left of
the cemetery being joined on its left
by Sickles' Third corps, which ex.
tended that line to the vicinity of the
Little Round Top. For some reason
the First Minnesota regiment was
not placed in this line, but apparently
in reserve, short distance to the
rear. Some time after noon Sickles
advanced the Third corps half mile
or more to a slight ridge near the
Emmitsburg road, his left extending
to DEVILS Den in front of and near
the base of Little Round TOp and
Company of the First Minnesota
was detached as skirmishers and sent
in that direction. the remaining eight
companies, numbering 262 men Com
pany C was also absent, being provost
guard of the division) were sent to
the center of the line just vacated by
Sickles' advance to support Battery
G of the Fourth United States artil-
lery.
"No other troops were then near
US and we stood by this battery in
full view of Sickles' battle in the
peach orchard, half mile in front,
and witnessed with eager anxiety the
fortunes of that sanguinary conflict
until at length, with gravest appre-
hension, we saw Sickles' men give
way before the heavier forces of
Longstreet and Hill. rallying at short
intervals but. at length broken and
in utter disorder, rushing down the
slope and past our position near the
rear. followed by the eager brigades
of Wilcox and Barksdale, moving
steadily in the flush of victory and
firing on the fugitives.
'They had reached the lower ground
and in few minutes would be at our
position near the rear of the left flank
of our line, which they could roll up
as Stonewall Jackson did the Eleventh
corps at Charlottesville. There was
no organized force near to oppose
them, except our handful of 262 men.
Most soldiers in the face of the near
advance of such an overpowering
force, which had defeated consider
able portion of an army corps (com
posed of many regimentsl would have
caught the panic and joined the re-
treating masses. But the First Min
nesota had never yet deserted any
post. had never retired without orders
and desperate as the situation was
the regiment stood firm against what
ever might come.
''Just then Hancock with single
aide road up at full speed and fer 9