hN» «w. Class £6pS5 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 1861-5 A PHOTOGRAPH OF OUR OLD LIFE. SPARKS ™CAW FIRS, (■K Tales of the Old Veterans. THRILLING STORIES HEROIC DEEDS, BRAVE ENCOUNTERS, DESPERATE BATTLES, BOLD ACHIEVEMENTS, RECKLESS DARING, LOFTY PATRI- OTISM, TERRIBLE SUFFERING AND WONDROUS FORTITUDE. AS RE-TOLD TO-DAY AROUND THE MODERN CAMP FIRE. NEW AND REVISED EDITION CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY COMRADES. So, EDITED BY ITKD JOSEPH W. 'MORTON, Jr. 1 1 ILLUSTRATED. PHILADELPHIA: THE KEYSTONE PUBLISHING CO. 1890. Copyright By JOSEPH W. MORTON, JR. 1890. CA.TJTI03ST. THE ENGRAVINGS AND COLORED PLATES IN THIS BOOK. AS WELL AS THE PRINTED MATTER, BEING FULLY PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT, WE DESIRE TO CAUTION ALL PERSONS AGAINST COPYING OR REPRO- DUCING IN ANY FORM. ANY ONE SO OF- FENDING WILL BE PROSECUTED. ?s? - B -s FRSF ACS '=- §N preparing this new and enlarged edition of Sparks From the Camp-Fire, we have simply yielded to the wishes of our esteemed friends, the public, who have demanded a book which shall be fuller and more complete than the modest little volume which first bore the title named above. In the preparation of this volume we have been nobly aided by very many of the veterans, some of whose con- tributions have been published as received, while others have had the revision of the editor. Most of the contributors, through that motive of modesty which is such a distinctive trait of the true soldier, have denied us the privilege of using their names, while in a few cases we have insisted so strongly that we have been granted the privilege of stating the authorship. We do not feel obliged to offer any apology for the publication of Sparks From the Camp-Fire. The events of 1861-65 will always form a conspicu- ous part of American history. The stories of the battle-field and camp-fire never grow old, nor does time detract one jot from their interest. They form the principal topic of conversation around the modern " camp-fire," where the battle-scarred veterans of the late civil war meet and rehearse in peace and quiet- ness the stirring episodes in which they have figured in by-gone years. Those there are who say " let by-gones be by-gones," " let us forget all about the war ;" but we cannot endorse these sentiments. Men who talk thus are not those whose life-blood watered the gory field — not those who went promptly to the front when danger threatened, ready to sacrifice life or limb upon the altar of patriotism. As a general rule this cry proceeds from the same class of self- righteous citizens who are always ready to oppose the granting of pensions, and to assist into positions of power men who, in the dark days of the early Sixties, stood with folded arms ready to embrace the cause of the victorious party, no matter which it might prove to be. We know that the war is over ; the strife has ceased ; the victory has been won ; but the story of the great conflict will never diminish in interest, and the tales of veterans will always command respect and attention. Whatever is worth talking about is worth writing ; and whatever is worth writing is worth publishing. PREFACE. This volume contains nothing but true stories — real incidents — the truth of which has been thoroughly attested. No embellishments are needed to make such a work thrilling and interesting. The most 'gifted writer of fiction can add nothing to the romance of war stories, of which it may be truly said, "Truth is stranger than fiction." Let us keep alive the memories of the gallant deeds of 1861-65 ! Not with malice and bitterness, but with love, charity and thanksgiving. Let us encour- age the rising generation to honor the memory of the heroes now fast passing away. It will tend to promote patriotism and national pride — a result devoutly to be wished. The illustrations deserve more than passing mention. Not only are they numerous, but they represent the best work of such noted artists as Edwin Forbes, the famous etcher of war scenes, Frank L. Fithian, the popular artist of " Puck " and " Texas Siftings," James Thompson, the rising color artist, and others of almost equal skill and prominence. No soldier- book, sold at a popular price, has ever contained one-half the wealth of illustrations — vivid and real- istic — that will be found in this volume. In conclusion we may say that the chief object of the editor has been to chronicle the minor incidents of the great conflict. Detailed histories and official records must of necessity be resorted to for the graver and weightier matters, for criticism or censure of the more prominent actors in the gory drama ; but this volume tells of the experience of private soldiers, innumerable incidents of ad- venture and daring, items of personal endurance and suffering, details of peril by flood and field — the rollicking, luxuriant humor of the camp cropping out with refreshing frequency. It cannot fail to be interesting, and we now submit our work to the critical "inspection" of the " rank and file," in the hope that it may "pass muster" and that its readers may be numbered in a very " long roll." THE EDITOR. Mat, 1890. ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE FRONTISPIECE meade's army marching into Pennsylvania E. Forbes. 16 THE BATTLE-FIELD OF GETTYSBURG — FIRST DAY 19 CHARGE OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHTH PENNSYLVANIA 21 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE GORDON MEADE . . . . .26 THE BATTLE-FIELD OF GETTYSBURG SECOND AND THIRD DAYS . . 27 A skirmisher ■ . . . . F. L. Fithian. 29 IN THE DEVIL'S DEN 33 DEFENDING THE LONG BRIDGE, WASHINGTON, D. C 37 GENERALS MEADE AND WARREN ON LITTLE ROUND TOP . E. Forbes. 41 pickett's charge — at the bloody angle. James Thompson. Opposite 46 A RAILROAD BATTERY 49 BEFORE SEEING ACTIVE SERVICE 50 BUSHWHACKERS 53 "the tenacious wretch GAVE A WILD CONVULSIVE LEAP." F. L. Fithian. 54 FORDING A VIRGINIA CREEK < . 56 EARLY MORNING ADVANCE ON MEMPHIS • . . .59 COMMODORE A. H. FOOTE , . v . 62 FLAG-SHIP BENTON 63 REAR-ADMIRAL DAVID G. FARRAGUT 65 THE CELEBRATED STONE BRIDGE OVER ANTIETAM CREEK ... 67 UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH WAGON 70 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE FORT SUMTER BEFORE THE BOMBARDMENT ...... 73 FORT SUMTER AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT 75 " I fled onward " . . . E. Forbes. 77 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE CROOK ........ 79 SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK 81 SPECIMENS OF EARLY'S ARMY AFTER THE " TWIST " . . . . 82 OLD hardy's HOME 85 burnside's FAMOUS MUD MARCH 89 THE SCOUT'S REVENGE — " LOCKED IN FEARFUL STRIFE." F. L. Fithian . 95 A CAVALRY RECONNOISSANCE BY NIGHT 99 winter quarters . E. Forbes. 101 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN M. PALMER 105 A prompt resurrection F. L. Fithian. 109 A FIELD HOSPITAL 109 MAJOR-GENERAL BENJAMIN F. BUTLER .111 REPORTING TO THE SURGEON . . . . ■ . . E. Forbes. 113 MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE 127 grand review of the armies, Washington. James Thompson Opposite 126 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN G. PARKE . . . . . . . 131 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM T. SHERMAN . 135 THE WIDE-AWAKE SENTINEL F. L. Fithian. 140 BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG 149 DAHLGREN'S RECONNOISSANCE 153 " nobody " F. L. Fithian. 163 wounded E. Forbes. 168 DEATH OF A PRISONER ESCAPING FROM LIBBY PRISON . . . .185 GUNNYBAG UNIFORMS FROM BELLE ISLE . . F. L. Fithian. 193 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE VICTIMS OF SOUTHERN CRUELTY ' . 197 INTERIOR OF HOSPITAL AT SALISBURY 202 MAP OF ANDERSONVILLE PRISON PEN 207 NEW ARRIVALS AT ANDERSONVILLE 209 a brutal murder at andersonville. James Thompson. . Opposite 210 EXECUTION OF THE SIX DESPERADOES . . .... 213 bang!!! (In Two Parts) F. L. Fithian. 226 parson brownlow 237 Sherman's men tearing up a Georgia railroad 247 the rebel ram merrimac and the cumberland .... 255 general russell a. alger . . . * 267 colonel edward d. baker l . 282 major-general george b. mc clellan 306 map of the antietam battle-ground 308 general mc clellan sending colonel key to general burnside . 314 charge of the fifty-first regiments, new york and pennsylvania. 317 chickamauga — first day . 327 ohickamauga — second day 330 closing in on lee's army E. Forbes. 338 PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES UPON THE REBELLION . . . 343 MAP OF ROANOKE ISLAND . . 