Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1889 — ON GETTYSBURG FIELD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ON GETTYSBURG FIELD.

PERPETUATING THE MEMORY OF MICHIGAN’S BRAVE SONS. Ceremonies of Unveiling the Monuments— The Granite Shafts Described—Michigan Regiments that Participated in the Great Battle. [LETTER FROM GETTYSBURG, *A.] Wednesday, the 12th of June, was Michigan's day on the historical battlefield of Gettysburg. It was the occasion of the dedication of monuments which have been erected by the Wolverine State to her soldiers who fell in the sanguinary conflict of July 1,2, and 3, 1863. There were present from Michigan Gov. Luce and staff, exGov. Blair, Gen. Alger, and about 900 veterans. Assistant Secretary Willets Ixeaded a delegation of Michigan men from Washington. A slight departure was made from the programme which had been prepared for the occasion. Gov. Beaver of Pennsylvania, who was to have been present and receive the monuments on behalf of the Gettysburg Monumental Association, was unavoidably absent, his time being fully occupied with work in connection with the ■Conemaugh Valley disaster. Gen. Luther Trowbridge, of Detroit, delivered the memorial speech : for all the organizations that represented Michigan in the battle. Col. George H. Briggs of Grand Rapids, Chairman of the Michigan Monument Commission, tendered the monuments to Gov. Luce, who, in a suitable speech, accepted them in behalf of Michigan. He in turn delivered them to the Gettysburg Monumental Association, the Hon. E. McPherson of the association making the speech of acceptance. The oration of the day was delivered by Austin Blair, Michigan’s war Governor, one of three Union war Governors now living. Ex-Govemor Blair is seventy-one years of age, and is not in robust health, but continues to practice law at Jackson, Micb. His address was remarkably strong, and he paid a noble tribute to the Michigan soldiers. The Rev. William C. Way, Chaplain of the Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry, acted as Chaplain for the occasion, and the exercises were interspersed with appropriate vocal and instrumental music. Owing to the storm the graves of the Michigan dead burled on the battlefield were decorated with flowers prior to the exercises. Representatives of each of the various regiments that ]>articinated in the lrndtle and who were present held services of a Memo-rial-Day character at their respective monuments. An interesting feature of the proceedings was the decoration of the grave of John Burns, whose bravery iu the memorable tight has been immortalized by a favorite poet. He fought within the lines of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, and members of the regiment who were present bedecked his grave with flowers. The Michigan commands engaged at Gettysburg embraced seven regiments of infantry, four regiments of cavalry, four companies of sharpshooters, and one battery, a to:al of 4,834 officers and men. The toialloss in killed, wounded, and missing was 1,131. The First Michigan Infantry of the First Brit ale. First Division, Fifth Corps, out r si the fight July 2 with twenty-one officers and 240 men, in command of Cob Abbott. This

gallant officer was wounded early in the struggle, and the command devolved upon Lieut. Col. W. A. Throop. The regiment sustained a total loss of 42. Capt. Amos Ladd being one of the six offleors B i lit cl. THE FIRST MICHIGAN INFANTRY.

The monument to the First Infantry is located upon the large rock south and east of tho peach orchard, in what iB historically known as the loop. It is four feet square at tne base and ten feet ten inches in height, cut from Westerly granite. The base contains the State coat of arms in bronze, togother with the name of the regiment, brigade, division and corps. One surface of the die presents two muskets crossed, cartridge box. canteen, bayonet, and belt cut in has relief. The right and left sidos present polished corps badges, and the regimental inscription is cut upon the rear surface. From the inscription it is learned that the regiment was ruuHtered in at Detroit May 1, 1801, for threo years, re-enlisting as veterans Feb. 20, 1864. Tho regiment mustered out at Jeffersonville, Ind., July 9, 1865. The total enrollment was 2,144, and the loss 252. The monument occupies the position where the regiment fought July 2, 1863, Among the forces resisting the attempt of •Gen. Longstreet to turn the tide against the Union forces July 2 was the Third Michigan Infantry,which was deployed with the Fifth Michigan as sharpshooters about a mile beyond the Emmettsburg pike. In repelling the desperate and formidable attack of the enemy the Third played a prominent part. It entered the fray with a total of 286 men, and when the roll was again called forty-five failed to respond to their names. The Third Infantry belonged to the Third Brigade, First Division. Third Corps. The monument to the regiment has been’completed, but not placed in position. It will stand at the southeast corner of the peach orchard. It is a beautiful shaft of Oak Hill granite, eleven feet six inches in height, with a base six feet two inches by five feet. Two life-sized soldiers in has relief, in action' as skirmishers, occupy the front of thedie. Upon the base appears the name of the regiment, brigade, division, and corps, and the polished surface of the shaft bears the coat of arms, corpß badge, and inscription. The Third was mustered into service at Grand Bapids June 10, 1861, and served till the close of the war. MANY YELL IN BATTLE. The Fourth Michigan cut a noblo figure in the great battle of Gettysburg. The regiment engaged iu the struggle under the command of Col. H. H. Jeffords with twentv-seven officers and 376

men. The regiment sustained a loss of 165 in killed, wounded and missing, the gallant Jeffords being among the, slain. The memorial to the Fourth is also not yet in position, but it is one of the most beautiful of the ten. With the exception of the Third and Fourth all the other monuments are erected. The Fourth will stand in the famous wheatfield, which ran red with

