JOHN BURNS OF GETTYSBURG. 343 



instead filled his pockets with fixed ammunition, after which 

 he went into the ranks. He soon grew restless, as the general 

 engagement had not begun, and advanced to the front towards 

 our skirmishers before he could see a rebel to shoot at. Pretty- 

 soon I saw a Confederate officer riding towards their advanced 

 line, mounted on a white horse. Burns drew on him and the 

 horse galloped through our lines without a rider. Whether 

 the officer was killed or not I do not know. The old man 

 loaded and fired away until I called in my skirmishers and 

 ordered my men back to the Seminary. In making this 

 movement I was wounded, mortally as I thought, and left 

 behind, our troops being gradually forced back. Consequently 

 that is all I know personally of Burns at Gettysburg." 



Sergeant George Eustis, above referred to, is living in Gilroy, 

 California. I wrote to him for further corroborating informa- 

 tion in regard to John Burns. He says : " If any of those who 

 think that the old man took no part in the battle of Gettys- 

 burg had seen him on the 1st of July, 1863, they would change 

 their opinion. I can't tell just what time he came up to us, 

 having left my watch at home on the bureau that morning, 

 but it was after w^e had captured Archer's Brigade, and while 

 we were lying down in the timber to protect ourselves from 

 the shot and shell flying around, about noon, say, that I saw 

 a little old man coming up in the rear of our company, F. 

 I remember him well. He had on a swallow-tail coat, with 

 smooth brass buttons. We boys commenced to poke fun at 

 him, thinking him a fool to come up where there was so 

 much danger. I wanted to put a cartridge box on him to 

 make him look Uke a soldier, telling him he couldn't fight 

 without that. His reply w^as, slapping his pockets, ' I can get 

 my hands in here quicker than in the box ; I am not used to 

 them new-fangled things.' In answer to a question as to 

 what made him come up there, he said the rebels had either 

 milked his cows or driven them away, and he was going to be 