348 CHARGE OF HAWKINS' ZOUAVES 351 GRIERSON'S TROOPERS ON THEIR RAID 363 FREDERICKSBURG BATTLEFIELD . . . . . . . . 371 LAYING THE PONTOON BRIDGES AT FREDERICKSBURG .... 372 ESCAPING PRISONERS FED BY NEGROES 382 MAP OF COLD HARBOR BATTLEFIELD 384 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE VIEW OF THE BATTLEFIELD AT COLD HARBOR 388 FAC SIMILE OF PAGE FROM A CONFEDERATE JOURNAL . . Opposite 388 A battery going into action. James Thompson . . Opposite 390 army corps badges — plate i Opposite 420 " I can lick the galoot that salted this water "... 425 crossing the kapidan 426 interior of fort sumter during the bombardment . . . 428 battlefield of chattanooga and vicinity 432 edwin m. stanton . • . . 433 view from lookout mountain . 439 army corps badges — plate ii. . . . • . Opposite 444 " NOTHING LESS THAN THE PALISADES OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN COULD HAVE STOPPED THEM " 448 MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. MC PHERSON 451 army corps badges — plate in . Opposite 486 major stephenson 489 chaplain rutledge 490 major north 492 major-general stephen a. hurlbut . . . . . . . 493 major-general john alexander logan 495 major-general ambroses. burnside 498 major-general john f. hartranft 501 general john c. robinson 504 general louis wagner 508 a frequent occurrence 514 map of Sherman's march from Atlanta to the sea . . . 520 general lucius fairchild 523 ILLUSTRATIONS. pagk GENERAL JOSEPH R. HAWLET 526 GENERAL JOSHUA T. OWEN 529 FORAGING — A REMINDER OF BY-GONE DAYS 531 SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE 535 EX-COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN P. REA 537 RAW RECRUITS AT THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN .... 541 BADGE OF THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND 549 BADGE OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC 551 BADGE OF THE WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS 555 MRS. E. FLORENCE BARKER ..' 556 MRS. KATE B. SHERWOOD 557 MRS. SARAH E. FULLER 558 MRS. ELIZABETH D'ARCY KINNE 558 MRS. EMMA S. HAMPTON 559 MRS. CHARITY RUSK CRAIG 560 army corps badges — plate iv. ..,".. Opposite 568 ILLUSTRATIONS. FULL-PAGE COLORED ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGB FRONTISPIECE pickett's charge — at the bloody angle . . . Opposite 46 GRAND REVIEW OF THE ARMIES, WASHINGTON . . . Opposite 128 A BRUTAL MURDER AT ANDERSONVILLE .... Opposite 210 A BATTERY GOING INTO ACTION Opposite 390 army corps badges — plate i Opposite 420 army corps badges — plate ii Opposite 444 army corps badges — plate in Opposite 486 army corps badges — plate iv Opposite 568 PORTRAITS. major-general george gordon meade 26 commodore a. h. foote 62 rear-admiral d. g. farragut . .65 major-general george crook 79 major-general john m. palmer . 105 major-general benjamin f. butler ill major-general ambrose e. burnside 127 major-general john g. parke 131 major-general william t. sherman 135 parson brownlow 237 general russell a. alger 267 colonel edward d. baker 282 major-general george b. mc clellan 306 edwin m. stanton 433 major-general james b. mc pherson 451 major stephenson 489 chaplain rutledge 490 major north 492 major-general stephen a. hurlbut 493 major-general john alexander logan 495 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE 498 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN F. HARTRANFT 501 GENERAL JOHN C. ROBINSON 504 GENERAL LOUIS WAGNER 508 GENERAL LUCIUS FAIRCHILD 523 GENERAL JOSEPH R. HAWLEY 526 GENERAL JOSHUA T. OWEN . . 529 EX-COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF JOHN P. REA 587 MRS. E. FLORENCE BARKER 556 MRS. KATE B. SHERWOOD 557 MRS. SARAH E. FULLER 558 MRS. ELIZABETH D'ARCY KINNE 558 MRS. EMMA S. HAMPTON 559 MRS. CHARITY RUSK CRAIG 560 MAPS. the battlefield of gettysburg — first day .... 19 the battlefield of gettysburg — second and third days . . 27 andersonville prison pen 207 antietam battleground 308 chickamauga — first day 327 chickamauga — second day 330 roanoke island 348 fredericksburg battlefield 371 cold harbor battlefield . . : 384 battlefield of chattanooga and vicinity 432 Sherman's march from Atlanta to the sea . . . . 520 -=*wpexN- PAGH THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG . . . . ■ . 15 Scene of the Battle 17 FIRST DAY 18 Opening of the Battle 18 Driven Back Through Gettysburg . . . .23 SECOND DAY 25 Position of the Armies . . . . . . . »28 Assault on the Third Corps 30 Defence of Little Round Top . . . . .31 In Front of the Second Corps ..... 34 Ewell's Attack on the Left 35 THIRD DAY . ... . . . . . 39 The Defence of Culp's Hill 40 Lee's Supreme Effort 42 The Artillery Duel . . . . . . .43 Pickett's Rash Charge . . . . . .44 At the "Bloody Angle" . . . . .45 CAPTURED BY A LOUISIANA TIGER ... 47 In the Tiger's Claws . 49 Choosing Between Life and Death .... 50 GEN. THOMAS W. SWEENEY AT SHILOH ... 51 TWO MARVELLOUS STORIES 52 INDEX. PAGE THRILLING ADVENTURE OF A SPY .... 52 HOW JIM LOST HIS SWEETHEART .... 55 A PROPHETIC PRESENTIMENT 57 NAVAL BATTLE OF MEMPHIS 58 Advancing to the Attack ...... 58 Battle of the Rams 61 Gallantry and Humanity of the Union Tars . . 64 Utter Destruction of the Rebel Flotilla ... 64 A WEIRD STORY OF ANTIETAM 66 A SCOUT'S FIRST ADVENTURE 69 The Scout's Narrative 69 The Scout's Escape 76 BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK 78 THE SCOUT'S REVENGE 84 A MINNESOTIAN'S DESPERATE ENCOUNTER . . 97 BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN . . . . . 97 A STRANGE SIGHT IN BATTLE 103 DRAWING RATIONS 103 A GOOD SCHEME THAT DIDN'T WORK . . .104 A SPEEDY RESURRECTION 105 HEROISM IN THE HOSPITAL 107 ZAGONYI'S FAMOUS CAVALRY CHARGE . . 114 Zagonyi Joins White 115 Capture of Major White 116 Zagonyi Reaches the Enemy's Rear . . . .117 Running the Terrible Gauntlet 118 Major White's Prairie Scouts 120 INDEX. PAGE Charge of the Body Guard 121 After the Battle . .122 Incidents of the Battle 123 Major White Releases Himself and Captures His Captors 124 REVIEW OF THE ARMIES, MAY 23-24, 186$ S" • 125 Review of Meade's Army 126 Review of Sherman's Army 130 Disbanding the Army 134 FUN IN A REBEL PRISON . . . . s. g. Boone. 136 An Obliging but Imprudent Porker .... 137 A SOLDIER WITH IRON NERVE .... 138 KENTUCK AGAINST KENTUCK 139 THE IRISH OF IT 140 A DESERTER'S TERRIBLE ORDEAL ■ . . . .141 STORY OF A LITTLE DRUMMER BOY . . .142 A SOLDIER WITHOUT REGIMENT OR COMPANY . 145 DAHLGREN'S CAVALRY DASH 152 PRAYING FOR THE PRESIDENT . . . . .156 A NIGHT ADVENTURE ON THE POTOMAC . . 157 BRAGG AND HIS HIGH PRIVATE 162 ONCE FOES, NOW FRIENDS 164 THEY SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE 165 THE PROSE OF BATTLES 166 PRISON PENS OF DIXIE 177 Treatment of Rebel Prisoners in Federal Prisons . 179 LIBBY PRISON . . 183 INDEX. PAGE Description of the Building . .,..••. . . 183 Living in Close Quarters . ... . . 184 Deprivations and Discomforts 186 Rations 188 Dungeons and Cells of Libby . . . ■ . . 189 Eating Refuse from Spittoons, etc 190 Number of Prisoners Confined — Deaths . . .190 The Crowning Act of Infamy 191 BELLE ISLE .......... 192 Incidents Related by a Surviving Ex-prisoner . . 196 SALISBURY PRISON 201 Accommodations and Rations ..... 201 The Hospitals at Salisbury 202 December at Salisbury ......... 203 The Massacre 204 Plans for Escape . . 205 ANDERSONVILLE . . 206 Location and Surroundings 206 A Picture of Desolation 208 Rations 211 Suffering and Death . v 212 Execution of the Thieves 215 Number of Men Imprisoned — Deaths . . .216 ESCAPE FROM COLUMBIA PRISON . . s.g. Boone. 216 SURROUNDING FIVE OF THEM . . . . .222 A BLUFF THAT WON . . . . . . .222 HOW THE REBS DIDN'T TAKE CLARK WRIGHT . 223 INDEX. I PAGE HE BLEW UP HIS MESSMATES ... . .225 THE FOURTEENTH AT GETTYSBURG . . .227 A " KID-GLOVE " BRIGADIER . . . . . .233 A PAYMENT LONG DEFERRED 234 OLD BEN, THE MOUNTAIN SCOUT . . . .234 SAMPLES OF IRISH WIT 242 TRIALS OF MISSOURI UNIONISTS . . ' . . .243 A THRILLING RAILROAD ADVENTURE IN WEST VIRGINIA 245 A MILITARY PIGEON 250 SELF-PRESERVATION BEFORE BRAVERY . . . 251 JOE PARSONS, THE MARYLAND BOY . . .252 THE FIGHT AT HAMPTON ROADS . l. b. gw. 253 Sinking of the Cumberland . . . . . 257 The Congress Burned 258 Attack on the Minnesota 259 The Merrimac Encounters the Monitor. . . . 260 NOTABLE SURVIVORS OF WILSON'S CREEK . . 262 CAPTURING A GUN l. b. cassei. 262 SHERIDAN'S FIRST BATTLE . . . . .263 Raid on Booneville 264 Two Regiments Against a Whole Division . . 265 Captain Russell A. Alger's Forlorn Hope . . . 267 Desperate Charge of the Michigan and Iowa Troopers 270 A DARING ADVENTURE . . . ... L . s. cassei. 