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As soon as the retiring troops of Sickles' corps had cleared Sykes' front, he ordered a counter-charge upon the advancing enemy. The division of regulars led the charge on the right of the corps, joining Hancock's left. These sturdy warriors struck the advancing column, for a moment struggled fiercely with the foe, and then pressed him back on the centre; but on the left, the enemy being on the field in superior numbers, the regulars were outflanked, and were in the most imminent danger. The crisis had been reached, the enemy must be driven back, or the National army must abandon its line, and fight on less advantageous grounds. The fragments of regiments and companies, and disordered masses of troops, from the Third corps, rushing back, fleeing from the victorious enemy, covered the fields and filled till; roads in front. Fortunately, General Meade was present, and promptly ordered his old command, the Pennsylvania Reserves, to charge upon the enemy, and retrieve the day, by turning defeat into victory. The Third brigade of the division had previously been detailed to watch the movements of the enemy towards Roundtop. General Crawford immediately directed Colonel M'Candless, commanding the first brigade, to form his command and charge down the slope. The enemy's advance had already reached the foot of the ridge, and his heavy columns were rapidly pushing forward. M'Candless formed his brigade in two lines; the second massed on the first. The Sixth regiment, commanded by Colonel Ent, was placed on the right; the First, Colonel Tally, on the left; and the Eleventh, Colonel Jackson, in the centre; the Second regiment, Lieutenant-colonel Woodward, and the Bucktails, commanded by Colonel Taylor, formed the second line.

The line first delivered two well-directed volleys upon the advancing masses of the enemy, then rang out, loud and strong, the battle shout peculiar to the Reserves, and the whole column running swiftly down the slope, the men bringing their pieces to a charge as they ran, fell upon the enemy, swept him from the hill-side, and in a short, but

 

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determined struggle, routed him from the shelter of a stone wall on the plain. The rebels retired to a wheat field and the woods beyond it. Colonel M'Candless immediately deployed the second line to the left, the Bucktails gained the flank, and dashed upon the enemy, who endeavored, for a moment, to make a stand, but soon broke beneath the impetuous charge, and fled in disorder across the field, leaving his dead and wounded in the hands of the Reserves. Having once seized the position, Colonel M'Candless firmly held the line of the stone wall, and the woods on the right. The enemy had been repulsed only by the most desperate fighting, and the victory had been purchased at the price of the lives of many gallant heroes. Emboldened by their successful assault upon Sickles' corps, the rebels were advancing to seize the ridge on the left of the line. To repel this victorious column the Reserves bad been led to the charge. The onset was terrible. The rebel generals threw themselves at the head of their troops, and, with sword in hand, urged them to the conflict. They well knew the ground must be held, or the advantages gained must be lost. The Reserves, however, were fighting on their own soil, with their backs to their hones; it was a battle for the safety of their families, the defence of their State, the honor of their country, the glory of their unsullied banner, and the reputation of their most beloved commander. What motives these, for men to die bravely, or to survive an honorable death with an untarnished fame! No foe could withstand a charge impelled by hearts thus nerved to the combat. First, the officers cheering on their rebel hosts, fell beneath the unerring fire of the Bucktails, and the hostile column was speedily broken and hurled back by the bayonets of the First brigade.

It was now past six o'clock in the evening, and the enemy did not again renew the conflict on that part of the field; but at the same time that these heavy masses had been thrown upon the Third corps, a rebel brigade had been sent to occupy Roundtop, which was the key-point to the posi-

 

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tion of the left wing, and if seized and held by the enemy, Meade's line would become untenable. In the meantime, Colonel Fisher, commanding the Third brigade of the Reserves, had gained his position in support of Colonel Rice's brigade of the Fifth corps. The enemy had ceased firing, and retired before Colonel Fisher's regiments had time to become engaged. As it was growing dark, the colonel rode to Colonel Rice's headquarters, and asked him whether the fire of the enemy on Roundtop had not annoyed his command during the afternoon, and upon receiving an affirmative answer, he said, " I will take that hill to-night." Colonel Rice thought it might prove a hazardous enterprise; but, his ardor not in the least checked by the prospect of a fierce conflict with the enemy, Colonel Fisher replied, that " all active operations in warfare were more or less hazardous." Colonel Rice then proposed to aid him, and detached the Twentieth Maine regiment to join the Reserves in an effort to drive the rebels from the hill. Colonel Fisher immediately formed his line of the Fifth regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Dare, and the Twelfth, Colonel Hardin; the Twentieth Maine was thrown forward as skirmishers. At the moment before advancing, Colonel Fisher saw General Crawford riding towards him; he waited his arrival, and explained to him the movement he was about to make against the mountain. The general approved of the project, and the dispositions for the attack, and directed Colonel Fisher to "go ahead and take it." The three regiments advanced rapidly and quietly up the hill, and suddenly fell upon the astonished rebels on its summit, and drove them in confusion down its south-eastern slope. From some of the prisoners taken, Colonel Fisher learned that a detachment of the enemy was moving round the base of the mountain for the purpose of cutting off his brigade from its supports; lie, therefore, hurried down the slope, and ordered the Ninth regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Snodgrass, and the Tenth, Colonel Warner, to move forward and take a position to command the valley, and

 

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prevent a flank movement, if it should be attempted by the enemy. The Sixth corps, meanwhile, had come up, and had taken position behind the Fifth, and thus formed a line that was entirely secure. The Reserves -were not called into action again until three o'clock on the afternoon of the following day.

In this brief struggle General Sickles was wounded so severely in the leg, that it was afterwards amputated above the knee; Hancock and Gibbon, of the Second corps, were wounded, and Zook. commanding a brigade, and Colonel Taylor, of the Bucktails, were killed. On the side of the rebels, General Barksdale, of Mississippi, was killed; Hood, Semmes and Heth were wounded.

Just at dark Ewell, on the left, advanced Johnson's division to attack Slocum's line, which had been stripped of troops to reinforce the left, and the same time Rhodes and Early advanced their divisions against Cemetery hill, held by Howard's corps. The troops received the attack with great coolness, and from their secure position behind intrenchments and a stone wall, easily repelled the enemy, but suddenly the brigade of "Louisiana Tigers" sprung from its concealment in a deep ravine where it had lain protected from the artillery fire, waiting for an opportunity to charge upon Howard's right and sieze the batteries that were sweeping the slopes; these desperate fighters rushed forward, drove the artillerymen from their guns, and the infantry from their rifle pits, and were in the act of turning the batteries to enfilade the line of the right wing, when a brigade of Schurz's German troops fell upon the victorious Tigers with such impulsive fury, that, after a hand to hand encounter, in which the bayonet was freely used on both sides, and crashing blows from the clubbed muskets were given and taken, the enemy was driven from the crest, and the batteries, with murderous rounds of grape and canister, swept the broken columns from the hillside. At the time this desperate struggle was raging most fiercely, a portion of the First corps was forced back on

 

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the right ; General Howard, who was in the midst of the fight, directed Schurz to throw his remaining brigade into the breach. General Schurz, accompanied by his whole staff; led the brigade in person, and in the shadows of early night, with every regiment and company of his division closely engaged, maintained the fight until the enemy fell back from the hill exhausted, broken and defeated. Darkness alone, which covered the uniforms of General Schurz and his brigade commanders, saved them from the searching missiles of the rebels, otherwise they would doubtlessly have expiated their gallantry, which amounted to rashness, with their blood and their lives. Further to the right, the unsupported brigade that remained of Slocum's corps, was less fortunate. The enemy's sudden attack had driven it from its works before reinforcements could reach it. The battle closed at ten o'clock in the night, and the enemy held the intrenchments of the Twelfth corps, on the extreme right, but elsewhere the line was intact. Though Sickles had lost a large number of prisoners, Sykes and Hancock bad captured about an equal number from the enemy. The battle of the second day. therefore, closed without decided advantages to either army-.

Lee did not over-estimate the gain of his troops against the right, nor did he construe the results of the day as indicative of future success to his army. But he was Dow committed to the ground, and must fight to save his command ; the Confederate divisions were, therefore, posted fur an early and vigorous attack. On the National side the officers and men had already learned to confide in the calm judgment of General Meade. The prompt and rapid movements of troops on Thursday gave proof that the new commander could handle his army with great facility, and that the line would be reinforced, and troops would be supported at any point where the enemy might press with his heaviest columns. Slocum was directed to wrest his intrenchrnents from the grasp of his antagonist, and for that purpose his own corps was reinforced by the Sixth, and the

 

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promise of other troops if it should be found necessary to employ a greater force. The Reserves, on Roundtop, constructed defensive works, and the army, ready to receive the attack at any moment, on any point of the line, rested upon its arms and awaited the dawn of the morrow.

At daylight on Friday morning, General Geary, commanding the left division of the Twelfth corps, opened fire on the enemy. The rebels responded to the fire of Geary's men by a furious charge. In a few minutes the battle burst fiercely along the whole of Slocum's line; and at times extending towards the left, overlapping the First, and engaging the right of Howard's, corps on Cemetery hill.

