L ADDRESS of colonel WILLIAM RICKARDS. ADIES, Fellow Citizens and Comrades: In looking back over the past thirty-four years of our country's history this meeting recalls the words of a great poet who said, "There is a Divinity that shapes our ends rough hew them how we will." Thirty-four years ago these hills and valleys were the witnesses of terrible conflicts in which thousands of men laid down their lives in the effort to maintain what they considered a principle of right. Four years of horrible war, involving a sacrifice of life and expenditure of means and effort never witnessed in the history of the world, represents the hewing to define the right principle, and settle the question: Shall we live as a nation with one country and one flag or shall we divide and form two nations with antagonistic principles and undefined boundary? We had tried argument and compromise; having failed in these, we resorted to the force of arms to maintain the right as we believed it; and although the hewing was rough this meeting to-day of the men engaged in the hewing and of those who opposed them proves that the end has been shaped by a divine order. Those who were enemies to the death now meet as friends on this hallowed ground, claiming allegiance to one country and one flag. We acknowledge the courage and heroism of those with whom we contended and admit that the hewing was hard work; but the end shaped gives promise of a bright future. The advancement in every branch of business in the southern states, with the prosperity and wealth incident thereto, gives encouragement that the memory of the past struggle will be a blessing to posterity. That this memory may be preserved, the national government has arranged to dedicate in localities of great interest the ground fought over as national parks; and have them so marked as to exhibit to posterity the heroism of our ancestors, and each state has also marked the localities in which her troops were engaged. We are here to-day as citizens of Pennsylvania to dedicate the monuments placed to mark the localities of Pennsylvania troops in which our actions were most important or conspicuous. We have the honor to represent the Twenty-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was organized in Philadelphia, Pa., in June, 1861, and during the balance of that year held various positions on the Potomac in Maryland. On February 21, 1862, it crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry into Virginia and took an active part in the Shenandoah campaign. In the battles of Front Royal and Winchester we were defeated and lost nearly two hundred by capture, the colonel, J. K. Murphy, and your speaker, captain of company I, among the number. We were imprisoned at Salisbury, N. C., Belle Island and Libby Prisons, Va., and exchanged September 3, 1862. On September 4, 1862, I was promoted lieutenant colonel and soon after took command of regiment attached to Third Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Corps. On May 1, 1863, Colonel Murphy having resigned on account of ill health, I was promoted colonel. I commanded the regiment in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, in both of which it took an active part. The Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, having been detached from the Army of the Potomac and under command of General Joe Hooker, were ordered to report at Chattanooga. The Twenty-ninth took the train at Bealeton Station, Va., on September 28, 1863, arrived at Louisville, Ky., October 4, arrived at Nashville, Tenn., October 5, at 6 P. M., and was ordered by General Slocum to go to Murfreesboro; arrived at 10 P. M., and reported to General Ward commanding who ordered me to take command of all troops of Twelfth Corps in Murfreesboro. On evening of 6th I turned over command to Colonel Geo. Cobham, who was my superior. On 10th marched to Fosterville and built a fort. October 21, left Fosterville in train; arrived at Stephenson, Ala., on the 23d; on the 26th took up line of march for Bridgeport; arrived in the evening, October 27; supplied each man with sixty rounds of ammunition; crossed Tennessee River on pontoon bridge; arrived at Shellmound at 2 P. M., October 28; heavy rain in morning, clearing at noon. Our route was through mountain passes and along the banks of the Tennessee River and through Whiteside and brought us to Lookout Valley about three miles from Wauhatchie Junction on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. About half a mile beyond the junction we halted at the Kelly's Ferry road in full sight of the height of Lookout Mountain on which a signal flag could be seen announcing to the rebel headquarters our approach. Regiments of our division had been left at various passes and stations on the route and our force was much reduced. The troops under command of General Geary with us consisting of the ....... 383 125 Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 375 Seventy-eighth New York Volunteer Infantry, 150 ..... One hundred and thirty-seventh New York Volunteer In- 380 One hundred and forty-ninth New York Volunteer In- 200 Four pieces Knap's Pennsylvania Battery. 1,613 Having halted at the Kelly's Ferry road the troops were ordered to bivouac, in plain view of the Confederates on the mountain who could ccunt every man we had. General Geary sent for me and, remarking it was not my turn, said he wished I would take the picket as we were in close proximity to the enemy and it would require extra caution. The remark was complimentary to myself and my regiment. Of course I consented and accepted with thanks for the compliment and proceeded to post the regiment to the best advantage. I thought from the appearance there was a crossing where the railroad crossed, and that would probably be the place where troops would cross to attack us; but the general said the Eleventh Corps had passed there and would no doubt look out for that crossing. He thought back at the junction would be the important point as troops could be concealed up the valley and besides he had information there was no bridge at the railroad crossing. I therefore placed three companies at the junction, two at or near the creek on the railroad, and gave Captain Millison extra caution and directed him to deploy his reserve as skirmishers at the first alarm. Two companies were posted on the Kelly's Ferry road, two on the creek between our camp and the mountain and one at the base of Raccoon Mountain. I went to a small house below the railroad and on pretense of getting some bread had a conversation in which I learned there was a bridge over the creek and that Confederate troops had been over it that after noon. I then went to the house where General Geary said he had obtained his information, took the man to the general's quarters and learned from him that he had not been explicit but that there was a bridge over the creek. Hastening to the picket, I moved them farther out at least three quarters of a mile from camp, repeating my former caution and direction. I started on my rounds and had reached the picket at the junction when I heard firing