272 CLEANING OUT THE ALABAMA GUERRILLAS . 273 Persecution of the Unionists 273 INDEX. PAGK Fight at the Cave 274 The Four Guerrilla Prisoners 276 The Oath of Allegiance 277 A SHARPSHOOTER'S DUEL 281 DEATH OF COLONEL E. D. BAKER .... 282 AN INCIDENT OF ROMNEY 284 CAVALRY FIGHT AT BEVERLY FORD . . . 285 THE EVACUATION OF RICHMOND .... 290 DEATH OF J. WILKES BOOTH . . . . . 292 A WONDERFUL RECOVERY 303 BATTLE OF THE MULES . , 304 Charge of the Mule Brigade 304 THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM 305 At South Mountain ........ 307 Battlefield of Antietam 308 Hooker's Attack on Jackson 310 Mansfield Comes to the Rescue 311 Franklin's Gallant Boys 310 On the Center and Left 315 On the Union Left 315 STEALING A LOCOMOTIVE 319 A BOY HERO . . 325 THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA .... 326 Saturday's Battle 326 A Gory Sabbath Day . . . . . . 328 "TheRockofChickamauga" . . . . .331 INDEX. PAGE " Forward ! Charge Bayonets !".... 332 Thrilling Description by an Eye-Witness . . . 333 THEY WERE BOTH SCARED . . . . .334 A SUCCESSFUL STRATAGEM 335 THE BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS . . . . . 336 Brilliant Work of the Fifth Corps . . . .339 NEVER HEARD OF THE WAR 345 GOOD JOKE ON GENERAL SHERMAN . . . .346 THE BATTLE OF ROANOKE ISLAND ... 347 A FRIGHTENED CONTRABAND 355 GRIERSON'S GREAT CAVALRY RAID .b. h. Grierson. 356 Colonel Grierson's Own Story 357 Incidents of the Raid . . . . . . 366 A MEETING AFTER MANY YEARS . . . .367 TWO GOOD IRISH STORIES 369 THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. . ". .370 Preparing for the Battle 370 Laying Pontoons Under Fire 372 Michigan and Massachusetts Volunteers . . . 373 Crossing the Rappahannock . . . . . . 373 The Attack on the Left 374 Meade's Pennsylvanians to the Front 374 The Slaughter on the Right Wing .... 375 Hooker's Last Assault 377 ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON 378 Tunneling Under Difficulties 378 INDEX. PAGK Success at Last 380 Through the Virginia Swamps 381 Aided by the Negroes 382 THE BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR . . . . .384 VALUE OF PRESENCE OF MIND . . . . .386 A RECENT VISIT TO LIBBY PRISON . c. f. currie. 387 THE BATTLE OF MALVEKN HILL ... . 389 Disposition of the Union Forces . . . . 389 The Opening Engagement . . . . . . 390 Renewing the Attack 391 A Victory with no Spoils 392 Some Pointed Comments 392 LEW WALLACE'S DIVISION AT SHILOH . Wallace. 393 Charging Down the Open Field . . . . 394 A Critical Position 395 Victory at Last . . . . " . . 396 MORGAN'S RAID THROUGH OHIO . . . .397 Morgan on the Move 397 Through Kentucky .398 Crossing the Ohio River . . . ... . 399 Pillaging Towns and Villages 400 Close Pursuit by the Federal Cavalry . . . 402 On through the Buckeye State . . .•'■'. . 403 Swinging Around Cincinnati . . . . . 403 On the Rebels' Trail . . . . . . .405 Through Brown, Adams and Scioto Counties . . 405 INDEX. PAGE Hobson in Hot Pursuit 406 Morgan's Great Blunder 407 Closing in on the Raiders 408 Death of Daniel McCook ... .409 A Sharp Engagement ... ... 410 Continuing the Pursuit of Morgan .... 410 Another Militia Poltroon 413 Through the Heart of Patriotic Ohio . . .414 In the Meshes 415 The Formal Surrender . . . . • .416 Benefits of the Raid 417 Morgan's Escape from the Penitentiary . . . 418 ARMY CORPS AND CORPS BADGES . . . .418 GOOD JOKE ON GENERAL SHERMAN . . .424 NOT USED TO SALT WATER . . . ' . . .425 SWEARING IN A CONTRABAND 426 UNDER FIRE AT CHARLESTON 429 DESERVED A JOB ■ . .430 IN THE CHATTANOOGA VALLEY . . . .433 BATTLE OF WAUHATCHIE 435 ORCHARD KNOB 437 LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN 438 The Battle Above the Clouds 441 MISSIONARY RIDGE 443 Sherman's Army Advances 444 Hooker's Advance on the Right .... 445 Unparallelled Charge up the Heights .... 446 INDEX. PACK POST-ROOM RECITATIONS . . . . . .452 A POET'S VISION 452 "review of the grand army of the dead." YACOB AT LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN 454 THE DEAD COLONEL IN THE BLUE . . .455 A DECORATION DAY POEM 456 NIGHT AFTER SHILOH . . . . . . .457 THE OLD SERGEANT . .460 A RHYME OF THE NAVY 463 THE GREAT COMMANDER 465 LINCOLN'S LAST DREAM 467 THE HEROINE OF TENNESSEE 469 SINCE MICKEY GOT KILT IN THE WAR . . 471 THE CHALLENGE 473 A LITTLE CHILD 474 THE VETERANS .475 ENDING THE WAR . . . . . . . .477 AN ANTIDOTE FOR COWARDICE 478 HISTORY OF GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC 479 ODE TO FRATERNITY, CHARITY AND LOYALTY . 479 ORIGIN AND PURPOSE .480 Third Army Corps Union 480 Society of the Army of the Tennessee . . . 480 Helpfulness the Keynote of Veterans' Societies . . 481 Hearts Joined by Mutual Sorrow and Danger . . . 482 Political Exigencies Demand Organization . . . 484 Politics Check the Growth of the Order . . .486 Triumphing Over Difficulties 488 INDEX. PACE CHRONOLOGY OF THE ORDER 490 Birthplace of the G. A*. R 490 Declaration of Principles 491 The First National Encampment 493 Memorial Day Instituted 494 The Grant-Greeley Campaign 499 Beginning of Pension Legislation .... 501 Sons of Veterans and Woman's Relief Corps . . 506 " Section 1754, Revised Statutes " . . . .508 Wonderful Growth of the Order 509 One Hundred Thousand New Members . . . 512 Overcoming the Opposition of Religious Sects . . 513 Retrospective Musings 551 Individual Duties of Every Comrade .... 552 Special Duties of the Loyal Legion .... 553 FEMININE ALLIES OF THE G. A. R 554 Soldiers' Aid Societies 555 Woman's Work not Finished in '65 .... 556 Woman's Relief 'Corps 558 CHRONOLOGY BY DEPARTMENTS . . . .561 Department of Illinois 561 Department of Wisconsin 562 Department of Pennsylvania 563 Department of Ohio . . . . . . 563 Department of Connecticut 564 Department of New York 565 Department of Massachusetts 56Q INDEX. PAGE Department of New Jersey 566 Department of Maine . . . . . 567 Department of California (Including Nevada) . . 567 Department of Rhode Island 568 Department of New Hampshire . . ." . . 569 Department of Vermont .. = ... 569 Department of the Potomac 569 Department of Maryland 570 Department of Nebraska . . ... . . . 570 Department of Michigan . . . . . .571 Department of Iowa 571 Department of Indiana 572 Department of Kansas ....... 572 Department of Delaware 573 Department of Virginia 574 Department of Minnesota 574 Department of Missouri 574 Department of Colorado and Wyoming . . . 575 Department of Oregon ...... 575 Department of Kentucky 576 Department of West Virginia 576 Department of Dakota 576 Department of Washington and Alaska . . . 576 Department of New Mexico . . . . . 577 Department of Utah ....... 577 Department of Tennessee 577 Department of Arkansas 577 INDEX. PAGE Department of Louisiana and Mississippi . . . 578 Department of Florida 578 Department of Montana . . . . . . 578 Department of Texas . 579 Department of Idaho . . . . ' . . 579 Department of Arizona . . . . . . 579 Department of Georgia 580 Department of Alabama , 580 t ~ > WQQ&^ m f THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. jN the 28th day of June, 1863, Major-GeDeral George Gordon Meade assumed command of the Army of the Potomac, succeeding General Hooker, who, though a brilliant fighter, had not given satisfaction to the authorities at Washington and was permitted to resign. In fact, his relations with the War Department and the disaffection of some of his inferior officers compelled this course. Yet Hooker's parting from the army caused much genuine grief among the rank and file of his command, who respected and loved the man for his dashing intrepidity and sterling patriotism. The appointment of General Meade created considerable surprise, especially to that gallant officer himself, who was not aware of the high esteem with which he was regarded by President Lincoln. To the new commander was given a great amount of authority — in fact, he was almost absolutely untrammelled, and was directed to act entirely upon his own judgment. The President waived, in his favor, all the prerogatives of the Executive. Meade used this power with rare discretion and proved that Mr. Lincoln's confidence was not mis- placed. Whether Hooker, Burnside, or any other of his predecessors would have made a better showing if given the same freedom of action can only be conjectured. But few changes were made in the assignments of command and only those that were absolutely necessary. Meade's Corps — the Fifth — was placed under command of Sykes ; Hancock led the Second Corps, vice Couch, who had been assigned