CONFEDERATES WAITING FOR THE END OF THE ARTILLERY DUEL.
CONFEDERATE ARTILLERYMEN AT DINNER.
tied, not a man was shot, yet the fire was the close and concentrated volley of a regiment. . . .
[After describing the charge of the two battalions over boulders and stone fences into the heart of the enemy’s camps, and the return charge through two lines of Confederates, Captain Parsons concludes as follows:]
The whole number who rode with Farnsworth was about three hundred. Their casualties were sixty-five. They brought in over one hundred prisoners; they rode within the Confederate lines nearly two miles; they received at short range the direct or enfilading fire of three regiments of infantry and of a battery of artillery; they drew two regiments out of line and held them permanently in new positions, breaking the Confederate front and exposing it to an infantry charge if one had been immediately ordered. Their assault was so bold that the Confederates received it as the advance of a grand attack, and finding themselves exposed to infantry in front and cavalry in the rear, they were uncertain of their position. Why no advantage was taken of this it is not for us to explain. Why the infantry, when they heard fighting in Law’s rear, or when, afterward, we delivered to their skirmish line our prisoners, did not advance and drive his brigade into the valley where it would have been exposed to a general flank attack, has never been explained; but it was not “ a charge of madmen with a mad leader.” We believed, and yet believe, that Farnsworth’s charge was wisely ordered, well timed, well executed, and effective.
The behavior of the horses in this action was admirable. Running low and swift, as in a race; in their terror surrendering to their masters, and guiding at the slightest touch on the neck; never refusing a fence or breaking from the column; crowding together and to the front, yet taking or
half to pieces; these are too good men to kill.” Kilpatrick said : “ Do you refuse to obey my orders? If you are afraid to lead this charge, I will lead it.” Farnsworth rose in his stirrups,—he looked magnificent in his passion,—and cried, “Take that back! ” Kilpatrick returned his defiance, but, soon repenting, said, “I did not mean it; forget it.” For a moment there was silence, when Farnsworth spoke calmly, “ General, if you order the charge, I will lead it, but you must take the responsibility.” I did not hear the low conversation that followed, but as Farnsworth turned away he said, “I will obey your order.” Kilpatrick said earnestly, “I take the responsibility.” ... We rode out in columns of fours with drawn sabers. General Farnsworth, after giving the order to me, took his place at the head of the Second Battalion. In this action I commanded the First Battalion, and Major Wells commanded the Second. Captain Cushman and Lieutenant Watson rode with me; General Farnsworth and Adjutant-General Estes rode with Major Wells.
As the First Battalion rode through the line of our dismounted skirmishers, who were falling back, they cried to us to halt. As we passed out from the cover of the woods the 1st West Virginia was retiring in disorder on our left. A frantic horse with one leg torn off by a cannonball rushed toward us as if for protection. We rode through the enemy’s skirmish line across the fields, over the low fences, past the Slyder house, and down the road. The sun was blinding; Captain Cushman shaded his eyes with his hand and cried, “An ambuscade!” We were immediately upon the enemy, within thirtypaces, and the deadly volley which is referred to in the Confederate reports was fired, but it passed over our heads; although they report that half our saddles were emp-
On the evening of the 2d of July we were on Meade’s right wing, and by noon of the third day of the battle we went into position on his left wing, near the enemy’s artillery line, on the southend of Seminary Ridge. . . . Kilpatrick’s orders were to press the enemy, to threaten him at every point, and to strike at the first opportunity, with an emphatic intimation that the best battle news could be brought by the wind. His opportunity had now come. If he could bring on a battle, drive back the Texas regiment, and break the lines on the mountain, Meade’s infantry on Round Top would surely drive them into the valley, and then the five thousand cavalry in reserve could strike the decisive blow.
The 1st West Virginia was selected to attack the Texas regiment. The Third Battalion of the 1st Vermont was thrown out as skirmishers ; the First and Second battalions were held for the charge on the mountain. The 1st West Virginia charged at our left and front down the open valley, nearly in the direction, but toward the right, of the Bushman house upon the 1st Texas regiment, which was in line behind a rail fence that had been staked and bound with withes. A thin line shot forward and attempted to throw the rails, tugging at the stakes, cutting with their sabers, and falling in the vain effort. The regiment came on in magnificent style, received a deadly volley before which it recoiled, rallied, charged the second time, and fell back with great loss.
I was near Kilpatrick when he impetuously gave the order to Farnsworth to make the last charge. Farnsworth spoke with emotion : “ General, do you mean it ? Shall I throw my handful of men over rough ground, through timber, against a brigade of infantry ? The 1st Vermont has already been fought
my staff-officers to assist in collecting the fragments of my command, I rode to my line of batteries, knowing they were all I had in front of the impending attack, resolved to drive it back or sacrifice my last gun and man. The Federáis were advancing a line of skirmishers which I thought was the advance of their charge. As soon as the line of skirmishers came within reach of our guns, the batteries opened again and their fire seemed to check at once the threatened advance. After keeping it up a few minutes the line of skirmishers disappeared, and my mind was relieved of the apprehension that Meade was going to follow us.
General Lee came up as our troops were falling back, and encouraged them as well as he could; begged them to reform their ranks and reorganize their forces, and assisted the staff-officers in bringing them all together again. It was then he used the expression that has been mentioned so often: “It was all my fault; get together, and let us do the best we can toward saving that which is left
ns.”
FARNSWORTH’S CHARGE AND DEATH.
BY H. C. PARSONS, CAPTAIN, 1ST VERMONT CAVALRY.
Commanding tlie First Battalion in Farnsworth’s Charge.
ON the eve of the battle of Gettysburg Captain Elon J. Farnsworth, of the 8th Illinois Cavalry, an aide on General Pleasonton’s staff, was promoted for gallantry to be brigadier-general and given command of a brigade in Kilpatrick’s division, consisting of the 5th New York, 18th Pennsylvania, 1st Vermont, and 1st West Virginia regiments.