The fighting on Thursday, on the left, where Longstreet and Hill had fought with great desperation for three hours, and the subsequent battle on the right by Ewell, were regarded by the oldest officers in the army as the most obstinate and deadly contests of the war. Officers and men lay dead in fearful numbers. But the enemy's charge in response to Slocum's fire was even more furious than these. With fiendish yell and mad contempt of death, during six full hours, the enemy hurled his solid masses against the well-defended lines. The National troops stood like await of fire, whose flaming tongues enwrapped in death whatever came near, and whose foundations were as firm as if riveted to the primitive rocks on which it rested.

Nothing during the war had equalled this six hours of carnage. In front of Geary's position were more rebel dead, than the number of the entire list of casualties in the Twelfth corps. The slain were lying literally in heaps, hit and mangled in all manner of degrees, from a single shot through the bead to bodies torn to pieces by exploding shells.

At ten o'clock. Slocum had repulsed the enemy at every point, and reoccupied his original position. The battle ceased before eleven, and for nearly three hours a pause like to the stillness of death rested on the living and dead.

During this interval of repose the enemy massed his ar-

 

 

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tillery, numbering one hundred and fifteen guns, on a ridge about a mile in front of Hancock's position, on the left ; the cemetery; beyond the woods and hills he formed Lon-. street's and Hill's corps in heavy columns, ready at a given signal to advance and charge upon the left centre of Meade's line. General Lee had determined to sweep the hills with the fire of his artillery, by which he expected to demolish the National batteries, and to demoralize and drive the infantry beyond the heights; then, by pushing forward his heavy columns of infantry, he hoped to seize upon the intrenchments of Meade's army before the troops could reoccupy them.

From his headquarters on the hillside, the commanding general calmly, but with earnest eye, surveyed the old, carefully and minutely noting every visible movement of the enemy. He soon discerned the intentions of the rebel chieftain, and thoroughly understood his tactics. The batteries on the hill and in the earthworks on the slope were ordered to respond promptly, vigorously, and with the full power of their metal to the expected cannonade from the rebel lines; the artillerists were directed, after a short time had elapsed, to gradually diminish their fire, to lass :their pieces deliberately, and to save their ammunition General Meade was prepared to meet Lee both with stratagy and with men. Suddenly, the report of a single gun broke the dead silence, that since half-past ten o'clock, had reigned undisturbedly over hillsides and valley. It was the signal gun. Immediately front a hundred and fifteen iron throats pealed forth the thunder of battle, and the air was filled with missiles of death, that whizzed Dial screamed in converging lines from the circle of Seminar a ridge to the left centre of Meade's line, held by Hancock's and the left of Howard's corps.

Up to this tune Lee had most signally failed; he had attempted to turn the left flank of Meade's position, but was defeated and driven from the field, with one of his generals mortally, and three severely wounded; he had assaulted the

 

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right wing, and was repulsed with great slaughter, some of his brigades retiring with less than half their numbers. Lee would gladly have withdrawn from the contest, anal returned into Virginia; but the situation of his army, and the waning fortunes of the Confederacy, prevented him from adopting the prudent course approved by his own judgment; he, therefore, rashly determined to mass his whole available force, and in a desperate and final effort attempt to pierce the centre of Meade"s line. The terrific artillery fire that swept for more than two hours across the valley, was but preliminary to the fiercer and more deadly work. The National batteries replied with but seventy guns; but it was subsequently ascertained that the deliberate fire of these well-served batteries, did far more execution upon the enemy than all his terrible fusilade upon the troops on Cemetery hill. The trees above them were riddled, the rocks on the hill-side were splintered, and the grounds around them were scored in chequed furrows but the men secure be. hind the sheltering ledges, escaped almost without hurt; the artillerymen and horses were less fortunate; a considerable number were killed and wounded, several caissons were exploded, and two batteries were completely demolished.*

 

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# Samuel Wilkeson, an eminent journalist, who witnessed the battle, thus describes the scene at headquarters of the army. "In the shadow cast by the tiny farm-house sixteen by twenty, which General Meade had made his headquarters, lay wearied staff officers and tired journalists. There was not wanting to the peacefulness of the scene the singing of a bird, which had a nest in a peach tree within the tiny yard of the whitewashed cottage. In the midst of its warbling, a shell screamed over the house, instantly followed by another, and another, and in a moment the air was full of the most complete artillery prelude to an infantry battle that was ever exhibited. Every size and form of shell known to British and to American gunnery shrieked, whirled, moaned, whistled and wrathfully fluttered over our ground. As many as six in a second, constantly two in a second, bursting and screaming over and around the headquarters, made a very hell of fire that amazed the oldest officers. They burst in the yard-burst next to the fence on both sides, garnished as usual with the hitched horses of aids and orderlies. The fastened animals reared and plunged with terror. Then one fell, then another-sixteen laid dead and mangled before the fire; ceased. Still fastened by their halters, which gave the expression W their being wickedly tied up to die painfully, these brute victims of a cruel war touched all hearts. Through the midst of the storm of screaming and exploding shells, an ambulance, driven by its frenzied conductor at full speed, presented to all of us the marvellous spectacle of a horse going rapidly on three legs. A hinder one had been soot off at the hock. A shell tore up the little step of the Headquarters Cottage, and ripped bags of oats as with a knife. Another soon carried oft' one of its two pillars. Soon a spherical case burst opposite the open dour-another ripped through the low garret. The remaining pillar went almost immediately to the howl of a fined shot that Whitworth must have made. During this fire the horses at twenty and thirty feet distant were receiving their death, and soldiers in Federal blue were torn to pieces in the road and died with the peculiar yells that blend the extorted cry of pain with horror and despair. Not an orderly -not an ambulance-not a straggler was to be seen upon the plain swept by this tempest of orchestral death thirty minutes after it commenced. Were not one hundred and twenty pieces of artillery, trying to cut iron x the field every battery we had in position to resist their purposed infantry attack, and to sweep away the slight defences behind which our infantry were waiting ! Forty minutes-fifty minutes-counted on watches that ran, oh so languidly ! Shells through the two lower rooms ! A shell into the chimney that fortunately did not explode. Shells in the yard. The air thicker and fuller and more deafening with the howling and whirling of these internal missiles. The chief of stair struck--Seth Williams, loved and respected through the army, separated from instant death by two inches of space vertically measured An vide bored with a fragment of iron through the hone of the arm. Another cut with an exploded piece of case shot. ' And the time measured on the sluggish watches was one hour and forty minutes.

 

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General Meade soon ordered his gunners to gradually cease firing, intending thus to deceive the enemy into the belie±' that the National artillery had been silenced, and the troops swept from the hill. The stratagem was successful. The enemy's artillery ceased firing, and his infantry, in three columns, emerged from the woods on Seminary hill, a nd descended into the valley; Pickett in the centre, Wilcox on the right, and Pettigrew on the left ; a force of fifteen.. thousand men, supported by Lee's whole army, advanced rapidly without firing a gun. A heavy line of skirmisher; in front crossed the Emmettsburg road, and drove the first

 

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line of skirmishers in front of Hancock's corps from behind a stone wall. The rebels leaped over the wall, opened fire along the whole line, and dashed forward, running at full speed as they approached the intrenchments on the hill. When the head of the column came within point.-plank range, suddenly, the seventy guns which Lee supposed h;; lad silenced, but which had saved their ammunition and their strength, opened with all the fury and death-dealing ardor of a well-trained artillery; straight from front to rear, diagonally from right to left, and from left to right, the double charges of grape and canister, the shrapnel and spherical case, swept and tore in fearful havoc through the columns. But the infuriated rebels rushed on, even to the cannon's mouth ; Pickett's division carried the intrenchments in the centre, and for a moment the hostile colors waved over Hancock's lines; but almost instantly his infantry drove back the rebels, who had already forced the artillerymen from their guns. Howard's batteries on the right had swept Pettigrew's column from the slope, and Sykes' artillery on the left had broken and disordered Wilcox's command. General Meade, with his army well in hand, had ordered up Doubleday's division of the First corps, to reinforce the Second, and putting in motion other troops to strengthen the line, at the auspicious moment ordered Hancock to advance; his divisions instantly fell vigorously upon Pickett's brigades, attaching them in front and on both flanks, with a fire and a charge that swept the field like a scythe of death. Of Pickett's three brigade commanders, Garnett was killed, Kemper was seriously wounded, and Armistead was mortally wounded and captured; his column was utterly destroyed, and his supports fled in dismay from the field; fourteen of his field officers were billed, and only one escaped unhurt; two-thirds of his men were billed, wounded, and captured, and of the thirteen standards his regiments had carried boldly to the charge, only two were allowed to return. Pettigrew and Wilcox also lost heavily ; Generals Trimble and Ponder were

 

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wounded, their columns were . disordered, and their troops demoralized by the havoc they witnessed in their ranks. Nor was M'Law's success any better in the operations against the extreme left, held by the Pennsylvania Reserves. General Meade, with his soul intent on the desperate work in his front, with the genius of a great soldier, had not neglected to feel, with the most delicate touch, the faintest pulsations of battle along his entire line. He quickly saw the movement developing against his left, and promptly directed Sykes to make the necessary dispositions to meet the enemy in that direction. General Crawford was ordered to move forward a brigade to check the advance of the enemy towards Little Roundtop. Colonel M'Candless immediately abandoned the position he had seized and fortified on the previous day, and pushed forward a line of skirmishers toward the right, in front of a battery the enemy had posted in the border of a wooded rid ,,e ; Bartlett's brigade of the Sixth corps supported the Reserves by moving into the position they had just vacated, and other troops were moved up on the right. The movement had hardly begun, before the enemy opened his battery on the Reserves with grape and canister; but the troops advanced rapidly, and soon gained the woods on the right, when the battery ceased firing and fled. The line was they formed, and, under the immediate direction of Colonel M'Candless, dashed across the wheat field, and into the upper end of the woods; the enemy's skirmishers were driven back, and the upper end of the woods was cleared. The command then changed front, faced towards Gettysburg, and charged through the lower end of the woods. It encountered General Anderson's brigade of Georgian, which had taken position behind a stone wall, extending through the woods north and south, and which the rebel; had made stronger by rails and logs. The Reserves, moving in a direction parallel to the wall, fell upon the flank of Anderson's troops, completely routing them, taking three hundred prisoners, one stand of colors, belonging to the

 

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Fifteenth Georgia regiment, and five thousand stand of arms. Another Rebel brigade, under General Benning, which lay concealed beyond the woods, and near the foot of the ridge, took the alarm and ran without firing a shot.

