[Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' Mail 20 September 1884, page 2, column 5]
The Obscure Soldier Corrected.
MONTGOMERY STATION, Pa., Sept. 15. EDITOR SCOUT AND MAIL:
In reading over my paper of Sept. 13th, I find much of interesting history and incidents which occurred during the dark days of the late unpleasantness. I like to read the SCOUT AND MAIL, and can hardly wait for it to arrive on Saturday. In reading "The Personal Recollections and Experiences of an Obscure Soldier," by T. F. Walter, of Post 8, I find that he makes a grave mistake when he says "I believe we were about the last of the 5th Corps to go into the engagement, for both the Regulars and the Penna. Reserves, belonging with us, had done desparate fighting in the valley in front of us, and had been driven out before we arrived."
Now if he recollects anything about the Penna. Reserves going into that engagement at all, he will remember that they were not driven out as he states, but held every inch of their ground until the battle of Gettysburg ended. And I am inclined to think that his regiment (the 91st Pa.), was in the position he speaks of, on Little Round Top, before the Reserves got into action, as the Reserves went to the support of the Regulars, who were being overwhelmed and driven from the field by the combined forces of Hood and McLaws.
Hoping the comrade will acknowledge the correction, I remain
Yours in F.O.L.N.Y. JONES
Post 264, G. A. R.
[4 October 1884, page 2, column 2]
The Fight on the Left of the Line at Gettysburg.
Another of the Reserves After the Writer of Personal Recollections
An Account of the Fighting there and the Troops engaged on Both Sides.
EDITOR SCOUT AND MAIL:
I have read in your paper of Sept. 13th, the "Recollections" of a private in Company A, 91st P. V., in which I find much that is interesting and instructive. But that comrade's memory is a little too treacherous for him to trust himself upon record in describing the movements of commands, other than the regiment in which he was at the time serving, without seriously disturbing the quiet which prevails along the lines of the many readers of the SCOUT AND MAIL. And I would suggest that, before again placing himself upon record in reference to the Pennsylvania Reserves, he take counsel of Col. Sinex, of the 91st, who personally received Gen. Vincent's last orders a few minutes before that brave general fell mortally wounded by his side. The Penna. Reserves were not driven out with the Regulars and the Irish Brigade, but entered the fight single-handed, after those troops and all others engaged had fought desparately, and defended every inch of ground bravely, and were withdrawn from the front; then the Reserves were ordered forward, and drove Longstreet from Little Round Top across the plain beyond the wheat field, and took up a position far in advance of all other Union troops on the evening of July 2d, and remained in the advance until the 4th, when they were relieved by the Regulars.
J. DENNIS, Phoenixville, Pa. 1st Pa. Reserves.
[4 October 1884, p.2]
Our comrade who writes the above is as far from the fact, if not farther, than Comrade Walters in his "Personal Recollections." [This continues, but I didn't transcribe that yet, since it doesn't have anything especially interesting, but is an attempt to summarize the whole battle]
[11 October 1884, page 2, column 2]
On the left at Gettysburg
Philadelphia, October 5, 1884.
EDITOR SCOUT AND MAIL:
Please inform the readers of your paper that when I wrote my "Recollections" several years ago, it was done for pastime and to refresh my memory, and not as a contribution to history; neither was it intended for publication. Please tell them, too, that you are omitting parts of it, that they may understand its occasional disjointedness.
Myself and Comrade Dennis may have erred in regard to what troops fought on the open ground in front of Little Round Top, and as to when they fought, but I am confident that the writer who attempted to correct us is more amiss than either of us. No Union troops appeared on that ground after we got into position. It seemed to be under our noses almost, and we were not asleep during the day, by a long sight.
Respectfully yours,
T. F. WALTER
[We think Comrade Walter misunderstood the article in our last issue upon the fight on the left of the line at Gettysburg. It was not intended to convey the meaning that all the fighting described therein as taking place in the "wheat-field" and in the open ground in front of Round Top, occurred after the arrival of his command upon Round Top. One paragraph was devoted to describing the fight on and for the possession of Round Top; and the next paragraph commenced with the words: "Out in front of it (Round Top) beyond Plum Run the battle in the meantime had been continued," and then recounted the fighting that occurred there. Of course the engagement on but one part of the line could be described at a time.
It was not intended to mean that all this fighting occurred after that on Round Top, though described after it. Most of it did occur, however, after the arrival of Vincent's Brigade on Round Top, though before the arrival of Weed's Brigade, to which Comrade Walter belonged. ED.]