Year: 1878

Brig Gen. Stephen H. Weed led the divsion aud though
my recollection of the order in which the regiments


marching does not agree with that of other officers present.


think that regiment the of the brigade
and that the leading regiments OF brigade just
passing that slightly elevated ground north of Little
Round Top when down its slope our left accompanied
by single mounted officer and an orderly rode Gen. g.
IS Warren, our former brigade commander then actngas
Gen Meade's chief engineer Warren straight to-
ward the head of the regiment, where was riding with
the colonel He called ont to Rorke beginning speak
while still eight ten rods from us that he wanted
to up there that the enemy were advancing un
opposed up the opposite side of the HILL down which he
had just come and he wanted our regiment TO meet them
He was evidently greatly excited and spoke in his usual
mpusve STYLE ORorke answered. ''Gen. Weed is ahead
and expects me to follow him. Never mind that"
said Warren 'sbring your regiment up here and will take
the responsibility 1t perplexing situation, but
without hesng Rorke turned to the left and follow
cd the officer who had been riding with Warren, while
Warren himself rode rapidly down the stony hill, whether
in the direction from which we had just come or TO over


take the rest of brigade cannot say but evidently to
t'4nd and order up more troops


We turned off the road to our left and rushed along the
wooded rocky, eastern slope of Little Round Top ascend
ing while at the time moving toward its southern
extremity 1t just here that of the guns of
Hazletts battery rapidly up and plunged directly
through our ranks the horses being urged to frantic efforts
by the whips of their drivers and the cannoners assisting
at the wheels the effort necessary drag the
guns and caissons up the ragged hillside


As reached the crest never to be forgotten
burst upon great basin lay before full of smoke
and fire, and literally swarmng with rderless horses and


fighting fleeing and pursuing men The air was saturated
with the sulphurous fumes of battle and ringing
with the shouts and groans of the combatans The wild
cries of charging lines the rattle of muskey the boom
ing of artillery and the sheks of the wounded the
orchestral accompanimenss of like very hell it,
seas terrific the warning of Mtons ends in Pande-
monum The whole of Sickless corps, and many other
troops that had been TO its support in that chosen
hollow being slaughtered and driven before the i'm
petuous advance of Longstreet But fascinating
this terrible had time TO spend upon it, Bloody
work was ready for at very feet


Round Top conica hill several hundred feet height
lay just to the south of and separated from Little
Round Top, on whose crest we We're now moving by
broad ravne leading down into the basin where the great
fight was raging Right UP this ravne which offered the
easiest place of ascent rebel force outfankng all
troops in the plain below advancing at the very
ment when reached the crest of the hill Vincent
brigade of the 1st Division of CORPS had come up
through the woods the left and just getting into
position and the right of their line had opened fire in the
hollow left when the head of regiment came
the hill.


AS soon as we reached the crest bullets came flying
among We were moving with the right in front
musket was loaded, fact which Warren of courss
knew nothing about when he rushed us up there The
enemy were coming from right and TO order, on the
right by file into line, would have brought into pro-
per position but there was time teexecute it,
time allow the natural impulse which manifested itself
the part of the TO halt and load the instant we
ceiyed the enemy fire. O'Rorke did not hesitate
ment 'Dsmount said he me, for the ground before
us too rough to ride We sprung from our
horses and gave them to the sergeant major ORorke
shouted, 6 Down this way, boys and following him
rushed down the rocky slope with all the moral effect
upon the rebels who coming, if our bayonets
had been fixed and ready TO charge upon them Com
ing abreast of Vincents brigade and taking advantage of
the shelter the huge rocks lying about there afforded the
loaded and fred and in less time than it takes to
write it, the onslaught OF the rebels was fairly checked
and in few minutes the woods in front of cleared
except of the dead and the wounded Such Of the rebels
as had approached SO to make escape almost inn
possible dropped their guns threw UP their hands and
upon slight Stacking of fire rushed In upon nd
gave themselves up prisoners while those took
advantage of the chance left them and retreated in dis
order.


The firing for few minutes very rapid and the
execution on both sides was fearful Captain Sarks of
the leading company received four wounds but with
splendid pluck staid by his till the affair
Captain Sibey of the second company Shot through
both legs and lay perfectly helpless till carried OF o.
Rorke exposed himself with greatest gaantry not taking
the least advantage Of the partial shelter which the rocks
afforded He shot in the neck and dropped instantly
dead without word Captain Spies of company B, was
shot through the body and desperately hurt Lieutenant
Charles Klein, OF the company, and Lieutenant
Hugh McGmw, of Company x, were both wounded in
the leg and both died in consequence OF the enlisted
there twenty five killed and about eighty -four
wounded Klein and BIcIaw died, Spies and Sibey
so badly hurt that they never could reoin and Strks
with his four wounds all of which slight fully re-
covered and after weeks reiOined to n