Books Should Be Free Loyal Books Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads |
|
Our campaign around Gettysburg Being a memorial of what was endured, suffered and accomplished by the Twenty-third regiment By: John Lockwood (1826?-1901) |
---|
![]()
AROUND GETTYSBURG: BEING A MEMORIAL OF WHAT WAS ENDURED, SUFFERED
AND ACCOMPLISHED BY THE Twenty Third Regiment (N. Y. S. N. G.,) AND OTHER REGIMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, IN THEIR
PENNSYLVANIA AND MARYLAND CAMPAIGN, DURING THE Second Rebel Invasion of the Loyal States IN JUNE JULY, 1863. "Quaeque ipse miserrima vidi,
Et quorum pars fui" Brooklyn:
A. H. ROME & BROTHERS, STATIONERS AND PRINTERS,
No. 383 Fulton Street.
1864.
To William Everdell, Jr., Late Colonel Commanding 23rd Regiment
(N.Y.S.N.G.) IN TENDER REMEMBRANCE OF HIS HIGH SOLDIERLY BEARING AND NEVER FAILING
COURTESY TO THE LEAST OF HIS COMMAND; OF HIS WATCHFUL SOLICITUDE THAT
NEVER SEEMED TO SLEEP; OF HIS EMINENT DEVOTION TO HIS MEN, SEEKING
OUT THE OVER FATIGUED ON THE MARCH IN ORDER TO RELIEVE THEM OF THEIR
BURDENS AND CHEER THEM WITH KIND WORDS, HELPING THE EXHAUSTED AND THE
SICK TO PLACES OF REST, AND SHARING WITH THE REGIMENT THE EXPOSURE AND
DISCOMFORT OF THE BIVOUAC HOWSOEVER MISERABLE; THE GALLANT COMMANDER
AND THE SOLDIER'S FRIEND, This book is gratefully inscribed.
PREFACE.
If any one, taking up this book casually, should wonder why it was
written, it may suffice to observe that "Gettysburg" is probably
destined to mark an Epoch of the Republic; as being one of the very
few decisive battles of the Great Rebellion. Accordingly, whosoever
took any part in it may hope to share its immortality of glory. But, says one, the militia were not engaged in the battle. True;
neither was the reserve of eleven thousand men, under General French,
at Frederick and elsewhere. Yet who would withhold from these veterans
the honor of having been participators in the great struggle? They had
their part to play not so direct, nor conspicuous, nor important a
part as they played whose valor won the day, yet important withal.
Enough for the militia, they offered their lives for the Fatherland,
and stood instant, waiting only for orders to hurry into the front of
battle. To the militia force, mainly of the cities of New York and Brooklyn,
was from the first entrusted the defence of the valley of the
Susquehanna. The Army of the Potomac could afford no protection to
Harrisburg and the rich agricultural regions lying around it. For
General Hooker, notwithstanding his vigilance and activity, had not
prevented the advance corps of the enemy, under General Ewell, from
penetrating to the very banks of the Susquehanna. Whether or not he
cared to prevent it, is not here considered. A little later, to be
sure, Lee became evidently alarmed on account of his extended line and
made haste to contract it. But during the few days of panic that
intervened between the first appearance of the enemy along the
Susquehanna and their hasty departure therefrom, nothing stood between
them and Harrisburg save the militia, whom General Halleck in his
Official Report reviewing the military operations of the year 1863, saw
fit to allude to as follows: "Lee's army was supposed to be advancing against Harrisburg, which
was garrisoned by State militia, upon which little or no reliance
could be placed." York had fallen; and, notwithstanding the Mayor of that city be his
name forever buried in oblivion went out to meet the enemy hoping
doubtless to secure his favor by craven submission, a heavy ransom had
been exacted for its exemption from pillage. A rebel detachment had
fallen upon and put to flight the force guarding the bridge over the
Susquehanna at Columbia, and thus compelled the burning of that fine
structure; while Ewell with the main body of his corps was moving
cautiously up toward Harrisburg. Finally, when within five miles of
Bridgeport Heights, having driven in the force of skirmishers
who militia, be it observed had for several days gallantly held in
check the head of the advancing column, he halted. The state capital
was a tempting prize, but scarcely worth to him the risk of a desperate
battle. The gates of the city were shut, and Ewell hesitated to hurl
his masses against them... Continue reading book >>
|
eBook Downloads | |
---|---|
ePUB eBook • iBooks for iPhone and iPad • Nook • Sony Reader |
Kindle eBook • Mobi file format for Kindle |
Read eBook • Load eBook in browser |
Text File eBook • Computers • Windows • Mac |
Review this book |
---|