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THE ULSTER GUARD AT GET- 
 TYSBURG ON THE FIRST 
 THREE DAYS OF JULY, 1S63. 
 
 \' erses R^ad by the author, 
 
 HENRY ABBEY, 
 
 October 4th, 1888, at the Dedication 
 of the Battlefield Monument to the 
 Twentieth Regiment of New York 
 State Militia, Eightieth New York 
 Volunteers. 
 
 RONDOUT. NEW YORK. 
 
 Edition. 1891. 
 
 Second 
 
THE ULSTER GUARD AT GET- 
 TYSBURG ON THE FIRST 
 THREE DAYS OF JULY, 1863. 
 
 Verses Read by me author, 
 
 / 
 HENRY ABBEY, 
 
 October 4th, 1888, at the Dedication 
 of the Battlefield Monument to the 
 Twentieth Regiment of New York 
 State Militia, Eightieth New York 
 Volunteers. 
 
 RONDOUT. NEW YORK. Second 
 Edition. 1891. -* ■~- 
 
 / ■•^' rOPYPlf 
 
 s-^f; <r' 
 
Copyright, 1888, by Henry Abbey. 
 
THE ULSTER GUARD AT GET- 
 TYSBURG. 
 
 The First Day. 
 
 HIGH-HEARTED with many success- 
 es, and never so strong as then, 
 
 Lee marched into Pennsylvania with his 
 hundred thousand men. 
 
 But the Army of the Potomac caught up 
 betimes with his van, 
 
 And at Gettysburg fronted invasion val- 
 iantly, man for man. 
 
 Then the splendid Eightieth Regiment 
 
 of New York Volunteers, 
 Named "The Ulster Guard" for their 
 
 county — may it never lack their peers ! 
 Tho' last of the Federal army to strike 
 
 their Virginia tents. 
 Were first to arrive at Gettysburg and 
 
 prmmpt4y wage its defense. 
 
4 The First Day. 
 
 Save that Buford 's cavalry only, had 
 come on the day before ; 
 
 And the Ulster Guard, as they double- 
 quicked, could hear the far-off roar 
 
 Of the horsemen 's guns, as they thun- 
 dered to hold the coveted ground : 
 
 For eagle-eyed general Pleasanton the 
 vantage place had found. 
 
 He had given the duty to Buford hereon 
 
 to make a stand. 
 And Buford repeated to Devin, a colonel 
 
 in his command, 
 That here must be fought the battle, and 
 
 he feared that it would begin 
 Ere the infantry could assist him, for the 
 
 scouts were driven in. 
 
 But Devin, who doubted the rebels in 
 positive strength were near. 
 
 Said that he would "take care of any 
 who might at his front appear." 
 
 ' ' You will not ! '■ said Buford, "for ear- 
 ly to-morrow they will attack, 
 
 And we shall do well, Tom Devin, if we 
 are not soon driven back. 
 
The First Day. 5 
 
 ' ' For the enemy then will come boom- 
 ing — his skirmishers three deep." 
 
 So boded the chevalier Buford, and 
 turned him to warless sleep ; 
 
 But he spoke to his signal-captain, re- 
 minding him of his trust, 
 
 Saying, "Look out to-night for camp- 
 fires, and in the morning for dust.' ' 
 
 There was dust enough in the morning, 
 
 and lines of camp-fires that night ; 
 And Buford and Devin, a-saddle, were 
 
 early forth for the fight. 
 The enemy 's van was at them. And 
 
 where was our army delayed ? 
 In a belfry stood gallant Buford, and 
 
 watched for the northern aid. 
 
 The dust of the First Corp 's coming 
 was a trailing, glorious cloud. 
 
 The full, red disk on the banners was 
 a sun-like symbol and proud. 
 
 The blue-coated succor and rescue 
 marched up the Emmitsburg road 
 
 And across the swale where, not know- 
 ing, Stevens Run peacefully flowed. 
 
6 The First Day. 
 
 Welcome, magnificent, thrilling was the 
 
 spectacle to behold, 
 As the ranks, at double-quick moving 
 
 throu' the harvest 's swaying gold, 
 Swept up Oak Ridge and deployed there, 
 
 on the crest, in battle array, 
 Their arms and accouterments gleaming 
 
 in the July light of day. 
 
 When Rowley's brigade reach'd the ridge 
 
 that is west of Willoughby Run, 
 In a sheltering wood they halted ; their 
 
 wearisome march was done. 
 But in Hagersiown road, which rudely 
 
 of quietude was bereft, 
 They, at once, formed line of battle, with 
 
 the Ulster Guard on the left. 
 
 Then the prompt brigade, by the right 
 
 flank, in solid column advanced 
 Throu' the wood and the fields beyond 
 
 it, where yellow butterflies danced, 
 Toward Gettysburg, to the ridge-slope 
 
 that is east of Willoughby Run. 
 Where they formed new line of battle, 
 
 with their backs to the mounting sun. 
 
The First Day. 7 
 
 But ordered over the ridge-top and into 
 the valley below, 
 
 There the rifle missives were pinging, 
 and there were who got their woe. 
 
 Beyond, in a grain field, swarmed hor- 
 nets, sharp-shooters plying their trade. 
 