to the department of the Susquehanna ; Reynolds commanded the First ; Sickles the Third ; Sedgwick the Sixth; Howard the Eleventh, and Slocum the Twelfth. Meade's entire effective force was about 100,000 men. To oppose this mighty army General Lee had about 98,000 men and nearly 300 guns, besides a strong force of cavalry which was pressing toward the north apart from the infantry columns. Lee's headquarters, on June 28th, were at Chambersburg, Pa., and portions of his command had advanced as far as Carlisle and York, while Meade's army was located at Frederick, Maryland. The old Keystone State was apparently at the mercy of the invaders, who were levying tribute right and left, (15) 16 THE BATTLE OP GETTYSBURG. and striking terror to the hearts of the whole North. The inhabitants of Franklin, Adams, York and Cumberland counties fled in droves to the northern hills, driving their cattle and other farm animals before them. Philadelphia, the " hot bed of abolitionism," lay almost within ^$MMh tip ; " -mm 4 r the grasp of the Southern hordes. The outlook was dark indeed; but by a series of most fortunate accidents, supplemented by some magnifi- cent generalship and a display of heroism never equaled in the world's history, the onward march of the enemy was soon stopped and his broken columns thrown back beyond the Potomac in all but utter rout. SCENE OF THE BATTLE. 17 Immediately upon assuming command of the army, General Meade started his columns northward and threw them between the enemy and the rich prize on the banks of the Delaware. Before Lee was aware of his antagonist's intention, the head of Meade's column had crossed the Pennsylvania line and reached the South Mountain. Meantime, Lee's cavalry, under Stuart, had essayed to reach the main army by a detour still further east, by way of Hanover, and found themselves cut off by the rapid advance of Meade. Hooker was forced to fight at Chancellorsville without his cavalry, and Lee had a similar misfortune at Gettysburg. Being without those " eyes of the army," Lee was in ignorance of the proximity of Meade and was overtaken and forced to fight on ground not of his own choosing. SCENE OF THE BATTLE. The town of Gettysburg, now rendered immortal as the scene of the greatest battle of modern times, lies in a beautiful valley between two of the series of ridges that traverse the southern part of Pennsyl- vania. The general direction of these ridges is from north to south, and they are broken here and there by irregular depressions and knolls, giving the country a rolling and diversified aspect. From the town of Gettysburg a number of roads and turnpikes diverge. The Carlisle road runs almost north; the Harrisburg road bears to the northeast; the York road to the east; the Baltimore turnpike to the southeast; the Taneytown road due south; the Emmittsburg road southwest ; the Hagerstown road to the west, and the Chambersburg and Shippensburg roads to the northwest. The railroad from York enters the town from the east. West of the town is a long sloping range of hills called Seminary or Oak Ridge; to the north is a slight elevation almost at right angles to this. South of the town is another range of hills of peculiar formation, somewhat resembling a fish-hook, with the curve towards Gettysburg. On the brow of this hill is located a cemetery, from which the range takes the generic name of Cemetery Hill. Two miles south of the cemetery, and a little to the west, is Round Top, an elevation of some four hundred feet, which forms the end of the stem of the " fish-hook ;" a short distance to the north of this is a smaller knob called Little Round Top, a bold and rocky prominence nearly three hundred feet high; then comes a range of hills up to the cemetery, where the ridge curves and runs back almost a mile to Wolf's Hill, forming the point of the " hook," Culp's Hill forming the barb. A more perfect place for defensive military operations could hardly be conceived. The rugged character of the ground, with its rocky 18 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. ledges and huge boulders, make it a sort of natural fortification, forming almost three-quarters of a circle, within which wagon trains may be protected and troops transferred from point to point with the greatest secrecy and almost absolute safety. To the west of the main stem of Cemetery Ridge, and opposite the Round Tops, the ground falls off in a gentle slope through a cultivated valley, rising again in another and parallel crest — Seminary Ridge — about a mile distant. In this valley and on the slope of Cemetery Hill, human blood was poured out like water during those two July afternoons. Around the head of the ridge, opposite the town and beyond, the battle raged fiercely and bloody work was done, but it was on the bosom of the peaceful valley above described that the demon of war laid his thousands of victims those fateful days. FIRST DAY. General Buford's cavalry reached Gettysburg on June 29th, and remained there until the morning of July 1st, when Buford pushed forward toward the west, over Seminary Ridge to the hills beyond, and took a position over a mile from the town and east of a small creek known as Willoughby Run, his line extending on each side of the Chambersburg road. Buford's object was to intercept the advance of Longstreet and Hill, who were known to be approaching from Chambersburg. OPENING OF THE BATTLE. About nine o'clock in the morning he was assailed by Heth's division, which formed the head of Hill's column, and a furious engagement began at once. The great battle of Gettysburg here commenced. At this time Reynolds' corps was about four miles from Buford, and' rapidly approaching. Howard, with the Eleventh corps, was not far behind him. Knowing this, Buford determined to hold the enemy in check until Reynolds and Howard could come up. This he did most gallantly and skillfully. The troops fought bravely and yielded their ground only by inches, until, at ten o'clock, Reynolds came upon the scene with Wads worth's division, leaving his other two divisions, under Doubleday and Robinson, in reserve on Seminary Ridge. Buford was by this time hard pressed, and although Reynolds had no instruc- tions to bring on a battle, the existing conditions gave him no alter- native. No doubt his fine military eye took in the grand defensive position offered by the rocks and ridges of Cemetery Hill, and he saw FIRST DAY — OPENING OF THE BATTLE. 19 the importance of holding the enemy at bay until the main body of the army of the Potomac should occupy this eminent vantage ground. Whether this be true or not, the stubborn resistance in this opening fight allowed just such a manoeuvre to be executed. Advancing Wadsworth's division to the support of Buford, Reynolds hurriedly sent Howard instructions to push forward with all possible speed. Wadsworth's corps was rapidly placed in position, Cutler's THE BATTLE-FIELD OF GETTYSBURG — FIRST BAY. brigade to the right and Meredith's " Iron Brigade " to the left of the Cashtown road. The Union troops were posted on rising ground and below them lay the enemy, along Willoughby Run. A lot of rebel sharpshooters had crossed the Run and taken possession of a strip of woods, from behind the shelter of which they were picking off our men with great rapidity. Reynolds decided to charge, clear the woods of the sharpshooters, and if possible drive the Rebels from their posi- tion. With his characteristic boldness the brave commander rode forward to reconnoitre and ascertain, if possible, the strength and position of the hostile force. While thus engaged in preparing for the onslaught, the gallant Reynolds fell — shot through the neck by a rebel sharpshooter. 