The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-03
REAL FIGHTING
As Seen by l.. l.. Conright at the
Battle of Gettsburg

As Seen by l.. l.. Conright at the
Battle Of Gettsburg
| have some history here that
was taken from the official
records of the 147 N. Y. r. the
active part they took at Getts-
burg written by our major Coey
and published in the National
Tribune. | wish you would give
it to your readers, as | have
heard some men say that the
Civil War was only skirmish in
comparison with the war in Eur.
,ope. | want to say that we
did not get in breast works 3 Or
4 miles apart and shot bullets
about the size of small pea; no,
we stood face to face a few rods
apart and shot ounce bullets that
made a hole through a man the
size of beer keg This is what
l call hard fighting as the follow
ing history will show and after
reading it if any man thinks the
civil war was only skirmish
please let me know what real
fighting is.
L. L. CONRIGHT
Editor National Tribune: On the
morning of July l, 1868, Cutters
Brigade; of Wadsworth's Division,
First Corps, was on the advance in the
following order: 10th N. Y. 56th Pa,
147th N. Y, l4th Brooklyn and the
95th N. Y, the cavalry ahead. The
roar OF their artilley and the circ!ing
smoke of their bursting shells were
evidence that after nearly 30 days
march. we had met the enemy at
-'Gettysburg," Pa.
The brigade was ordered on the
double-quick, load at will, hurrying
the assistance of the cavalry, hotly en-
gagged with the enemy just outside OF
Gettysburg.
The head OF the brigade reached
the railroad cut, crossing it at the
middle or second ridge. The 10th
N. Y. and 56th Pa. continuing on
along this second ridge, but the 147th
N. Y, which had halted to let Halls
Battery (Which had come tearing and
galloping along). pass. Perceiving
that the l4th Brooklyn and the 95th
N. Y were not following, the 147th
Ny, on crossing the cut WAS. faced
to the left in line OF battle, and pro-
.ceeded to the third ridge. Immediately
opening fire on strong line of the
enemy's skirmishers, which had at
tackled Halls Battery, in short time
silencing one of his pieces. Hall had
been fiercely attacked, and withdrew
his battery under the supporting fire
of the l47th N. Y, with the exception
of one of his guns.
Hall undoubtedly was sent in to
present strong front to the enemy,
sustained by infantry, thus checking
or regarding the advance of the
enemy until the arrival OF the rest of
the corps on the field. The fire OF
the 147th N. Y. had checked and driv-
en- back this line of skirm;shers, thus
enabling Hall to withdraw his battery,
expecting the one piece abOye alluded
to.
The advancing line Of the enemy,
extending beyond the right of the
147th N. Y, meeting with but little or
no opposition, continued their march.
ORDER TO RETIRE NOT RECEIVED
The 10th N. Y. and the 56th Pa,
which had advanced on the second
l. idge, distant some 300 yards or less
from the third ridge, had received
orders to retire. The order had also
be en- given to the Lieutenant-Colonel
in command of the l47th N. Y. (lts
Colonel being absent), but being
wounded in the head at the moment
of receipt of order, the Lieutenant
Colonel went to the rear, failing to
notify Mai. George A. Harvey, who
succeeded to the command.
The Major ordered the right COM
pany to break to the rear at right
angles to the front line; the fire from
this company stopped for the moment
the enemy's advance on that flank.
The line OF the l47th N. Y. was
lying in field at and below the ridge,
a wheat field, ready for the harvest.
The fire of the enemy, the tipping of
their bullets, cut the grain. completely
covering the men, who would reach
over the ridge, take deliberate aim,
fire and then slide back under their
canopy or covering OF straw; reload
and continue their firing. Those OF
the regiment wounded here were
wounded in the head or upper part OF
the body, consequently more fatal.
One hundred and twenty-six OF the
155 dead and missing lost in three
L