in direction of the bridge. Riding rapidly toward the firing I saw a line of men moving from the creek. Captain Millison had deployed his reserves and was doing his best to hold them. I rode quickly to camp to report. Generals Geary and Greene were in the field and part of our force were in line facing the railroad bank. I reported to the general that the enemy had crossed the railroad and were coming on our left and rear. There was a delay in giving orders to change front and, finding it necessary, I gave the order to change front to rear on right company. It was well and quickly executed and just in time for the enemy, driving the Twenty-ninth pickets, came to the edge of the wood and opened fire. General Greene was wounded in the face and the horses becoming unmanageable from the fire in the dark started for the rear. Mine also wanted to go and, not being able to control it, I dismounted and, giving it a cut, sent it with the others and I took command of the field. Our line, as then formed, was One hundred and eleventh Pennsylvania on the right, resting on the railroad; on their left the One hundred and ninth and the One hundred and thirty-seventh New York on left. The two companies of the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania I posted on the railroad on right and rear of the One hundred and eleventh Pennsylvania, and the One hundred and forty-ninth New York on their right. Knap's Battery was posted in rear of the infantry on rising ground and fired over the heads of the line in front. The Confederate line overlapped ours and swung around on our flanks. The battery was firing with short fuses and some shells bursted in our line. They were from the piece fired by Lieutenant Geary. I went to him and he cut a longer fuse, asking how that was. I told him it was right and he put in another and gave the command to fire when he was struck in the forehead with a ball. I caught him on my arm but he never spoke again. The enemy had now got a position on the railroad bank on our right, and were enfilading our line. Major Reynolds, chief of artillery, Twelfth Corps, was with us and I asked him to have the piece taken outside of the railroad but he objected, saying they would take it. I said if it was not done they would take us. Then he said there were no horses. I told him I would take the responsibility and furnish the force to move the piece, and calling Captain Millison to bring up his men we moved the piece back and over the railroad, and with two artillerists with that piece, who were not wounded, to help load and fire, we soon got the range and drove the Confederates from the bank and field and ended the fight. The result was a decisive victory for the Union troops, though gained at considerable loss. We buried one hundred and fifty-seven Confederates and had one hundred and thirty-five prisoners, with a loss on our side of ninety men and officers killed and wounded. We encamped on the spur of Raccoon Mountain, from which we could look at the face of Lookout Mountain and over the valley. Wishing to get a better view of the position on November 8, I went with Doctor Bender to the summit of Raccoon Mountain from which I had a good view of Lookout and the valley. The Confederates had a line of works on the slope above the crossing of the creek at the railroad and wagon road, and were at work strengthening their position. I drew a map in my diary which I completed on close observation. I conceived the thought that the mountain could be taken by a flank movement, from a crossing at the mill dam on Lookout Creek about two and a half miles from the mouth and moving along the slope near the palisade, whilst an attack was made at the railroad crossing. Those who crossed above would strike their works on the flank and some would be above and pass around their flank. On the 13th, as officer of the day, I stopped at General Hooker's quarters. The general invited me to eat some pickled oysters. The general was looking at the Confederates working on the mountain. He said, "Colonel, that mountain ought to be in our possession and could be with the troops I have here in twenty-four hours. I would move a force over the creek and drive them from their works." This gave me a chance to give my views. I said that a movement as he proposed would be attended with great loss. I then showed him my map and described the crossing by the mill dam, while the feint could be made at the railroad crossing. He took the suggestion seriously, made some notes from the map, but said no more. On November 24, at one o'clock A. M, I received orders to call in my pickets and report at division headquarters with my regiment, with one day's rations and in light marching order, at four o'clock A. M. We were there on time. I met General Geary coming out, when he informed me we were going to assault Lookout Mountain. I said, "I have a favor to ask." "What is it," was asked? I said, "it is to give me the right in the movement." He said, "General Hooker has directed that you have the right." We went to the mill, as I had suggested to General Hooker, and our regimental pioneers, with those of the brigade, built a bridge on the breast of the dam and at eight o'clock A. M., of November 24, 1863, the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers moved over Lookout Creek and led the way to the palisade which surmounts the slope, followed by the One hundred and eleventh Pennsylvania, being the only regiment of the Second Brigade present, next the Third Brigade, and on the left the First Brigade. Having reached the palisades, the line fronted, I put out companies C and E, Captains Millison and Sorber as skirmishers. Our line swept the slope from the palisades to Lookout Creek. General Whitaker's Brigade of Fourth Corps was a reserve and followed at a distance of three or four hundred yards. We moved steadily on, meeting lines of skirmishers which we drove or captured, and often heavy defensive lines of the enemy which we invariably charged on, capturing or driving them. Near a large rock or offset in the palisade the skirmishers informed me a body of rebels were waiting to charge on my right flank. I changed front to rear on left company and charged on them. They fired one volley which we returned with interest when finding, instead of striking and disorganizing a flank, they had met a full front attack they threw down their arms and surrendered. I sent them to the rear with Sergeant Moore, company E, and four men who brought me a receipt from Lieutenant Jessup, Fifth Ohio, for three hundred and five men, a colonel and major. Changing front, forward again we swept, on through abattis and rocks, to the point of the mountain, where at noon the flag of the Twenty-ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers was planted against the palisade in advance of all other troops, at the highest point accessible except by some route then unknown. We were now on the flank and rear of the enemy's works and above them. Troops on our left struck them in front, but, finding themselves outflanked, they did not hold them long but broke to the rear to the |