20 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. Doubleday turned over his division to General Rowley and came forward to take the place of his fallen commander, and the battle went on without a moment's pause. A general charge was ordered and the whole of Wadsworth's division was soon engaged at close quarters with. Hill's troops. The " Iron Brigade " fell like an avalanche on the front and flank of Archer's confederate brigade, tearing it to fragments and sweeping its commander and hundreds of his men to the rear — prisoners. The boys in blue fought desperately and tore the gray lines into shreds as fast as they were formed. Along the whole line the fighting was fast and furious; not a man shirked his duty. "We have come to stay," was the battle-cry, and too true it was of many of the brave boys, for soon the ground was cumbered with the forms of fallen heroes. The oldest veterans of the First declare that the firing in this engage- ment was the hottest of the war. Every staff officer in Cutler's brigade had his horse shot under him within the space of twenty minutes, and some lost two or three. The air seemed literally alive with whizzing lead. Hall's battery — the only one in action on our side — was in posi- tion beside the Cashtown road. Being left for a time unsupported, the rebels made a vigorous effort to capture it, and for a few minutes the guns were in imminent danger, but three regiments of Wadsworth's command — the Fourteenth Brooklyn, Sixth Minnesota and Ninety-fifth New York — sprang forward with a ringing cheer, saved the guns, repulsed the enemy with fearful slaughter, and drove two Mississippi regiments into a cut of an unfinished railroad, where they were sur- rounded and captured, together with their battle-flags. Seeing that the enemy was growing stronger and bolder, Doubleday brought up his two reserve divisions under Robinson and Rowley, placing the former on the right and the latter on the left of Wadsworth. Gen. Baxter's brigade, consisting of the Twelfth Massachusetts, Eighty- third and Ninety-seventh New York, and the Eighty-eighth and Ninetieth Pennsylvania regiments, held the extreme right of Robinson's division. Upon the front and flank of this noble brigade the Rebels hurled their forces with crushing weight. But Baxter's boys were there for business, and bore the brunt of the engagement with great heroism. The Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania charged and captured nearly a whole regiment — the Twenty-third North Carolina — of Rodes' division. So great was the impetuosity of the conflict on both sides that the blue and the gray were at times so mixed together that it was difficult to distinguish the formation of the lines. But numbers were beginning to tell, and with Hill's entire corps, numbering 35,000 men, on his front, and with every prospect of his right flank being FIRST DAY — DRIVEN BACK THROUGH GETTYSBURG. 23 turned in spite of Baxter's valor, Doubleday was gradually forced back until he encountered Howard's columns, just coming into action. Howard assumed chief command, putting Schurz in charge of the Eleventh, while Schimmelpfennig took command of Schurz's division. The Eleventh formed in line of battle facing the north, Schurz's left wing forming a right angle with and almost resting upon Doubleday's right. This timely assistance prevented Hill from flanking Double- day, for the advancing rebel columns were driven back in disorder by the left wing of the Eleventh. The battle now broke forth again with desperate fury. Our troops were largely outnumbered, .but the Eleventh corps vied with the First in deeds of valor and seemed determined to redeem the honor lost at Chancellorsville. Howard had barely 21,000 troops in action, all told, while Hill had some 35,000 ; but with all this force he was able to accomplish but little until about two o'clock, when Ewell, headed by "Stonewall" Jackson's old brigade, stole in from York and swelled the Confederate force to a round 50,000. These fresh troops fell with terrible energy upon Barlow, commanding the right wing of the Eleventh. Early's division descended like a thunderbolt on Barlow's flank and front while Rodes' division of the same corps moved around and formed a junction with Hill's left. At the corner of the angle, where the First and Eleventh approached but did not meet, was a commanding elevation which Rodes at once saw was the key of the situation. Massing his infantry, Rodes threw them directly at the angle in overwhelming numbers, and having seized the vantage point he planted his artillery so as to pour an oblique and devastating fire on the left of the Eleventh. DRIVEN BACK THROUGH GETTYSBURG. A terrific, blinding leaden sleet filled the air, while shot and shell played havoc with the blue-coats. The boys fought stubbornly but were pressed back by weight of numbers. Howard's line was too extended, too thin to repel the savage rushes of the enemy. The Eleventh was completely overmatched and fell back through the streets of Gettysburg in disorder. Ewell, in hot pursuit, captured some three thousand men who were unable to make their way to the protec- tion of Steinwehr on Cemetery Hill. The defeat of the Eleventh corps placed Doubleday in a most perilous position. In the face of fearful odds he had bravely held his ground, but after the Eleventh corps had been driven from the field a furious enfilading fire of musketry and cannon compelled Baxter and the whole First corps to yield the position they had so gallantly defended. Stubbornly and doggedly they fell back towards Gettysburg, bitterly 24 THE BATTLE OP GETTYSBURG. contesting every foot of the ground. Doubleday handled his men with consummate ability, but now that the Eleventh corps had melted away it would have been madness to attempt further resistance. Both flanks of the First were in danger of being turned, and an overpower- ing force of the enemy was in front. The shattered battalions made a dignified retreat through the southwestern portion of the town, taking with them all their wagons and all their artillery except one piece. Defeated, but not crushed, the noble First corps retired to the fastness of Stein wehr's position, and at once began to repair damages and prepare for the struggle of the morrow. As the broken Union columns fell back upon the heights south of Gettysburg the wisdom of posting Stein wehr's division and the reserve artillery upon the commanding crest of Cemetery Hill became per- fectly apparent. It formed a nucleus around which the discomfited Union army re-formed its broken lines, and eventually this rugged mountain proved a rock against which the Confederate leaders hurled their legions in brave but useless endeavor. The remains of the Eleventh corps took a position to the right of Steinwehr, and the First formed on his left, making a crescent-shaped line around the front of Cemetery Hill. The position was a strong one, and its possession proved to be the salvation of Meade's army. The fighting ceased about four o'clock in the afternoon, and shortly after that time nearly all of Lee's army was upon the scene of con- flict. By five o'clock the rebel forces on the field numbered nearly 80,000, and had Lee attacked our position on Cemetery Hill at that hour, he would no doubt have been successful in seizing the position, and the result of the battle of Gettysburg would have been far different. But Lee was deceived by the fierce onset and stubborn resistance of the Union forces and was led to believe that the whole Union army was within supporting distance. Thus, fortunately for us, he allowed his golden opportunity to pass unimproved. About the time that Howard's corps was fleeing through Gettysburg, Hancock arrived at Steinwehr's headquarters and assumed chief com- mand. He received the retreating soldiers with words of cheer, and his confident bearing and magnetism of manner went far toward restoring the spirits of the broken battalions. Buford's fine cavalry division was deployed on the plain at the foot of the Hill, and pre- sented a firm front to the pursuing enemy. The troopers, although wearied by their hard morning's work, did yeoman's service, and gallantly covered the retreat of their unmounted comrades. Buford has been called " the good angel of Gettysburg," a title which he, supported by his matchless band of warriors, richly earned. SECOND DAY. 25 During the evening the Third and Twelfth corps of the Federal army reached the scene of action and were promptly placed in position. Shortly after midnight the Second corps arrived from Taneytown, and by early morning the Fifth corps, under Sykes, arrived on the field after a forced march of twenty-four miles from Union Mills. The Sixth, under the gallant Sedgwick, had thirty-two miles to come, but it was on hand, worn and weary, by two o'clock the following afternoon and rendered noble service in spite of its exhausted condition. The people of Gettysburg were in despair that night. They had seen our troops driven like sheep through their streets, or captured by droves ; their town was held in indisputed possession by the invading hosts, whose numbers seemed overpowering. They were unaware of the approach of the re-enforcing Union columns, and doubtless believed that the opening of another day would witness the total annihilation of their defenders. The boastful confederates talked boldly of what they would do the following morning, and