Letter to Survivors of Company B from Charles Tillinghast Straight

              Stillwater Public Library
223 North 4tk Street
Stillwater, MN 55
FAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND. JULY 24, 1 9 2 4.
JOHN S.GOFF. )
CHAILES LOCKWOOD, )     Survivors of Company E, First Minnesota Volunteers.
PETER HALL, )
Gentleaen:    The PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND JOURNAL aade mention of your recent meeting at Stillwater.Minnesota, to observe the 63d anniversary of the Eattle of Eull Run,Va., fought Sunday, July 21, 1 I i 1.
The Journal also stated there were but four survivors left of the associatior formed in 1 8 S 6, of the then 34 survivors of Company B. and that one of these four, EMIL GRAFF, was unable to attend the reunion.
This is somewhat in line with an article in the Journal at the time of your
reunion , two years ago.
At that time I am very sure I wrote you, for I remember receiving some very
nice replies.
I am writeng this principally to tell you of the widespread interest in thest annual gatherings. No doubt it was mentioned by many of the large papers throughout the country.
It may seem like presumtion on my part to write to YOU about the First Minnesota Volunteers, but you will surely permit me to say it has always been of great interest to me, and that I as somewhat familiar with the history of the regiment.
About two years ago (by invitation) I aade an address before Tower Post #17, G. A. R., of this city, telling of some of ay experiences during ay EIGHT visits to the battlefield of Gettysburg, also some of the incidents of that historic battle,gained froa histories,official reports, saps, and stories told by survivors.
In the course of ay few reaarks I aentioned the First Minnesota Vols., as follows:
* Here occurred another critical situation,in which tiae was everything. Between the 2nd Se 3d Corps was a gap,partly caused by the withdrawal of Caldwell's Division; in the gathering twilight Gen.Hancock saw a body of aen rushing for this position; he sharply asked what those aen were doing out there,at first supposing they were his own troops. On being told they were the eneay he hastily turned to the troops nearest hia; it was the FIRST MINNESOTA,of his own Corps; at once he ordered Col.Colville to charge the oncoaing eneay; they MUST be stopped,or the center of the line would be broken. None but what knew the aeaning of this order, but there was not an instant of hesitation; with a wild shout the aen from Minnesota dashed upon the oncoming enemy; the shock was terriffic,but the struggle was not of long duration; the First Minnesota by the very suddenness and desperateness of their charge put the eneay to rout and confusion; the precious FIVE MINUTES had been gained,the eneay hurled back.the lines unbroken; but at what a terrible cost; Colonel Colville was seriously wounded and nearly every officer of the regiaent killed or wounded. The loss of the First Minnesota, SECOND CORPS at Gettysburg was nearly 83* , the greatest loss sustained by any organization in the battle.   They were the only troops on the field froa that State.but nobly did they acquit theaselves.