328 



SKETCHES IN PROSE. 



Captain Giveii, of Manayunk, gave me the following con- 

 cerning the action of the regiment after the 1st of July. From 

 his position he saw but little of Robert in the fight, being on 

 the non-commissioned staff. He was an intimate friend, and 

 had served in the same company until promoted : 



" On the afternoon of July 1st, 1863, we reached Emmetts- 

 burg, Maryland, from Bridgeport ; halted for a rest, when it 

 began to rain. This continued until near dark. Soon word 

 came to fall in, which we obeyed in quick order, and proceeded 

 through the town. A mile outside we began to hear the fir- 

 ing of a cannon. This came from the fight between Oak 

 Ridge and Cemetery Hill, as our men were falling back to the 

 protection of Steinwehr's guns. We were then hurried 

 faster. Our overcoats, which many of us carried, became 

 heavy, and we began throwing them away. A farmer was 

 driving rapidly from the battlefield with his family in an 

 open farm wagon. I asked him if he wanted an overcoat ? 

 He said ' No ! but I will keep it for you.' It being a good one 

 I threw it to him. Robert disposed of his the same way, and 

 we hurried on toward the sound of battle. We were in good 

 spirits, laughing and joking, although wet to the skin. I 

 remember Robert was as cheerful as any. It was about sun- 

 down when we reached the point on the Emmettsburg road 

 where we fought next day — little knowing that here so many 

 of our boys would fall. This was at the Sherfey House, then 

 of no more note than any one of the many farm-houses 

 around, and at the next house beyond turned to the right. In 

 this, then a low, one-storied log structure, lived a man who 

 Avas sitting in the doorway nursing a baby as we marched 

 hurriedly by. I thought how soon he would be getting 

 out of that. The next day that log-house was a fort, and 

 I don't think that man and baby was part of the garrison. We 

 marched across the fields and were posted on the Ridge north of 

 Round Top. The firing had now ceased. The remnants of the 