it was with sad forebodings that these wretched people sat and waited for the dawn. Many fled from the town and took refuge in the rear of the Union army. But when morning came the heights were crowned with a formidable array of wide-mouthed cannon, and behind every stone wall, every ledge of rock appeared a glistening abattis of bayonets, through which no force of flesh and blood might pass. The death of General Reynolds was a severe loss to the country, and cast a deep gloom all over the army, but especially over the Penn- sylvania Reserves, with whom he had been closely identified and whose idol he was. Some of these men wept, and all demanded to be led against the enemy that they might wreak vengeance upon his slayers. During their desperate charge on the following day the thrilling war cry of the Reserves, " Revenge for Reynolds," rang out above the din of battle and steeled their hearts to deeds of wondrous valor. SECOND DAY. The sun rose clear and bright on the morning of Thursday, July 2d. From the top of Cemetery Ridge, a scene of surpassing loveliness was spread out before the observer. To the westward lay a beautiful rolling valley, dotted with well-kept farms and broken by occasional patches of timber. The air was filled with balmy sweetness, and the woods echoed with the songs of feathered warblers. Blooming orchards and yellow wheat-fields met the eye, and all was calm and still. The birds sang in their sylvan bowers, the leaves rustled in the warm summer zephyrs, the golden grain-fields moved in gentle undulations ; 26 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. all nature seemed unconscious of the terrible whirlwind of human passion that was soon to desolate this scene of peace and happiness, fill the air with shrieks and groans, deluge these fields with streams of gore, and cover the hillsides with the mutilated bodies of the slain. MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE GORDON MEADE. General Meade had reached Cemetery Hill shortly after midnight, and had taken command in person, establishing his headquarters in a little frame shanty on the Taneytown road, out of range of the enemy's musketry. With the first streak of dawn, the general-in-chief was hurrying about from point to point, studying his ground and posting his forces. Some of the corps were already in position and partially intrenched, and as the others came up they were promptly placed where they would do the most good. When the dispositions were completed, the positions were as follows : On the extreme right was SECOND DAY. 27 the Twelfth corps, General Slocum, which, with Wadsworth's division of the First, held Culp's Hill. Then came the remaining divisions of the First corps (now commanded by General Newton) under Robinson and Doubleday ; the Eleventh corps came next, occupying the front or face of Cemetery Hill ; then the Second corps, under Hancock, and the Third, under Sickles. The Fifth corps was held in reserve, its position being behind Little Round Top. When the Sixth corps came up, at two o'clock, it was also held in reserve. The army was thus placed in a sort of horse-shoe form, the left wing, however, being much longer than the right, and the reserves were within thirty minutes' march of any part of the line of battle. The wagon-trains were parked in the hollow inside of the horse-shoe, where they were well protected. THE BATTLE-FIELD OF GETTYSBURG — SECOND AND THIRD DAYS. Although the arrival of Longstreet had largely augmented Lee's forces, the confederate prospect on Thursday morning was not near so rosy as it had been the night before. The Union army had received 28 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. still larger reinforcements, and during the hours of darkness had thrown up breastworks, dug rifle-pits, felled trees, and otherwise intrenched themselves along the hillside. The crests of the ridge were crowned with murderous-looking cannon, and it must have been painfully apparent to the rebel leaders, when they swept the field with their glasses at break of day, that Meade's position was almost impregnable. But Lee could not remain idle and await Meade's action. He must either attack or retreat ; and, emboldened as his soldiers were by their undoubted success on the day preceding, it is doubtful whether Lee could have persuaded his men to withdraw without making a struggle for a decisive victory. POSITION OP THE ARMIES. The Union line of battle, from Slocum's right to Sickles' left, was about three miles in length. Lee's line was nearly five miles long, and was in a form of a vast crescent, with its concavity facing Cemetery Ridge. Longstreet's corps formed the confederate right, facing Sickles and Hancock ; Hill was in the centre, his right resting on Longstreet's left ; Ewell's corps formed the left wing, extending through the streets of Gettysburg and around in front of Newton and Slocum. Between Ewell and Hill was a gap of almost a mile, but, as Meade was acting entirely on the defensive, this break in Lee's line did not weaken it to any extent. In numerical strength the opposing armies were about equal — something over 85,000 men each. Meade's force was compact and communication easy ; while Lee's condition was just the reverse. As we have seen, it was Meade's intention to present an unbroken front from Culp's Hill to Round Top. Sickles' instructions were^to connect with Hancock's left, and carry his line straight on to the Round Top, occupying it if possible. But along the centre and left of Hancock's position the ridge was considerably depressed, so that there was a very slight slope as compared with the northern end of the Ridge. One-third of a mile west of this depression in the ridge, half-way to the Emmittsburg road, is another elevation of no great height, but high enough to command the depression to the north of Little Round Top. When Sickles advanced to the position assigned him, he assumed the responsibility of moving forward to the elevation above described, instead of carrying his line straight down toward Round Top. No doubt Sickles did exactly what his judgment dictated, but it was, nevertheless, a mistake that came very near being fatal to the entire army. Instead of connecting his right with Hancock's left, he threw it forward several hundred yards, leaving a wide gap in what ought to have been an unbroken line ; his left, instead of being at Round POSITION OF THE ARMIES. 29 Top, was in advance of it, and his right wing made an angle of about forty-five degrees with Hancock's line, instead of being a continuation of it. Little Round Top, the key of the battle ground, was not only unoccupied, but unprotected. Thus did Sickles invite attack, and dearly did he pay for his temerity, for Lee was not slow to observe and seize upon the opportunity thus presented by the weak and faulty position which Sickles had assumed. During the morning, and up to the middle of the afternoon, there was no sign of active hostility, except a pattering and desultory firing between the pickets. But about four o'clock the blow fell. Meade had just seen and realized the perilous' position of Sickles, and the latter was making preparations to withdraw ; but before any- thing could be done, the con- federate batteries opened upon his ad- vanced position and there was no course left open but to fight it out right there. Meade perceived at once that if he under- took to support Sickles in force, he must move from his strong position on the hills and fight in the open field, and in such a position that the chances of suc- cess would have been largely in favor of the enemy. The only alternative was to let Sickles fight it out until driven back to the position which he ought to have occupied at first. The latter course was deemed more wise. Now let us see what shape Sickles was in when the battle opened. His right, under Humphreys, was disposed along the Emmittsburg road, but some distance back from it, the right brigade extending to within a quarter of a mile of Hancock's left, and making an angle of forty-five degrees with the general formation of the Union line. On Humphreys' left, his line was continued by Graham's brigade of Birney's division, as far as the peach orchard. At the left of Graham the other two brigades of . Birney's division (under Ward and DeTrobriand) were thrown back obliquely toward Round Top, thus forming a salient, which was Sickles' weakest point. The apex of the angle formed by the line of Birney's division was right in the now celebrated peach orchard, and upon this salient the great weight of the attacking force was thrown. A SKIRMISHER. 