Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1914 — WAR REMINISCENCES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WAR REMINISCENCES

FIRST TO SEE CONFEDERATES Boston Man Sighted Approach of Van- - Army- . erf. Virginia—- » Brought Out the Reserves. Thomas Benton Kelley, the custodian of the rooms of the Vermont association of Boston, sighted the approach of the vanguard of the Army of North Virginia, gave the alarm which brought up the reserves, and saw the first shot fired in the battle of Gettysburg. Mr. Kelley served as a private in Company E. Eighth Illinois cavalry. Born in Vermont, he went to Illinois when a boy with hip father, who was a boyhood friend of Stephen A. Douglas. Kelley had met Abraham Lincoln in Chicago in 1856, and had attended the famous debates between Lincoln ' and Douglas, and had become an ardeqt follower of Lincoln. He enlisted in a company commanded by bis uncle, who was not only one of the strongest men in Illinois of his day, but was a notable swordsman. “Our cavalry reached Gettysburg two days before the Union Infantry,” said Mr. Kelley, speaking of his experiences in that battle. “On the morning of July 1 a detail from our regiment was on picket duty watching the approach by the Chambersburg pike. “I was posted at six a. m. on July 1 with Private James O. Hale of our company by Sergeant Levi S. Shafer. We were on high ground between Willoughby Run and Cashtown creek. “About ten minutes after we went on duty Hale and I noticed a thin cloud of dust rising about two miles away. In a few minutes we could discern a dark cloud extending about a mile and a half. We watched the cloud coming nearer for about 45 minutes and then we saw what we believed was the head of the Confederate line making Its way out to the pike in the vicinity of Cashtown creek. “When we finally made out the Confederate flag in I looked for Sergeant Shafer, as it was my duty to report to him. He was not in sight, and I did not wish to lose the advantage we had in occupying the high ground. I wanted to get the reserves up in time to hold that ground against the Confederates. “So I felt justified in leaving m'y post, and after telling Private Hale to tell Sergeant Shafer that the ‘Johnnies’ were coming I galloped back to where the reserves were camped. “Lieut. Marcellus E. Jones was In command of this small force about 48 rods ip the rear. When I gave him the message he snatched his bridle rein from the limb of a sapling, vaulted in-, to the saddle and ordered the relief, composed of two troops, to rush to the outpost , V“When we reached the post Sergeant Shafer and Private Hale were there. Lieutenant Jones, after scanning the approaching Confederates, took Sergeant Shafer’s carbine and stepping to the rail fence rested the barrel in a crotch. The head of the column was then within range and Lieutenant Jones picked out a man riding a large gray horse just at the left of the colors. He aimed at him and fired, but I do not think he bit him. “This was the opening shot of the battle of Gettysburg. Immediately the Confederate column halted, and a line of skirmishers was thrown out. Only a few minutes had elapsed since 1 gave the alarin, but we had been reinforced by our cavalry, and we sent out skirmishers. "Our command was ordered to dismount and our horses were seat to the rear. In 10 or 12 minutes the battle was on in earnest. “We fought the Confederate dismounted cavalry while waiting for the infantry to come up to reinforce us, and although we were outnumbered five to one we held our ground for a time. We were forced back slowly, but we kept on firing as we retreated. By this time the action was general. “After we were relieved by the infantry our regiment was ordered to take the prisoners back and deliver them to the provost marshal. We did so'and after that we supported the infantry, taking care of the left flank movement of our Infantry.”