The three brigades of M'Law's division greatly outnumbered the Reserves; but the rapidity of the movement, and the gallant dash of the regiments, successfully surprised and routed them. They fell back nearly a mile, to a second  ridge; where, during the night, they intrenched themselves. By this charge of M'Candless' brigade, and the Eleventh regiment of Fisher's brigade, the whole of the ground lost the previous day was retaken, together with all of the wounded, who, mingled with those of the rebels, were lying uncared for, on the field. The dead of both sides lay in lines in every direction, and the large number of Union  men showed how fierce  had been the struggle, and how

faithfully and persistently the Third corps lead battled for the field against the superior masses of the enemy

General Lee hastily threw forward a division of Georgia troops, and opened fire with his artillery, to cover the retreat of his broken columns, hurled back from Hancock's  lines, and made hurried dispositions to repel an attack. As soon as General Meade saw that success had attended his  troops in the centre, he rode to the left to order an advance in support of the Reserves, who had moved so promptly in obedience to his instructions. It, was already near sunset  and before the forces could be sufficiently concentrated to make a charge on the right flank of the enemy, darkness ensued, and it was too late to follow up the victory.  M'Candless was therefore ordered to halt and hold his position. The battle ended with the day, resulting in a complete victory to the National army.

Two thousand eight hundred and thirty-four loyal soldiers lay dead on the field; thirteen thousand seven hundred and nine were wounded, and six thousand six  hundred and forty-three were missing. A loss of twenty-three thousand one hundred and eighty-six, of whom nearly

 

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twenty thousand were lost in the battles of the first and second days. The loss of the rebels was reported to be five thousand five hundred killed, twenty-one thousand wounded and thirteen thousand six hundred and twenty-one prisoners. A total loss of forty thousand one hundred find twenty-one men. In addition to this, the enemy lost by capture, three guns, forty-one standards and twenty-four thousand nine hundred and seventy-eight stands of small. arms.

The two brigades of the Pennsylvania Reserves that participated in this battle, and General Meade's campaigns that immediately followed, numbered about three thousand live hundred men. Their loss, proportionately much less than in previous engagements, was two hundred and ten; of those, twenty-six were killed, one hundred and eighty-one wounded, and three missing. In the First regiment eight enlisted men were killed; Adjutant Alfred Rupert, Captain John R. Dobson, Lieutenant Brinton J. Parke and thirty-five men were wounded. In the Second, three men were killed; Captain William D. Reitzel, Lieutenant James C. Manton and thirty-one men were wounded, and one was missing. In the charge made on the 2d of July, Sergeant Toomy, the color-bearer of the Second regiment, teas wounded in the arias; Captain 0. J. Smith seized the flag, carried it forward and planted it on the stone wall. This was but a reverse of the scene at the battle of Fredericksburg ; then, when the color-sergeant fell, Captain Smith raised the flag and led on the regiment, but was soon knocked down by a piece of shell, and the standard passed into the hands of Sergeant Toomy, who carried it to the crest of the hill.

Assistant Surgeon Jackson was prostrated by the exposure and toil to which the medical corps was subjected, and died on the 4th of August. Evan Owen Jackson, the son of E. 0. Jackson, Esq., of Philadelphia, was born in Columbia county, on the 3d of March, 1836 ; he was cousin to General Jackson, of the Reserves. After having received

 

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liberal education, Mr. Jackson graduated in the Philadelphia Medical College in 1858, and the same year commenced the practice of his profession in Philadelphia. In December, 1862, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the second regiment. Dr. Jackson entered the service with patriotic ardor, and was one of the most efficient young :ten in the medical corps of the army; but he soon fell a sacrifice to his own zeal. At Gettysburg, when thousands of wounded and dying men were lying around him, calling for help, he labored day and night until his strength failed; an attack of typhoid fever compelled him to relinquish his post of duty ; he was taken to the Providence hospital, in Washington, and tenderly cared for by the Sisters of Charity until he died.

In the Fifth, two men were wounded. In the Sixth, two men were killed; Lieutenant S. S. Rockwell and twenty-one enlisted men were wounded. In the Ninth, five enlisted men were wounded. In the Tenth, two enlisted men were killed and three were wounded. In the Eleventh,

`% Lieutenant John 0. H. Woods and two privates were killed, Lieutenant-colonel Daniel S. Porter, Lieutenants James A. t Fulton and Daniel D. Jones and thirty-five neon were ;wounded. In the Twelfth, one man was killed and one  wounded. In the Bucktail regiment, Colonel Charles F. Taylor and six of his men were killed; Lieutenant-colonel Alanson E. Niles, Captains Hugh McDonald, J. D. Yerkes, Frank Bell, and Lieutenants Thomas J. Roney, Joel R. Spahr and J. E. Kratzer and thirty-one enlisted men were wounded, and two were missing.

Charles Frederick Taylor, colonel of the Bucktail regiment, was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of February, 1840. He was the youngest child of his parents, and spent the early part of his life on his father's farm, near Kennett-square, and was a pupil in the village school. Ire made rapid progress in the study of the classics and the French language, and in 1855, in the sixteenth year of his age entered the University at Ann Arbor, in the state of

 

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Michigan. In the following year he left the university to accompany his brother, Bayard Taylor, and his two sisters, on a tour through Europe. The party sailed from New York in July, 1856, and landed in England. After visiting places of note on the island the tourists crossed over to the continent and traveled through France, Germany, Switzer, land and Italy. The younger brother, with his sisters, then settled at Lausanne, on Lake Geneva, where he remained whilst Bayard Taylor made his celebrated journey to Sweden and Lapland. In the Spring of 1851`, Charles Frederick Taylor left Lausanne with his sisters, and proceeded to Gotha, for the purpose of studying the German language, and in June of the same year returned to America. Ira addition to having acquired the ability to speak the French and German languages with unusual facility, he experienced great improvement in his health, which, up to that time, had been feeble.

In the fall he returned to Ann Arbor to resume his studies, with the noble ambition of becoming a thorough scholar. Private reasons, however, induced him in the, following summer, to return to Kennett-square, to assume the management of his father's farm. He entered with great energy and enthusiasm upon his new occupation, adopting new and improved agricultural processes, with prospect of speedy success. Bat when the President's call for troops, immediately after the attack on Fort Sumter, roused the Nation, our young hero dropped all his plans on the very day the call reached him; he summoned the young men of the neighborhood to assemble at Kennett-square, drew up a volunteer pledge, and placed his name at the head of the list. He left the plow in the unfinished furrow, and the oxen unyoked in the field to enter the service of his country. In three days a. sufficient number had enrolled their names to form a company, and unanimously chose young Taylor to be their captain. Without waiting to correspond with the state authorities to ask acceptance for his company, Captain Taylor took the men to

 

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Harrisburg and had them incorporated into the Buctail regiment, which was the first that was organized for the three years' service. From that time forth his history was that of his regiment. He was captured at Harrisonburg whilst generously attempting to carry from the field his

superior officer; he was paroled in August, and returned to the command at Sharpsburg. After the battle of Antietam Captain Taylor was promoted to the colonelcy of the Bucktail regiment, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Colonel McNeil. Colonel Taylor was the youngest  man holding a colonel's commission in the Army of the Potomac, and General Meade, a man from whom only the highest merit elicits praise, pronounced him one of the most promising young officers in the service. The conspicuous gallantry of the young colonel attracted the fire of the enemy, and he fell mortally wounded, whilst leading his regiment in the desperate charge made by the First brigade on the 2d of July. He was in the advance of his men, waving his sword and calling out to them, "Come on, boys! we'll take them all prisoners;" but scarcely had the words escaped from his lips when he fell shot through the heart by a rebel sharpshooter, whose deadly aim had selected the noblest target on the field.

The remains of Colonel Taylor were carried to his father's house, and were interred in Longwood cemetery; a beautiful monument, subscribed for principally by the surviving officers and men of the regiment, was erected over his grave.

In his report of the operations of the army during the month of July, General Meade says

"On the 28th of June I received orders from the President, placing me in command of the Army of the Potomac.