30 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. ASSAULT ON THE THIRD CORPS. The charge of Longstreet's corps was gloriously awful. His right flank extended past Sickles' left fully two brigades, and as the warrior columns came on, under cover of a devastating artillery fire from their batteries on the wood -crowned heights of Seminary Ridge, the right flank of the enemy was seen to bend in toward Little Round Top. It was plainly Longstreet's intention to envelop the left of Sickles with his right wing, while his left should attack the right and centre, hoping to break through the salient and annihilate the Third corps before substantial aid should reach them. But the bold confederate had reckoned without his host. Sickles' men were there to die, if necessary,, but not to show their backs to the enemy. Ward's brigade, forming the left of the corps, was first struck by the oncoming lines of gray. Hood's trained battalions rush forward with savage yells and demoniac shouts and fall with dreadful force upon Ward's front and flank; but our men are not unprepared, and repel the savage rush of the enemy with great gallantry. Soon the battle rages all along the refused line from the peach orchard to the foot of Little Round Top. Hood sees that if he can gain posession of that rocky prominence the whole of Meade's army may not dislodge him, and that the fate of the Army of the Potomac will be sealed. For weary hours the battle rages, .victory inclining first to one side and then to the other. Birney's whole division is under a terrible fire and closed in with rows of glistening steel. In the peach orchard a frightful struggle occurs. Hood is determined to pierce the Union line at the salient, and the brave boys of Graham's and DeTrobriand's brigades have resolved that he shall not. McLaws and Anderson lead the confederate hosts here, and their strength is overpowering. Sickles calls for reinforcements, and Tilton's and Sweitzer's brigades of Ayres^ division, Fifth corps, are hurried to his support. But the enemy now opens a terrible enfilading artillery fire on the Union line, and Sickles is pressed back, leaving the coveted orchard in the hands of the enemy. This breaks the National line, and Birney, still fighting desperately, is forced back to a new position, half-way between his last line and the Round Top. About this time Sickles, who has ever been where the bullets were the thickest, is wounded and borne from the field, leaving the Third in command of Birney. The battle continues to rage with unabated fury. Birney is all torn up, but not yet dismembered. Hancock, seeing Birney's distressed condition, sends Caldwell's splendid division of the Second flying to his assistance. Dashing through the blood-stained wheat-field, Caldwell's fresh columns, with Cross and Kelly in the lead, are fiercely attacked by the DEFENCE OP LITTLE ROUND TOP. 31 confident enemy, and horrible carnage ensues. In a few minutes the gallant Cross falls dead, and both brigades are badly cut up ; but Caldwell promptly throws forward his remaining brigades, under Brooke and Zook, and the hot battle bubbles and boils as though it were some great hell caldron. Zook died at the head of his brigade, but Brooke drove the enemy before him. It seemed as though the tide of battle had turned ; but the confederates come on again with even greater energy, and Caldwell has hard work to withdraw his battered division. Ayres has just come up with two brigades of regulars from the Fifth corps, but before they can form for action, the impetuous confederates have struck them on front, flank and rear, and they join in the general retreat. But, while our ranks are decimated and disorganized, those of the enemy are quite as much so. Although for the moment victorious, they still are broken and disordered ; and when their mad rush carries them up to the base of the hill, they hesitate, and not without substantial reason ; for the steady ranks of the Fifth and Sixth corps are waiting on the heights for an opportunity to strike a decisive blow. The opportunity has come, and General Crawford, with his noble division of Pennsylvania Reserves, is accorded the honor of dealing the parting stroke. The gallant reserves descend like an avalanche upon the disordered foe before them, and a fierce struggle occurs at the base of the hill for the possession of a stone wall. But after a short and bloody conflict, in which the reserves gain fresh laurels for their desperate bravery, the rebels are put to flight, and driven back through the woods beyond the wheat-field. This ends the fighting at this point for the day. DEFENCE OF LITTLE ROUND TOP. While Birney, Caldwell and Ayres were making their unequal struggle back of the peach orchard, a fierce contest was going on for the possession of Little Round Top. As before stated, this point was the key of the battle ground. Had Hood's troops gained its summit, they could not have been dislodged without fearful slaughter, if at all, and they could have played havoc with our supply teams and ammunition wagons, which were parked in the rear of the army. Our left flank could have then been turned, and in all human probability the battle of Gettysburg would have ended in an overwhelming defeat for the Union forces. It is enough to make one shudder to think how nearly this end was accomplished. As before stated, Hood promptly recognized the value of the Little Round Top, and perceived its exposed condition. Its bold and rocky 32 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. summit was totally unoccupied, save by a few men of the signal corps, and only a thin line of soldiers — the Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania — covered its front. While the first violent attack was being made on Ward's brigade, and along Birney's front, Hood detached his chosen band of Texans, pointed out to them the importance of seizing Little Round Top, and sent them on their errand. The brave and impetuous Texans rushed with lightning speed toward the black and rugged mass. As they reached Plum Run, a narrow stream which skirts the western base of Little Round Top, they found their pathway blocked b}' what proved to be an insurmountable obstacle. It seems that General Warren, Meade's chief engineer, had noted the unprotected condition of this vantage point, and had realized the terrible consequences that must follow if the rebels obtained a lodgment there. So, when Barnes' division of the Fifth was hastening by to the relief of Sickles, Warren ordered one brigade, that of Vincent, to be detached and sent at once, with Hazlitt's battery, to occupy and defend Little Round Top. Vincent's men were disposed around the base of the mountain, occupying every ledge and crevice, their muskets and bayonets commanding every gorge and pass. By almost super-human effort, the guns of Hazlitt's battery were lifted to the crest of the hill and placed in such a position that they could command and enfilade all the avenues of approach. Vincent's brigade consisted of the following regiments : Twentieth Maine, under Colonel Chamberlain ; Sixteenth Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel Welsh, and the Forty-fourth New York, Colonel Rice. Scarcely had these noble regiments reached the positions assigned them, when the Texans came on with a loud, fierce, defiant yell, as if all Pandemonium had broken loose and joined in the chorus of one universal war-whoop. On came the dare-devil Texans, three ranks deep, and at double-quick. A hot musketry fire assails them, and Hazlitt's guns pour on their front a perfect rain of shot and shell. Their advanced lines waver, curl up and disappear; but on they come again in ever increasing numbers, only to melt away before the mur- derous fire that belches forth from every corner and crevice of the rockbound heights. The dead and dying are heaped upon the sun- baked rocks ; but for thirty minutes the savage contest rages. Weed, also of Ayres division, comes to Vincent's assistance and the Texans are driven into the hollow between the Round Tops. There they resume the attack with such fury and skill, that the left flank of the brigade is turned. At this point the fighting was simply awful. So intermingled were the combatants that powder and bullet could scarcely be used. A hand-to-hand conflict ensued, in which the DEFENCE OF LITTLE ROUND TOP. 33 Maine regiment turned upon their assailants with the energy of de- spair and beat them to death with their clubbed muskets. But the Texans were taking