Michiga’ns brat blood on the memorable July days. The base is 7x5 feet and 10 Inches square and the shaft of Oak Hill granite towers 13 fe«t. On the front of the die in bas relief is a life-atse figure representing a color-bearer, five of whom from this regiment lost their lives at this point Col. Jeffords' tragic death is tersely narrated in the monumental inscription. HEAVY LOSS IN THE FIFTH INFANTRY. The Fifth Infantry entered the battle at 4 p. m. July 2 with 283 then and lost 106 in less than an hour. The monument stands on the line of battle west of the wheatfield, on what is now known a* Sickles avenue. It is 65gfeet square and 10‘ s feet in height, cut from Hardwick granite, a stone susceptible of a fins polish. The die presents the life-size figure of a soldier in the act of loading his musket. The regiment was mustered into service at Detroit Aug. 28, 1861, and was relieved from duty at Jeffersonville, Ind., July 3, 1863. The total enrollment was 1,950. It participated in forty-seven battles, and lost 109 men iu the iiattle of Gettysburg. At a conspicuous point on Cemetery Bidge, near a copse of trees on the drive which bears the name of the lamented Gen. Hancock, is located the monument of the Seventh Infantry, of the Third Brigade, Second Division, Second Corps. A Westerly granite shaft, eight feet high, is supported on a podestal five feet two inches square, constituting a fitting remembrance to a gallant body of men. The inscription states that the regiment was mustered into service at

Monroe Aug. 22, 1861, and did valiant work until mustered out July 5, 1865. FIGHTING TO GAIN LITTLE BOUND TOP. The struggle for the possession of Little Round Top was one of the most fierce of this -bloody contest. The importance of securing a position on this bill was evident to commanders of both armies, and foviral commands had been ordered forward to take possession and hold it*. Vincent’s brigade y ith Hazelett's battery, wi s h a New York and an Ohio regiment supporting, rushed tothepjakof the hill. The rugged, rocky face of the eminence rendered the advance of nr. ill cry almost impracticable, but by an almost superhuman effort the cannons were dragged up by hand and hurriedly placed in position behind breastworks of stones, thrown together on the spur of the moment, affording but feebln defense. The possession of this point was taken in the nick of time, for Hood’s Texan Bangers wore then climbing up its craggy sides hand over hand, clutching rocks and roots, forcing their way upward against showers of bullets atid bristling bayonets. This almost unparalleled struggle as heroically ended by a gallant charge ol the Union troops, which swept the rebels from the bill. Among the foremost in this desperate charge was the Sixteenth Michigan, in command of Col. Welch, and the monument is located on Ihe spot where the battle vas ihe thickest—on the southwest face of Little Round Top. The base of the monument is seven feet four inches, by three feet two inches, and ifcß height five feet six inches. The regiment was mustered in at De roit Sept. 8, 1861, and discharged July 8. 1865. The total enrollment was 2,318, and the casualties numbered 343. Of all the Michigan regimonts which participated in this sanguinary affair the Twentyfourth Infantry suffered tho most severely. It entered the fight with 496 men and was literally cut to pieces, 3C3 of the meu being killed or wounded. Tho Twenty-fourth was a part of tile First Brigade, First Division, and First Corps. A beautifully polished Hardwick granite monument, fourteen feet six inches in heicht, with base five feet square, s ands in ihe shade of I'evnoldß Grove, near Willoughby ltun, and commemorates the deeds_ of as gallent a body of men as ever shouldered muskets. The plinth of the monument is surmounted wilh a life-size figure of a soldier in the act of loading bis gun. Cut in the imperishable granite is a brief narrative of the regiment’s work at this point. A DASHING CAVALRY BRIGADE. The Michigan Caval.-y Brigade, which attained a most enviable national reputation, owed

much of its success to the fearless, dashing Custer, whose daring achievements made him the terror of his foes and the idol of hi 3 officers and men. The brigade composed the First, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Regiments of Michigan Cavalry and belonged to the Second Brigade, Third Cavalry Division. A single monument has lieen erected to its memory. It is located three miles east of Gettysburg, north of the Hanover Pike and in the vicinity of the Hummel farm buildings. It is eleven ’ feet four inches square at the base, and rises majestically forty feet in the air, tho Barrie and Hardwick granite of which it is composed forming an eileciive combination. The faces of the first die present a symbolical cavalry figure and wreath of oak and laurol. Upon the faco of the upper die is a magnificent bronze medallion of Gen. Custer, two feet square ; also, Custer’s badge in has relief and polished. The plinth contains the name of the brigade, and other surfaces on the monument contain tho corps badges, coat-of-arme, and brigade, division, and corps classification. The monument is surmounted with the statue of a “trooper dismounted,” the height of which is eight feet. Above the upper die and below the statue is a chevroned column four feet in width carved from the granite representing horses’ heads. Eighty tons of granite were used ou this monument. On Cemetery Ridge, between Round Top and the copse of trees, directly on the lino of Hancock avenue, is the monument commemorating the memory of the Ninth Michigan Battery, more familiarly known as Battery I of the First Brigade Horse Artillery, Cavalry Corps. It stands nine feet three inches high, on a base seven by five feet, and marks the position held by,t;he battery from 12 :30 p. m. July 3 until the following morning. Three hundred and twentyone rounds of shot, shell, and canister were thrown into the enemy’s ranks, but their own loss was small, ono being killed and four wounded, with a slaughter of twenty-three horses. A modest monument ou the southwest side of Little Round Top is erected in memory of that intrepid corps ot men known as Berdan’s Sharpshooters. Io is four feet four inches square and seven feet tl :vee inches high. The regiment consisted of Companies C, I, and K of the First United States Sharpshooters and Company B of the Second United States Sharpshooters! The companies were mustered into service in August, 1861, March and October, 1862, respectively, and did meritorious work until the close of tbe rebellion.

Michigan sharpshooters—Little round top.

FIFTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY-SICKLES AVENUE.

SEVENTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY.

NINTH MICHIGAN BATTERY—HANCOCK AVENUE,