" The situation of affairs was briefly as follows: The Confederate army, Which was commanded by General R. E. Lee, was estimated at over one hundred thousand strong. All that army had crossed the Potomac river, and advanced up the Cumberland valley. Reliable intelligence Dlaced his advance thus: Ewell's corps on the Susquehanna, Harrisburg, and Columbia; Lon-street's corps at Chambersburg ; and Hill's corps between that place and Cashtown.

 

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"The 28th of June was spent in ascertaining the positions and strength of the different corps of the army, but principally in bringing up the cavalry which had been covering the rear of the army in its passage over the Potomac, and to which a large increase had just been made from the force previously attached to the defences of Washington,

"Orders were given on this day to Major-general French, command. ing at Harper's Ferry, to move with seven thousand men to occul,y Frederick and the line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, with tile balance of his force, estimated at four thousand, to remove and escort public property to Washington.

" On the 29th the army was put in motion, and on the evening of that day it was in position, the left at Emmetsburg, and the right at New-Windsor. Buford's division of calvary was on the left flank, with his advance at Gettysburg. Kilpatrick's division was in the front at Hanover, where he encountered this clay General Stuart's Confederate cavalry, which had crossed the Potomac at Seneca creek, and passing our right flank, was making its way toward Carlisle, having escaped Gregg's division, which was delayed in taking position on the right flank by the occupation of the roads by a column of infantry.

" On the 30th the right flank of the army was moved up to Manchester, the left still being at Emmetsburg, or in that vicinity, at which place three corps, First, Eleventh, and Third, were collected under the orders of Major-general Reynolds.

" General Buford having reported from Gettysburg the appearance of the enemy on the Cashtown road in some force, General Reynolds was directed to occupy Gettysburg.

"On reaching that place, on the 1st of July, General Reynolds found Buford's cavalry warmly engaged with the enemy, who had debouched his infantry through the mountains on Cashtown, but was being held in check in the most gallant manner by Buford's cavalry. Major Reynolds immediately moved around the town of 6ettvsburg, and advanced on the Cashtown road, and without a moment's hesitation deployed his advanced division and attacked the enemy, at the sari,: time sending orders for the Eleventh corps, General Howard, to advance as promptly as possible.

" Soon after making his dispositions for attack, Major-general Reynolds fell mortally wounded, the command of the First corps devolving on Major-general Doubleday, and the command of the field on Major-general Howard, who arrived about this time (half-past eleven A M. ) with the Eleventh corps, then commanded by Major-general Schurz. Major-general Howard pushed forward two divisions of the Eleventh corps to support the First corps, now warmly engaged with the enemy on the north of the town,  and posted his third division, with three batteries of artillery, on the Cemetery ridge, on the south side of the town.

" Up to this time the battle had been with the forces of the enemy

 

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debouching from the mountains on the Cashtown road, known to be ]Jill's corps. In the early part of the action the success was on the enemy's side. Wadsworth's division of the First corps having driven the enemy back some distance, captured numerous prison rs, among them General Archer, of the Confederate army.

"The arrival of reinforcements to the enemy on the Cashtown road, and the junction of Lwelps corps coming in on the York and Harrisburg roads, which occurred between one and two o'clock P. M., enabled the enemy to bring vastly superior forces against both the First and Eleventh corps, outflanking our line of battle, and pressing it so severely that, about four o'clock P.M., Major-general Howard deemed it prudent to withdraw these two corps to the Cemetery ridge, on the south side of the town, which operation was successfully accomplished -not, however, without considerable loss in prisoners, arising from the confusion incident to portions of both corps passing through the town, and the men getting confused in the streets.

"About the time of the withdrawal, Major-general Hancock arrived, whom I had despatched to represent me on the field, on hearing of the death of General Reynolds. In conjunction with Major-general Howard, General Hancock proceeded to post the troops on Cemetery ridge, and to repel an attack that the enemy made on our right flank. This attack was not, however, very vigorous; the enemy, seeing the strength of the position occupied, seemed to be satisfied with the success he had accomplished, desisting from any further attack this day.

"About seven o'clock P. M. Major-generals Slocum and Sickles, with the Twelfth corps and part of the Third, reached the ground and took post on the right and left of the troops previously posted. Being satisfied, from reports received from the field, that it was the intention of the enemy to support, with his whole army, the attack already made, and reports from Major-generals Hancock and Howard on the character of the position being favorable, I determined to give battle at this point, and early in the evening first issued orders to all corps to concentrate at Gettysburg, directing all trains to be sent to the rear at Westminster at eleven P. M. first.

"I broke up my head-quarters, which till then had been at Taneytown, and proceeded to the field, arriving there at one A.M. of the second. So soon as it was light I proceeded to inspect the position occupied, and to make arrangements for posting several corps as they should reach the ground.

"By seven A. M. the Second and Fifth corps, with the rest of the Third, had reached the ground, and were posted as follows: The Eleventh corps retained its position on Cemetery ridge, just opposite to the town ; the First corps was posted on the right; the Eleventh on an elevated knoll connecting with the right and extending to the south and east, on which the Twelfth corps was placed, the right of the Twelft €i corps resting on a. small stream at a point where it crossed the Baltimore

 

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pike, and which formed on the right flank of the Twelfth something of an obstacle.

" Cemetery ridge extended in a westerly and southerly direction gradually diminishing in elevation till it came to a very prominent ridge called `Round Top,' running east and west. The Second and Third corps were directed to occupy the continuation of Cemetery rid(,,(, on the left of the Eleventh corps and Fifth corps; pending their arrival the Sixth corps was held in reserve. While these dispositions iv ere being made, the enemy was massing his troops on an exterior ridge distant from the line occupied by us from a mile to a mile and a half.

"At two P.M. the Sixth corps arrived, after a march of thirty-two miles, which was accomplished from nine P. Al. of the day previous. On its arrival being reported, I immediately directed the Fifth corps to move over to our extreme left, and the Sixth to occupy its place -.is a reserve for the right.

"About three P. M. I rode out to the extreme left to await the arrival of the Fifth corps and post it, when I found that Major-general Sickles, commanding the Third corps, not fully apprehending my instructions in regard to the position to be occupied, had advanced, or rather was in the act of advancing his corps some half-mile or three-quarters of a mile in the front of the line of the Second corps on a prolongation which it was designed his corps should rest.

"Having found Major-general Sickles, I was explaining to him that he was too far in the advance, and discussing with him the propriety of withdrawing, when the enemy opened upon him with several batteries in his front and his flank, and immediately brought forward columns of infantry, and made a vigorous assault. The Third cops sustained the shock most heroically. Troops from the Second corps were immediately sent by Major-general Hancock to cover the right flank of tire Third corps, and soon after the assault commenced.

"The Fifth corps most fortunately arrived, and took a position on the left of the Third, Major-general Sykes commanding, immediately sending a force to occupy `Round Top' ridge, where a most furious contest was maintained, the enemy making desperate but unsuccessful efforts to secure it. Notwithstanding the stubborn resistance of the Third corps, under Major general Birney, (Major-general Sickles having been wounded early in the action,) superiority in numbers of corps of the enemy enabling him to outflank its advanced position General Birney was counselled to fall back and re-form, behind the line originally desired to be held.

"In the meantime, perceiving the great exertions of the enemy, the Sixth corps, Major-general Sedgwick, and part of the First corps, to which I had assigned Major-general Newton, particularly Lockwood's Maryland brigade, together with detachments from the Second corps, were all brought up at different periods, and succeeded, together with a

 

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gallant resistance of the Fifth corps, in checking and finally repulsing the assault of the enemy, who retired in confusion and disorder about Sunset, and ceased any further efforts on our extreme left.

“An assault was, however, made about eight P. M. on the Eleventh corps, from the left of the town, which was repelled by the assistance of troops from the Second and First corps. During the heavy assault upon our extreme left, portions of the Twelfth corps were, sent as reinforcements.

" During their absence the line on the extreme right was held by a very much reduced force. This was taken advantage of by the enemy, who, during the absence of Geary's division of the Twelfth corps, advanced and occupied part of the line.

"On the morning of the 3d July, General Geary having returned during the night, attacked at early dawn the enemy and succeeded in driving him back and re-occupying his former position. A spirited contest was maintained all the morning along this part of the line. General Geary, reinforced by Wheaton's brigade of the Sixth corps, maintained his position and inflicted very severe losses on the enemy.

" With this exception, our lines remained undisturbed till one P. M. on the third, when the enemy opened from over one hundred and twenty-five guns, playing upon our. centre and left. This cannonade continued for over two hours, when, our guns failing to make any reply, the enemy ceased firing, and soon his masses of infantry became visible, forming for an assault on our left and left centre.

"An assault was made with great firmness, directed principally against the point occupied by the Second corps, and was repelled with equal firmness by the troops of that corps, .supported by Doubleday's division and Stannard's brigade of the First corps. During this assault both Major-general Hancock, commanding the left centre, and Brigadier-general Gibson, commanding the Second corps, were severely wounded.

"This terminated the battle, the enemy retiring to his lines, leaving the field strewed with his dead and wounded, and numerous prisoners in our hands.