desperate chances, and Chamberlain's position was almost hopeless. He called for assistance, but none came. It was a case requiring the utmost boldness, but Chamberlain was equal to the emergency. Leaping to the fore, he charged upon the enemy with 34 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. tiger-like ferocity and energy, sweeping them before him like chaff. To complete this repulse, a brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves under the personal command of General Crawford, who carried one of the colors in his hand, made a grand dash after the retreating rebels, and turned their flight into a perfect rout. Little Round Top had been secured, and the victory at this point was complete ; but the slaughter was something awful. Heaps of dead and dying were piled among the rocks in the narrow valley ; the air resounded with groans of agony. Vincent, Weed and Hazlitt had all met the fate of true soldiers ; but the left flank of the Union position had been successfully defended and rendered secure. IN FRONT OF THE SECOND CORPS. It will be remembered that Humphreys' division of the Third corps was posted to the front and left of Hancock. During all the time that Birney was so fiercely engaged, Humphreys was unassailed, and was able to send assistance to Birney during the awful fight in the peach orchard. After Birney was forced back to his new position in front of the Round Tops Humphreys was left alone and in a most exposed and perilous position. Birney, now commanding the corps, ordered him to fall back so as to connect with his right in the new position — a most difficult manoeuvre, but one which Humphreys executed with great skill under a heavy fire. The legions of Hood and McLaws poured in upon his exposed right like a deluge, and although forced steadily back, Humphreys kept his lines steady until he joined Birney, thus estab- lishing the Union line in the position which Meade originally intended it to occupy. Up to this time Longstreet had been doing all the fighting on the confederate side; but when Birney's front was pierced at the peach orchard and his line was driven back to the ridge, Hill abandoned his passive attitude and came down like a torrent on Humphreys' exposed command. Hancock, observing Humphreys' predicament and his gallant effort to extricate himself from it, sent two regiments from Gibbon's division — the Eighty-second New York and the Fifteenth Massachusetts — to support his right, while Willard's brigade of " Aleck" Hays' division was sent to the support of his left. Bigelow's Ninth Massa- chusetts battery was placed near to the Trostle house and made for itself an ineffaceable record for gallantry. Its commander was ordered to hold his position at all hazards until relieved by supporting batteries in the rear. Most nobly did Captain Bigelow and his brave cannoneers obey this order. They stuck to their guns with utter disregard for the blinding sleet of lead that was poured upon them. They were undis- ewell's attack on the right. 35 mayed and unterrified when the rebel hordes with deafening yells charged right up to the muzzles of the guns, climbed over the limbers and shot down horses and men. When the supporting batteries were ready to open their enfilading fire, Captain Bigelow and nearly all his men lay bleeding beside the guns they had so gallantly defended. Out of eighty-eight horses attached to the battery eighty were killed. Wright's rebel brigade presses Humphreys hard. Wilcox and Perry, also of Anderson's division, assist in the assault. These three brigades advance to the weakest point of the Union line — the depression on the left of the Second corps, which has all day been inadequately pro- tected — hoping to gain a foothold within the Union lines. Flushed with success they press in on Humphreys' front and flank and rush up the hill with loud shouts of victory. But in their moment of triumph they perish. They have come within range of the muskets of the Second corps, which lies concealed behind a stone wall. On they come, with defiance in their eyes and destruction in their steady strides. Suddenly a sheet of flame runs along the stone wall. The veterans of the Second rise up out of the earth as if by magic. The well-known trefoil flutters before the enemy like an emblem of disaster. The bold line rolls up like a piece of parchment under the withering fire, staggers and falls back, leaving the ground cumbered with the dead and dying. From this time on until dark the enemy was repulsed at every point along the National left. The rebels were persistent — the Union army was determined. Just as darkness came on, Hancock gathered up his energies for a final and decisive blow, and threw his whole command, together with Humphreys' shattered division, straight into the valley where the baffled enemy lay, driving them to the woods with great loss and in utter confusion. It was now dusk, and the fighting ceased along our left wing. The enemy had secured and now held Sickles' morning position, including the Devil's Den and its woods, and lay in close proximity to our front, but made no further hostile movement until the next afternoon. EWELL'S ATTACK ON THE EIGHT. Ewell, commanding the left wing of the rebel army, had been instructed by General Lee to assault the Union right as soon as Long- street had begun his attack on the left. For some unknown reason he failed to do so. It will be remembered that the National right was held by the Twelfth, First and Eleventh corps. As the battle pro- gressed on the left with no sign of attack from Ewell, Gen. Meade had gradually drawn upon the right to reinforce the left. But one brigade 36 THE BATTLE OP GETTYSBURG. of the Twelfth corps was left in position — that of Greene, of Geary's division. Near by and to the left, Wadworth's division of the First corps, was still stationed. Between Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill there is a slight depression, or ravine, marking the division between the two hills. On the right of this ravine and commanding it was posted Stevens' Maine battery. On the opposite side of the ravine was the right of the Eleventh, the line extending from there around the face of Cemetery Hill, under cover of a stone wall, while on the heights above them were the batteries of Ricketts and Weidrich. On the right of the Maine battery was a line of earth-works which had been constructed by Wadsworth, and which extended around to the right, where they were taken up by Greene. The latter had carried his works back obliquely so as to protect his right flank. In the absence of the greater part of the Twelfth corps, Greene was obliged to leave a large part of the works unoccupied, and, as will be seen, this gave the enemy a chance to make and maintain a lodgment inside of the Federal lines. Ewell had posted his advance batteries on Benner's Hill, an emi- nence a little to the northeast of Culp's Hill, and at six o'clock he opened fire from this point. The National guns were quickly turned upon Benner's Hill, and in less than twenty minutes the hostile bat- teries were almost silenced. As the sun was sinking below the western horizon the assault com- menced. The splendid division of Early moved upon Howard, his column being headed by the famous and hitherto invincible Louisiana Tigers. The assault was made in no hesitating, uncertain manner. Early's veteran legions know that a tempest of death awaits them but there is no fear in their looks nor trepidation in their footsteps. They clear the town and sweep up the hillside in brilliant array. When within point blank range Stevens turns his battery loose upon their devoted heads and Ricketts' and Stevens' guns belch forth a perfect hail of grape, canister and shrapnel. But on they come. The wide gaps torn by the flying iron are quickly closed up, and still on they come. While the cannon are still pouring forth their death-dealing metal at the rate of four shots a minute, Howard's infantry rise like specters from behind the stone wall, and a terrible rain of lead assails the swiftly moving line of gray. On the confederate left and center the lines waver and are beaten back, but the right still presses on, wildly and triumphantly. Nothing can stop these brave confederates. With a yell of triumph they overrun Weidrich's battery, and push on to Ricketts' where a horrible struggle takes place. Here it is hand to aiii iiiiiiiii Hr..;..:, :: i : ^3 m mm w ■ h * Tf 1 m'. Ml 1 ill I* /III #!H,i- !®i'' m m M-y 1: isR£ " Ml!^ i i 1 1 lis i£K:iili|;I| lip ■lift 1 :.""'-' ii' " ■■" 'V 7 " if II '