Page:Schurz Birthday 40.JPG

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40

commanding officer to his side, and, pointing to a large flock of sheep, said: “Colonel, if you are attacked by those sheep I trust that you will know how to defend yourself.” It is needless to add that the savor of roasting mutton that night pervaded the camp, and from the contented look that General Schurz bore through the next day's march there has been a lurking suspicion in the speaker's mind that at least one rash sheep made a fierce attack on the Division headquarters.

Had Creasy brought his list of decisive battles to our day he would have added to the twelve he has named, Gettysburg. The gallant Reynolds fell early on the first day. Howard succeeded to the command of the field, Schurz to the Eleventh corps, holding the right. So well was the attack here repelled that it was late in the afternoon before the Confederates entered Gettysburg. On the evening of that day Schurz led a successful charge, defeating an attempt of the enemy to break the Union lines. In the defence against the world-famed charge of Pickett, his artillery was used with fearful effect. In the crucial work of all three days his post was one of prominence and distinction. When, after the fighting, orders were received to follow Lee in retreat, although his men had marched for thirty-three miles that day, he readily complied.

In September of 1863 the Eleventh and Twelfth corps were sent to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland, then at Chattanooga. I shall not keep you with the story of these new campaigns. The night battles on the Wahatchie, pronounced by General Thomas “among the most brilliant and daring exploits of the war,” have always had a dramatic interest. Schurz was the inspir-