 

Though the joy of victory filled the Nation with rejoicing, the people mourned the loss of one of their greatest soldiers, for the body of General Reynolds lay enfolded in the flag of his country. John Fulton Reynolds was born in September, 1820, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was educated in the schools of his native city, and in 1837 was appointed a cadet at West Point. He graduated from the military academy in 1841; in July of the same year, was appointed brevet second lieutenant in the Third Artil-

 

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lery, and was ordered to Fort McHenry, at Baltimore; three months later he was promoted to a second lieutenantcy; early in 1843, he was ordered to St. Augustine, and at the close of the year was transferred to Fort Moultrie. In 1845 he was sent to Corpus Christie, and afterwards to Fort Brown. In June, 1846, he was promoted to first lieutenant, and marched with his battery, accompanying General Taylor's army into Mexico; was engaged at the battle of Monterey, and two days thereafter was brevetted captain for gallant conduct. On the 21st of February, 1847, he was in the battle of Buena Vista, and received the brevet of major for meritorious services. At the close of the Mexican war he was sent to the forts on the coast of New England, where he remained four years, when he was appointed a staff officer to General Twiggs, and in 1853 went to New Orleans, but in the following year returned to the east and was stationed at Fort Lafayette, until he woes attached to an expedition which was sent across the plains to Utah. Re reached Salt Lake City in August, 1854 ; in March, 1855 was promoted to a captaincy, and was sent across the mountains to California. During the year he remained on the Pacific coast he engaged in expeditions against the Indians, commanded posts, and at one time was on a board to examine candidates for admission into the army from civil life. In December, 1856, he arrived at Fortress Monroe, and in the summer of 1858 was placed in command of battery C, of the Third regiment, and was ordered to cross the plains with his command, to Utah. The battery was one of the most efficient in the service, and hence Secretary Floyd sought to destroy it by mounting it and sending it across the Rocky mountains. The company, however, arrived in safety at Fort Van Couver in December, 1859. In September, 1860, Major Reynolds was appointed commander of cadets at West Point; in May, 11161, was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Fourteenth infantry, and was sent to New London, Connecticut, to recruit his regiment to its maximum strength. In August he was promo-

 

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ted to the rank of brigadier-general of volunteers, and was ordered to command Fort Hatteras;  but, at the request of Governor Curtin, General Reynolds was assigned to the command of the First brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. He marched and fought with his brigade on the peninsula, ,and in Pope's campaign. General Pope says in his report

“Brigadier-general John F. Reynolds, commanding the Pennsylvania Reserves, merits the highest commendation at my hands. Prompt, active and energetic, he commanded his division with distinguished ability throughout the operations, and performed his duties in all situations with zeal and fidelity."

As commander of the Pennsylvania militia in 1862, be received the men who were pouring in incessant streams to the Capital, organized them into brigades, and marched them up Cumberland Valley to protect the borders of the State. After the battle of Antietam the militia was disbanded, and General Reynolds rejoined the Army of the Potomac, and assumed command of the First corps; he rendered distinguished service at the battle of Fredericksburg, and carried the enemy's works on the left; his troops were present, but were not called into action at the battle of Chancellorsville. When General Meade moved the army from Frederick into Pennsylvania, expecting each hour to encounter the rebel force, he selected General Reynolds, his bosom friend, and the man of all others in whom he reposed the most implicit confidence, to lead the advance wing, composed of three corps, the First, Third and Eleventh. Morning and evening, frequently during the day, and in the still hours of night, these two distinguished soldiers, Pennsylvania's noblest contributions to the army, could be seen in close consultation and earnest discussion. The commanding general communicated fully all his plans and intended movements to his companion, and heard with deep interest the comments of the great soldier. Reynolds in turn, with the whole ardor of his noble nature, entered into the work assigned him; he led forth his troops, marching at the

 

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head of the great army as a patriot going out to battle for the honor of his country and the liberty of his race. Whereon the morning of the 1st of July, he rose to the summit of

the hills in front of Gettysburg, he saw at a glance, as his practiced eye viewed the country around him, that there, on those rocky hills, must be fought the great battle, which was to decide whether the honors of the Northern people should be preserved inviolate, or whether their cities, and country, and villages should be sacked and destroyed by the invading foe. Without a moment of hesitation or delay. he ordered forward his divisions and engaged the enemy, intending to hold him in check beyond the town until the whole army could come up and occupy the strong position on Cemetery hill. Early in the engagement he rode for. ward to change the position of his artillery, his too conspicuous gallantry made him the centre of the enemy's fire, and he fell, shot through the neck, and expired almost immediately on the-field. He was one of America's greatest soldiers; the men he commanded loved him dearly; he shared with them the hardships, toil, and danger of the camp, the march, and the field; devoted to his profession, he was guided by those great principles which alone can prepare a soldier to become the defender of the liberties of a free people. He nobly laid down his life a sacrifice on his country's altar, at the head of his brave corps, that victory might crown the efforts of those who followed him to fight the great battle of the Nation. He fell, valiantly fighting for his country. Still more, he died in the defence of the homes of his neighbors and kinsmen. No treason-breeding soil drank his blood, but all of him that was mortal is buried in the bosom of his own native State. The body of General Reynolds was carried to Lancaster and was buried in the cemetery, on the 4th of July.

On Saturday morning, the, 4th of July, General Meade ordered Slocum to advance against the enemy's left, and directed General Howard to send forward a brigade to occupy the town of Gettysburg; the cavalry was sent out

 

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on the flanks to watch the movements of the enemy. These reconnoissances discovered that Lee had withdrawn his forces from the circular position around Cemetery hill, and had formed a line parallel to Meade's left wing. A heavy rain-storm had set in early in the day, and prevailed till :Sunday morning. It was therefore difficult to watch the :`.-.enemy closely, and utterly impossible to execute any extensive movements. On Sunday morning it was ascertained that the enemy was in full retreat towards Hagerstown, by the Cashtown and Fairfield roads. The Sixth corps was ;immediately sent in pursuit towards Fairfield, and the whole cavalry force was sent forward on the flanks.

General Sedgwick came up with the enemy's rear guard strongly posted in the mountain pass at Fairfield, and reported to General Meade that the position held by the enemy was very strong, and that a small force could hold  in check, and delay for a considerable time a pursuing army ; the commanding general, therefore, determined to abandon the direct pursuit, and to follow the rebel army by a flank movement through Turner's gap, on the Boonsboro' road.

General French, who had retired from Harper's Ferry to .Frederick, now advanced to occupy the passes in South mountain, and sent forward a cavalry force and destroyed the enemy's pontoon bridge at Falling Water. The whole army of the Potomac was put in motion towards Middletown, where it was concentrated on the 9th of July. General Meade halted his army one day, before crossing the mountain, for the purpose-of supplying it with shoes, clothing, and rations; many of the men were marching barefooted over the stony pikes, were without proper clothing, and on short rations; humanity demanded, therefore, that these articles should be supplied at once. The new commander, however, had so admirably ordered his movements that it required but a single day to resupply the whole army.

The troops advanced on the 11th, and on Sunday the 12th, the Army of the Potomac again confronted the enemy,

 

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who had taken a strong position on Marsh run, in front of Williamsport and Falling Water. Early on Sunday morn. ins, General Howard, by order. of the commanding general sent forward General Schurz's division to occupy Funks, town, on the Hagerstown pike, at the Antietam bridge. The division advanced before daylight, drove the rebels across the creek, and followed them through Hagerstown, and occupied that place before noon.

A reconnoissance developed that the enemy held an in. trenched line in a position strong by Nature, and ren­dered doubly so by the spades and axes of the rebel soldiers. General Meade moved up his army, and formed his line ready to assault the position; Howard, ---Wadswortb, commanding the First corps, and Sedgwick on the right, Sykes, and French, commanding the Third corps, in the centre, and Hancock and Slocum on the left.

Having, however, been in command of the army not more than two weeks, and in view of the important and tremendous issues involved in the results, knowing that if his army were defeated the whole question would be reversed, the road to Washington and to the North open, and all the fruits of his victory at Gettysburg dissipated, General Meade did not feel that he would be justified in assuming the responsibility of blindly attacking the enemy without a more accurate knowledge of his position. Ile therefore called a council of his corps commander, who were the officers on whom he must rely to execute tile movements decided upon, and to fight the battle if it should be ordered, and laid before them the precise conditions of affairs. This council was composed of General Wadsworth, commanding the First corps, General Hays, of the Second corps, General French, of the Third, General Sykes, of the Fifth, General Sedgwick, of the Sixth, General Howard, of, the Eleventh, and General Slocum, of the Twelfth. General Meade said to these officers, that whilst he could have but a limited knowledge of the enemy's strength or position, lie was in favor of moving forward and attacking him

 

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along his entire line, but that he would not do so, unless it was with their approval. The opinion of the council was ,very largely opposed to an attack until a further examination of the enemy's position could be made. General Howard and General Wadsworth were the only officers, who favored and urged an attack. This consultation transpired on the evening of the 12th; the following day was rainy  and misty, so that but little could be learned of the enemy's  position. Nevertheless, that night the commanding general gave orders that at daylight on the morning of the 14th, the whole army should move forward and assault the enemy. This order was promptly executed, but upon advancing, it was found that the enemy had retreated across the river during the night of the 13th.

