The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-12-09

Monuments and tablets mark the
places where corps, divisions. bri-
gades and regiments fought Return
ing to jKcedysVille We took the train
/ for Hagenstowns, a thrifty and beauti-
/ fully located village up to the north
! line of Maryland After dinner at
the hotel We took train again for
Gettysburg. arriving at that famous
village just before nightfall. where
the party was provided with room
and meals for the next one and three
quarter days at the Gettysburg Hotel.
The next morning carriages were
provided to go over the battlefield
under the direction of an experienced
guide. In the forenoon we went TO
the scene of the first days conflict
where the First Corps. Gen, Reynolds
and Eleventh Corps. Gen. Howard
opened the battle one and one-half
miles to the west and northwest of
the village. We were at the monu-
ment that marks the place where
Gen. Reynolds was killed and to the
different monuments where the lines
of battle we're formed only to be
broken and driven back by the more
compact lines of the enemy. Here
the 10th Maine Infantry and the End
and 5th Maine Batteries fought. We
formed in front of the large monu-
ment and a Christian service was
held, Rev Geo. K. Palmer of the
Maine Conference Methodist Church
offered a most impressive prayer.
Comrade Palmer was an active partic-
ipant in this battle. We were on
the Barlow knoll so called, where
Gen. Barlow. commanding a division
in the Eleventh Corps, fell severely
wounded and as our lines were fore
ed back Gen. Gordon, commanding a
Confederate Brigade, bent over Gen.
Barlow and asked what service he
could do for him. Gen. Barlow said
Il have but short time to live-my
wife is at such a hotel in Gettysburg,
do have her come to me if possible
before | die Gordon replied ut
shall be done" The Confederates
had then driven the Union lines from
the village and taken possession and
Cen Gordon directed one of his or
derlies to procure carriage, find Mrs.
Barlow and take her to the wounded
husband This was done and Gen.
Barlow was removed to house near
by, tenderly nursed by his wife and
| lived number of years after. This
vas the pathetic story our guide told
us as We stood by the tablet where
Gen Barlow lay.
From the west side of the village
we were driven round to the east and
southeast to Cemetery Hill and Culps
Hill where the Union lines were re-
formed and fought so desperately to
hold these strategic points. We
drank water from Spangler's Spring
at the foot of Cupls Hill. This
spring was between the battle lines
on the first and second nights of the
| battle and the thirsty Union and Con
federate soldiers mingled freely al
| the spring, mutually agreeing to helI
! themselves to the water without mo-
lestation To use a common army
expression "They drank from the
same canteen" But this occurred
only when the dark shadows of night
rested upon the battlefield. We visit
the National Cemetery where the
slain at the Gettysburg battle are
buried and stand at the tablet that
marks the place where Lincoln stood
when he coined that immortal ad-
dress. We returned to the hotel fol
dinner and started in another direc-
ton for the afternoon, going first to
Seminary Ridge, where the Confeder-
ate battle lines were formed on the
second and third days. We follow
Confederate Avenue in a southerly
direction until we come to the point
where Picketts lines were formed to
make that awful charge on the Tn
ion Center the third day. From
thence to the Peach orchard and
wheat fields where the Third Corps,
under Gen. Sickles met the onslaught
of Longstreet's Columns on the sec
ond day Here were engaged me
3rd Maine, 4th Maine and 18th Maine