After General Meade and his engineers had carefully examined the line of works the enemy had evacuated, he was of the opinion that an assault would have resulted in disaster to his army.* Without delaying an hour, General

 

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* The following letter, addressed to the author by Rev. Dr. Falk, confirms the judgment of the council of generals

DEAR SIR :---After the battle of Gettysburg General Lee offered rattle to General Meade, in a position between Hagerstown and Falling water. Since the latter has been most violently assailed, because he did not attack and annihilate Lee and capture his whole army, permit me to make a few statements of what I saw and heard during the five or six days before Lee's recrossing the Potomac. I was then at the College of St. James, within the rebel lines, and just in front of their centre. Lee's line began near Hagerstown and extended nearly to Falling Water, and was strongly fortified. The greatest part of it was on top of a range of hills on the left bank of Marsh run, a small creek, which flows through a swampy valley into the Potomac. On the right bank of the creek is a similar range of hills, nearly parallel, but somewhat lower, than the first. There the main army was entrenched. The hills are gently sloping down to the creek, the distance between them varies from one to two miles, and the space between them is almost entirely open field. The attacking party would have been from the first Moment, where they left their entrenchments, exposed to the artillery and musketry fire of a. well protected and concealed enemy. The key of the rebel position was, according to their own statements; a prominent hill on the farm of John L. Roland, about three-fourths of a mile

behind the College of St. James. The rebels had, of course, strong batteries on top of it, and in the neighborhood. The College itself was held as a kind of out-post, and strongly occupied by sharpshooters. On account of its commanding position very many rebel officers of the highest rank came there, to reconnoitre Meade's lines, and General Wilcox, who commanded the entrenchments in the rear of the College, spent the greatest part of three days with his staff' at this place. From the conversation of these officers among themselves and with us, it was evident, that they most ardently desired to be attacked. " Now we " have Meade where we want to have him. If he attacks us here, we " will pay him back for Gettysburg. But the old fog is too cunning. " He waits for our attack; but we surely will not make the same blue" der twice." Such and similar expressions showed clearly that then believed their position strong enough to hold it against any attacking force. In my opinion an attempt, to take Lee's position in front, would have had a disastrous result. The only possibility of defeating him, Would have been, successfully to turn his left wing near Hagerstown. But the rebel army consisted, as far as I could judge from what I heard, of more than 70,000 men. Meade had not more than about 65,000, and it would have required at least 90,000 or 100,000 men, to engage Lee's army on the whole front, and to have left force enough to a successful flank movement. Knowing the strength of the rebel position, I felt greatly relieved when Lee evacuated it. For in the case of a general engagement I feared a repulse of the Union army, and a disaster at that time would have been almost ruinous for the Union cause, since all the fruits of the enemy's defeat at Gettysburg would have been lost

Respectfully yours,

T. W. ALEXANDER FALK

 

 

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Meade put his army in motion, marched down Pleasant Valley, crossed the Potomac at Berlin, in two days, where M'Clellan had crossed the year before, and halted one day on the Leesburg and Winchester pike, to observe the move. ments of the enemy, so as to be certain that he would not attempt to fall upon the rear of the army, as soon as it should leave open that highway from the valley of the Shenandoah to Washington. On the 23rd of July, General French, commanding the advance corps, entered Manassas gap, encountered the enemy, and drove him beyond Front Royal. Lee rapidly moved by the right flank, so as to avoid Meade's army, and thus escaped from the valley by the mountain roads west of Strasburg. General Meade,

 

 

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finding that the enemy had passed beyond Front Royal, recalled French, and moved forward to the line of the Rappabannock ; the enemy concentrated at Culpepper, and here, about the last of July, the campaign ended.

George Gordon Meade, under whose leadership the Army of the Potomac made its greatest campaigns, fought its most successful battles, and achieved its most brilliant victories, was a citizen of the State of Pennsylvania. At the time of his birth, December, 1815, his parents, Richard Worsam Meade, and Margaret Butler Meade, were residents at Cadiz, in Spain, where his father had been sent as Consul and Navy Agent for the United States. Soon after the birth of their son, his parents returned to their residence in Philadelphia. At an early age he was sent to a school in Georgetown, D. C., taught by Salmon P. Chase, subsequently the distinguished Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. A few years later, he attended a military school at Mount Airy, near Philadelphia; and, in 1831, entered the Academy at West Point as a cadet. He graduated in 1835, and immediately entered the army as brevet second lieutenant in the Third artillery, and was ordered to Florida. Lieutenant Meade served with distinction in the campaigns against the Indians, and, in December, was promoted to a full lieutenancy. He resigned his commission in 10336, became a civil engineer, and was employed in that capacity on the government survey of the North-eastern boundary line. In May, 1842, he was re-appointed a lieutenant in the corps of Topograph. ical Engineers. Soon after the commencement of hostilities between the United States and Mexico, Lieutenant Meade was ordered to the seat of war, where, as a staff officer, he rendered distinguished services, and was promoted for gallant and meritorious conduct in battle. At the close of the war, he retired to Philadelphia, where he was presented with an elegant sword, as a token of the estimation in which he was held by his fellow citizens. During President Taylor's administration, Lieutenant Meade was ordered to

 

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Florida, and served under General Twiggs; Fort Meade, on Peese creek, in Florida, located and superintended in its construction by this young officer, was named after him by the commanding general, and remains to this day as a. monument of his early genius. At the close of hostilities in Florida, he was placed in charge of the construction of lighthouses in Delaware bay; and in May, 1856, was promoted to a captaincy. In the same year, Captain Meade was sent to the West to superintend the survey of the North-western boundary, and the great lakes in the North. He was at Detroit, in the discharge of his duties, in 1861, when the Nation suddenly summoned her soldiers 'and citizens to arms. In August, 1861, he was appointed a brigadier-general of volunteers, and was assigned to the command of the Second brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. With these troops he served with such conspicuous gallantry, and marked ability, that, in December, 1862, he was promoted to a major-generalship, and assigned to the command of the Fifth Army Corps, and on the 28th of June, 1863, though the junior in age and rank of many distinguished officers in the service of the United States, he was chosen to command the most powerful army in the country; was sent against a victorious and defiant foe, led on by the most distinguished chieftain in the Confederacy, and an officer of acknowledged ability; was called upon to repel an invasion which threatened the life of the Nation, and which, if successful, would humiliate the people of the North, capture their Capital, sack their great cities, terminate the war adversely to the Government, or induce a long and terrible struggle for the redemption of what would thus have been lost. How well the hero of Gettysburg succeeded, history has recorded, and a grateful people, mindful of their deliverance, as it were, by fire, will cause the name of General Meade to be remembered wits: the warmest emotions of gratitude and pleasure. General Meade assumed command of the army by the following order:

“By direction of the President of the United States, I hereby assume command of the Army of the Potomac. As a soldier, in obeying this order, an order totally unexpected and unsolicited, I have no promises or pledges to make. The country looks to this army to relieve it from the devastation and disgrace of a hostile invasion. Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be called upon to undergo, let us hive in view constantly the magnitude of the interests involved, and let each man determine to do his duty, leaving to an all-controlling Providence the decision of the contest. It is with just diffidence that I relieve in the command of this army an eminent and accomplished soldier, whose name must ever appear conspicuous in the history of its achievements; but I rely upon the hearty support of my companions in arms to assist me in the discharge of the duties of the important trust which has been confided to me."

 

On the 30th of June he issued the following circular to his general officers:

 

"The commanding general requests that previous to the engagement, soon expected with the enemy, corps and all other commanding officers address their troops, explaining to them the immense issues involved in the struggle. The enemy is now on our soil. The whole country looks anxiously to this army to deliver it from the presence of the foe. Our failure to do so will leave us no such welcome as the swelling of millions of hearts with pride and joy at our success would give to every soldier of the army. Homes, firesides, and domestic altars are involved. The army has fought well heretofore. It is believed that it will fight more desperately and bravely than ever, if it is addressed in fitting terms. Corps and other commanders are authorized to order the instant death of any soldier who fails to do his duty at this hour."

 

On the 4th of July, six days after he had assumed the command of the army, the general thus congratulated his soldiers:

 

" The commanding general, in behalf of the country, thanks the Army of the Potomac for the glorious result of the recent operations. Our enemy, superior in numbers, and flushed with the pride of successful invasion, attempted to overcome or destroy this army. Bated and defeated, he has now withdrawn from the contest. The privations and fatigues the army has endured, and the heroic courage and gallantry it displayed, will be matters of history to be ever remembered.

" Our task is not yet accomplished, and the commanding general looks to the army for greater efforts to drive from our soil every vestige of the presence of the invader.

 

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"It is right and proper that we should, on suitable occasions, return our grateful thanks to the Almighty Disposer of events, that in the goodness of His providence, He has thought fit to give victory to the cause of the just."

 

As soon as the army had arrived on the Rapp Rappahannock General Meade addressed a communication to General Halleck, in which he expressed the opinion that the further pursuit of Lee's army should be vigorously continued, arid said that he believed the relative condition and strength of the armies were then more favorable to the National forces than they would be at any subsequent period, if the Confederates were allowed time to recuperate. The general-in- chief, however, about the 1st of August, directed General Meade to maintain a threatening attitude upon the Rappahannock, but not to advance.

On the 28th of August, the officers and men of the Pennsylvania Reserves presented to General Meade, as a testimonial of their esteem and admiration for him as a soldier and leader, a costly sword of most exquisite workmanship ; also, a sash, belt, and a pair of golden spurs, Governor Curtin, and many distinguished gentlemen, officers, and citizens were present. General Crawford presented the gifts, and made the following address:

 

" GENERAL: I stand before you to-day, sir, the representative of the ofcers of that division who once called you its chief.

"Impelled by a desire to perpetuate the memory of your connection with them ; desirous, too, to manifest to you the affection and esteem they bear to you, they ask the acceptance, to-day, of this testimonial, which shall mark it forever. Accept it, sir, from them, and here, in the presence of him who conceived the idea of this division-and who, I trust, a faithful people will return to the position he so worthily occupies-not as a reward, not as a recompense for your care for them, but as the exponent of those feelings of their hearts whose value cannot be expressed in words. Transmit it to those who bear your name, and let it ever express to you and them that devoted attachment and regard that the officers of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps shall never cease to feel for you."

 

General Meade accepted the presents, and said:

“General Crawford and Officers of the Division of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps : I accept this sword with feelings of profound gratitude. I should be insensible to all the promptings of nature, if I were not grateful and proud at receiving a testimonial of approbation from a band of officers and men so distinguished, as has been the division of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps during the whole period of this war. I have a right, therefore, to be proud that they should think my conduct and my course have been of such a character as to justify them in  collecting together here so many distinguished gentlemen as I see s: around me from different parts of the country, and our own State, to present to me this handsome testimonial. It in effect says to me, that in their judgment I have clone my duty towards them and towards the country. I began my career in this army by commanding the Second brigade of your division. I faithfully endeavored during all the time I held that command, and also the command of your division, to treat the officers and men in a manner that would express to them my high appreciation of their conduct as soldiers and brave men.

"I am very glad, sir, that you have mentioned your distinguished guest, the Governor of Pennsylvania. I have a personal knowledge of his patriotic efforts in behalf of the soldiers. To him the country is indebted for putting into the field in its hour of sorest need this splendid corps, and I have watched with pleasure and satisfaction the solicitude he has always shown to see that all its interests and wants are attended to. I have been with him on the occasions when he has visited the officers and men from our State, and I know that they are indebted to him for many comforts, and that the country is indebted to him for words of eloquence which he addressed to them to inspire them with increased patriotism and courage. I am gratified that he is here to witness this presentation, and I heartily join with you, sir, in the hope that his fellow-citizens will remember on election day his services in promoting the interests of the country and the suppression of the rebellion. In speaking of the pride which I experience in receiving this sword, I feel myself justified, even at the risk of being charged with egotism, in saying a few words about the services rendered by this division. I say unhesitatingly here before this assembly, and I am quite sure that when the history of the war is written that the facts will vindicate me, that no division in this glorious Army of the Potomac-glorious as I conceive it to be-is entitled to claim more credit for its uniform gallant conduct and for the amount of hard fighting it has gone through than the division of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. I do not wish to take any credit to myself in this. It is not of my own personal services that I would speak, but of the services of the soldiers---of the privates of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, and I have only to appeal to Dranesville, where the first success that crowned the arms of the Army of the Potomac was gained, unaided and alone, by a single brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves. I have only to refer to Mechan-

 

icsville, where began the six days' fighting on the Peninsula, and whore the whole of Longstreet's corps was held in check for several hours, and victory really won, by only two brigades of the Reserves. I refer you to New Market Cross roads, sometimes called Glendale, and refer emphatically to that battle because certain officers of the army, not knowing the true facts of the case, and misled at the time by the statement of others equally ignorant with themselves, and whose statements have since been proved incorrect, brought charges against this division on that occasion. I was with the division during the whole fight, and until dark, when it pleased God that I should be shot down and carried off the field. I have been told that the division ran off, but I know that I stayed with it until it was dark, and my men were engaged in a handto-hand contest over the batteries with the enemy. I do not say that there were not some who ran away, but that is nothing singular. There are cowards in every division; there are bad men in every corps. I do say, however, that the large body of the gallant men of the Pennsylvania Reserves remained on the field until dark, and did not leave it until the enemy had retired. Those guns were never captured from them. They remained on the field, and were not taken until ten o'clock the next day. I refer to South mountain, and it is not necessary for me to say much of their conduct there, for their gallant ascent of the height in the face of the enemy and turning their left flank was witnessed by the commanding general, and they received full credit for it. I speak of Antietam, where, on the sixteenth of September, the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, always in the advance, boldly attacked that portion of the Confederate army in its front without knowing its strength, and continued to drive it until dark, and then held the position it had gained until the morning, when the battle was renewed. I speak again of Fredericksburg, where the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps crossed and led the advance, unaided and alone, up the heights, and held their position for half an hour while the others crossed. Had they been followed and supported by other troops, their courage that day would have won a victory. I repeat, therefore, that I have a right to be proud and grateful when the officers and men of such a command who can with truth point to a hard-earned and dearly bought record of bright. deeds, present me, who have had the honor of commanding them, with such a testimonial. While, however, I give expression to these feelings, they are not unmingled with others of a sad and mournful nature as I look around you and reflect that so many of the brave officers and soldiers who originally composed this division sleep their last sleep, and that others have been obliged to return home crippled d and maimed for life. It is terrible to think that there should be any necessity for so much misfortune and misery 1 Sad, that in this country', a land flowing with milk and honey, and in which we are all brothers, we should raise our arms against each other, and such scenes should be enacted as I have been a participant in. It is sad that there should

 

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be an occasion like the present, and a necessity for the presentation of a testimonial such as this. These are sad, sad thoughts to me, but at the same time I am sustained in my present position try a consciousness that I am acting from a high and proper sense of my duty to ray country. It is impossible that this great country should be divided; that there should be two governments or two flags on this continent, such a thing is entirely out of the question. I trust that every loyal man would be willing to sacrifice his life before lie would consent to have more than one government and one flag wave over the whole territory of the United States. This reunion, gentlemen, awakens in my heart a new sorrow for an officer which it vividly recalls to my mind, for he commanded the division when I commanded one of the brigades. Ile was the noblest as well as the bravest gentleman in the army. I refer to John F. Reynolds. I cannot receive this sword without thinking of that officer. When he fell at Gettysburg, leading the advance, I lost not only a lieutenant of the utmost importance to me, but I may say that I lost a friend, aye, even a brother. I miss other faces which were familiar to me in your midst---Me Neil and Taylor, of the Rifles; Simmons, of the Fifth; young Kuhn, who came from Philadelphia to assist me in the field ; Dehone, of Massachusetts, and a host of others whose remains you all cherish.

"It is oppressive, gentlemen, to me to go over the list of these officers Who have been sacrificed; but if I could remember and name every soldier of your division that has fallen, what a long list and what a trying recital it would be to us all ! How many men who once belonged to the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps now sleep in the grave, or are lingering on earth, joyfully expecting death to end their sufferings.

"I thank you, General Crawford, for the kind manner in which you have conveyed to me this elegant testimonial, and I also thank these gentlemen who have come so far to be present. I trust, sir, this sword will be required but a short time longer. Affairs and events now look its if this unhappy war might be brought to a happy termination. I have to request of you gentlemen who are in civil life that, when you return home, you will spare no efforts to make the people understand that all we want are men to fill up our ranks. Send these to us. Give us the numbers, and the war will soon be concluded. I think the rebels are now satisfied that their struggle is only a matter of time, as we have the force on our side, and that as soon as they see that we are bringing out that force in earnest they will yield. Permit me, before I close, to mention what I intended to refer to before this, but it escaped my memory. I intended to express my delight, sir, on hearing that at Gettysburg, under your command, the Reserve Corps enacted deeds worthy of their former reputation, showing that they had lost none of their daring, and could always be relied on in the hour and post of danger I expected that this would be the case, but it was particularly gratifying to me to hear it from your immediate commander on

 

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that occasion. Thanking you for your gallantry there, and again thanking you for your kindness, I will conclude."

 

About the 1st of September, the force of the Army of the Potomac was materially diminished by sending a division to North Carolina, and a considerable force to New York, to enforce the draft. Two weeks later, General Meade received information that Longstreet's corps had been detached from Lee's army, and had gone west. Immediately, the army was put in motion across the Rappahannock, the Confederates were driven across the Rapidan, and Meade occupied Culpepper and the surrounding country. As soon as he became established in his new position, the commanding general commenced to examine the country in his front, with a view to making a flank movement against Lee's army beyond the Rapidan. Most unfortunately for Meade's plans, it now became necessary to weaken his array still further in order to reinforce the army in Tennessee, which had suffered a severe repulse at Chickamauga. The Eleventh and Twelfth corps were detached and sent to the west; General Meade, therefore, suspended further operations, until the middle of October, when the troops from New York were returned to his army. Just about the time he was again preparing to advance against the Confederate army, he discovered that Lee was advancing against him, doubtless under the impression that the Array of the Potomac had been greatly reduced in strength by the detachment of troops for service in other departments. The movements of the enemy on his right flank soon convinced General Meade, that Lee did not intend to attach him, but rather to seize the line of the Rappahannock, or some other strong point in his rear, cut his communication, and compel him to march out and attack the Confederate army in such position as its commander might choose. The whole National army was therefore put in motion to march to the rear; when it arrived on the Rappahannock General Pleasonton, commanding the rear guard, reported that the enemy had occupied Culpepper in great force, and

 

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that the whole rebel army was in that vicinity. General Meade at once determined to march back and give battle. Accordingly, on the following day, he put in motion a column of thirty thousand men towards Culpepper, and held the remaining corps of his army in readiness to reinforce these troops. Late in the day, however, and after the detachment had gone forward, General Gregg who commanded a division of cavalry on the right, reported to the commanding general that the whole rebel army had crossed the Hazel river, had appeared on the Rappahannock, and was then crossing and marching on Warrenton. By this unfortunate error, growing out of the information brought by Pleasonton, General Meade lost a day's march, and allowed the enemy to threaten his communications. Still determined not to be out-manoeuvred, he retired his army, rapidly, on the line of the Orange and Alexandria railroad, to assume a position in which he could make a stand with his back to Washington and his front to the enemy; for General Meade had laid down as the great rule to guide him in his campaigns, never to refuse battle when there was a reasonable prospect of defeating the enemy. During the day, it became evident that General Lee was moving forward on the Warrenton Pike, with the intention of crossing Bull run and seizing the heights at Centerville before the Army of the Potomac could reach that point. The march, therefore, became a race between the two armies for the strong position north of Bull run; the National array won the race, and interposed between the enemy and Washington. On the 14th of October, the Fifth corps, commanded by General Warren, encountered the enemy under General Heath, on the railroad at Bristoe station. Whilst the rebels were engaged with Warren's corps on the front, the Pennsylvania Reserves, under Crawford, fell upon their left flank and completely routed them, capturing five pieces of artillery and a large number of prisoners.

As soon as Lee found that Meade had out-marched him, and that he could not fight a battle on his own terms, he

 

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rapidly withdrew his army towards the Rappahannock Meade followed with his whole force; and found the enema in position at Rappahannock station and Kelly's ford; by a secret and rapid movement, he surprised the rebel corps a1 these points, routed them, and captured several hundred prisoners, drove the enemy across the river, pursued hire vigorously, and forced him in hot haste beyond the line of the Rapidan.

The rebels labored diligently to destroy the railroad, in order to retard the march of the pursuing army, but the engineer corps soon rebuilt the bridges, relaid the track, and put the road in complete repair. After the work had been completed, General Meade established a depot of supplies at Brandy station, south of the Rappahannock, and prepared to advance against the enemy beyond the Rapidan.

The rebel army occupied the line. of the Rapidan from Morton's ford to Liberty mills. Lee had abandoned the lower line of the river, and depended, for the defence of his right, on a line of intrenchments which he had constructed perpendicularly to the river at Morton's ford, and extending back to Bartlett's mills on Mine run; beyond Bartlett's, and on the plank road, and old turnpike, as General Meade was informed, there were no intrenchments or preparations for receiving an attack. These were the main roads from Fredericksburg to Orange court-house. Ewell's corps held this line, and Hill's troops were stationed, in detachments, at various points from Rapidan station down towards Charlotteville.

General Meade believed, that by crossing at the lower fords without opposition, he could, by a rapid march, gain the turnpike and plank roads, and moving towards Orange court-house, encounter, first the concentration of Ewell's corps, and having his army well in hand, he could fall upon it and crush or cripple it before Hill's troops could succor it; and then turn upon Hill, and thus defeat Lee's army in detail.

The army was ordered to march on the 24th of Novem-

 

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ber, but, delayed by a, violent rain-storm, the movement did not commence until the 26th. Unfortunately, the Third corps, commanded by General French, was so tardy is its march that the whole army lost three hours at the Rapidan; the engineers had also blundered in their calculations, and every one of the four bridges was one boat too short, and trestle works were erected to span it ; the steep banks, made difficult by the recent rains, greatly delayed the crossing, so that instead of having concentrated at Robertson's tavern, on the pike, and at New Hope church, on the plank road, on the 26th, the army had only crossed the river.

On the 27th the movements of the Third corps were again unnecessarily slow, and instead of moving up promptly and joining the Second corps, commanded by General Warren, at Robertson's tavern, General French halted three miles short of that point, where, in the afternoon, he was attacked and held in check by the enemy until late in the evening. In the meantime Warren was detained at the tavern, awaiting the arrival of the Third corps before he could advance against the enemy. The day was therefore lost by delay, and the advantages gained by a secret and rapid movement were sacrificed. In short, the object of the campaign was defeated Lee quickly discovered Meade's intentions, rapidly contentrated his forces and hastily fortified the line of Mine run south of Bartlett's mills, so as to force the Army of the Potomac to assault strong works, or to cut loose frog-n its supply trains and make a long detour to the south, which at that season of the year was impracticable, or finally, to abandon the campaign.

            General Meade was unwilling to give up the effort to bring the enemy to battle without further examination of his position. He therefore sent General Warren with the Second corps and a division of the Sixth, several miles to the left, with orders if possible, to outflank the enemy's link and find some favorable point of attack. In the

 

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evening Warren reported that he had taken a strong position on high grounds commanding the enemy's right flank which an assault was practicable. At the same time Sedgwick, on the right, was directed to examine the ground in his front, and the engineer corps was sent to reconnoiter the entire line of Mine run. Sedgwick reported that there was a favorable point to storm the enemy's works in front of his corps, and the engineer officers thought they had discovered a weak line in front of French's curb,. General Meade, therefore, determined to attack simultaneously at the three points; subsequently, however, in response to a call from Warren for reinforcements, two o divisions of the Third corps were sent to his aid, increasing his force to twenty-four thousand men, and the contemplated attack in the centre was abandoned. The whole army was then posted so that the entire force could be concentrated on the successful point, or if both assaults succeeded that the centre could be promptly advanced and all the troops brought into action.

At daylight on the morning of the 30th the batteries opened with great vigor along the whole line; Warren was to assault the enemy's right at a given signal, and an hour later Sedgwick was to storm the left. Just before the Sixth corps was to have advanced General Meade received a despatch from Warren, in which he stated that upon close examination of the enemy's position he found it to be so much stronger than he had supposed, that during the night so many reinforcements had arrived, that he regarded it precarious to attack, and that inasmuch as the assault had been ordered upon his advice, he had taken the responsibility of suspending his movement until further orders, it being his clear judgment that there was no chance for success. Immediately, in hot haste, staff' officers were sent to Sedgwick, ordering him to suspend the assault on the right. Meade rode to the left, examined the position arid confirmed Warren's judgment. Sedgwick also reported that such had been the diligence of the enemy in strength-

 

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ening the works in his front, that he greatly doubted the result of an attack:

The commanding general then had but two courses to pursue, either he must make a further flank movement to the left, or he must retire his army across the Rapidan. He chose the latter, and on the night of the 1st of December, marched back to his camps at Brandy station.

In this campaign the Pennsylvania Reserves marched with the Fifth corps, commanded by General Sykes. They left their camps on Broad mountain run at five o'clock in the morning of the 26th of November, marched to the Rapidan, crossed at Culpepper mine ford and moved down the Fredericksburg plank road to a point four miles west of Chancellorsville and bivouacked. On the morning of the 27th the line was formed with the Sixth corps, commanded by Sedgwick, on the right, the Third and Fifth in the centre; the First, commanded by Newton, and the Second, by Warren, were on the left. In the advance ordered by General Meade the Reserves were sent forward to support Gregg's division of cavalry. They marched from their bivouac at six o'clock, moving in. a southerly direction over a road which entered the Orange court-house plank road at Parker's store; the troops then marched westward on the plank road to New Hope church, where they found the cavalry engaging the enemy. General Crawford was ordered to form his division and support the cavalry. The enemy was posted in an abandoned railroad cut, and easily withstood the attack of the cavalry. The Reserves were ordered forward to dislodge the rebels. The Sixth regiment, commanded by Colonel Ent, was deployed as skirmishers; it advanced rapidly along the road, drove in the enemy's skirmishers, and so alarmed the rebels that they fled before the main line advanced. General Sykes was so well pleased with the movements of the regiment that he remarked to an officer at his side, "The Reserves go to work like regulars."

On the 28th the division moved forward to the right,

 

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and bivouacked at Robertson's tavern. Next day the troops advanced two miles westward on the road from the, tavern, and formed in line of battle on the east bank Mine run. On Monday morning, the 30th, they moved to the right four miles, where they expected to storm the enemy's works. A chilling rain had fallen during the night, and the weather was so cold that it was with great difficulty the troops kept warm; a few perished on the field, and many died subsequently from disease contracted by the exposure of the marches and bivouacs at Mine run, The Reserves were several times moved to the right or left advanced and withdrawn, but maintained their line abort three miles west of Robertson's tavern, in the wilderness north of the turnpike until the evening of the 1st of December, when they moved to the left to relieve the First corps, which was ordered to retire. At half-past seven o'clock they marched back to the tavern, thence to Raccoon >> ford, where, at three o'clock in the morning of the 2d they crossed the Rapidan.

Immediately after the army returned from the expedition to Mine run General Meade posted the several corps in positions for defence, and along the line of the railroad to be easily supplied, and to guard the line of communication to the Potomac. The Reserves were posted on the road from Bristoe station to Alexandria, the First brigade, commanded by Colonel McCandless, at Bristoe, the Third. Colonel Fisher, at Manassas, and the Second, Colonel Sickel at Alexandria. The position of the brigade remained unchanged until near the close of April, 1864.