 So, back to their place on the ridge- 
 slope, discretion sent the brigade. 
 
 They had been to the spot where Rey- 
 nolds, their great corps com'ander, fell. 
 
 And Doubleday, of their division, now 
 served in his stead right well. 
 
 They had Biddle in place of Rowlev, for 
 the hour its needs creates, 
 
 And the Federal left wing, this day, 
 fought under our colonel Gates. 
 
 Across from that left, nearly westward, 
 stood a dwelling-house of brick 
 
 And farm buildings other, not distant 
 from where the foemen were thick. 
 
 From the buildings our captain Bald- 
 win, after a spirited fight. 
 
 Drove the enemy, took possession and 
 checked and harried their right. 
 
8 The First Day. 
 
 Then Cunningham daringly followed, to 
 give brave Baldwin his aid, 
 
 And, for two hours, they and their sol- 
 diers the left flank cover'd and stayed. 
 
 This deed of a handful excited the grow- 
 ing enemy 's ire ; 
 
 He partly surrounded the buildings, the 
 smaller of which took fire. 
 
 The companies lost their defenses, and 
 
 presently they were seen 
 Retreating under the cover of cavalry 
 
 and a ravine. . . . 
 The fear that is felt by the soldier ere 
 
 the first few shots are fired, 
 By the Ulster Guard was forgotten ; for 
 
 they fought as if inspired. 
 
 The enemy 's musketry rattle and dread 
 
 artillerj' roar 
 Made ever a louder minute than the one 
 
 that thundered before, 
 As fresh, impetuous foemen arrived on 
 
 the furious field, 
 And their batteries quickly unlimber 'd 
 
 and into action wheeled. 
 
The First Day. 9 
 
 Their division of Rodes arriving on Oak 
 
 Hill 's summit, was seen 
 Overlooking the uplands southward and 
 
 the basking meads between. 
 On the crest they planted their cannons, 
 
 and with shot and shell they cleft 
 The ranks of Federal soldiers, from the 
 
 right to the utmost left. 
 
 As the sickle of pest, for ravage, was this 
 
 reaping enfilade ; 
 To retire from its range in order, the 
 
 Federal troops essayed. 
 By the left flank. Biddle retreated, the 
 
 Hagerstown road to try. 
 Supporting the cannons of Cooper, 
 
 which to Oak Hill made reply. 
 
 The Federal line was bow-shaped, the 
 apex on Chambersburg road. 
 
 The left on Hagerstown highway, and, 
 where Rock Creek trippingly flowed, 
 
 On the north of Gettysburg rested the 
 dexter end of the bow ; 
 
 For the bow was bent backward strong- 
 ly, as if to shoot at the foe. 
 
lo The First Day. 
 
 But where was the arrow, the army, that 
 
 should straightway pierce his heart ? 
 The bow was soon palpably broken, or 
 
 broken, at best, in part. 
 Too great was the strain for endurance, 
 
 and the strain each moment grew. 
 For what could four scant divisions, 
 
 with Lee 's veteran great odds, do ? 
 
 When Ewell's Corps, formerly Jack- 
 son 's, had entered the clashing field, 
 
 They meant that the Federal forces 
 should presently die, or yield. 
 
 There were thirty and five armed thou- 
 sands with this savage, warlike will, 
 
 Slave-holders and proud work-scorners, 
 and for being that, fiercer still. 
 
 But, fewer than half their number were 
 the blue in battle array 
 
 Round Gettysburg, northward and west- 
 ward, on that first, unequal day. 
 
 They were cool, effective fighters, and 
 the enemy sadly found 
 
 That the price, was his heart 's red cur- 
 rent, for each rival inch of ground. 
 
The First Day. 1 1 
 
 But the westering sun drooped hapless 
 
 when long, deep, closely formed lines 
 Of gray-coated infantry, moving as 
 
 pawns in their player's designs. 
 Began the advance ; and behind them 
 
 came strong reserves, and the fight 
 Blazed loud ; but the Union's defenders 
 
 broke at the center and right. 
 
 Then Gettysburg groaned and was crowd- 
 ed and chok'd with fright that had fled. 
 
 The rebels, hotly pursuing, fed havoc 
 on murderous bread. 
 
 The town was streeted with slaughter, 
 and even in alley and lane 
 
 Was the thud of the leaden summons 
 and the cry of deadly pain. 
 
 But the First Corps had not waver'd, and 
 strove to recover the day, 
 
 Tho' a half of the Union forces was scat- 
 tered, as leaves, away. 
 
 Yet the left of the line was holden by 
 Biddle s superb brgade, 
 
 And Cooper's four, deep-throated war- 
 dosfs were loud with their iron aid. 
 
12 The First Day. 
 
 On the left of these baying creatures, the 
 Ulster Guard, true and tried, 
 
 Stood under their fluttering colors — 
 their starry, bullet-torn pride. 
 
 They held their strong, morning posi- 
 tion, eastward of Willoughby Run, 
 
 On the ridge ; but a darkling onset in 
 the distance had begun. 
 
 For a cloud of troops, a division, from 
 
 the tempest 's bounds afar 
 In the west and south, hasted forward 
 
 in powerful lines of war. 
 Awaiting the grim adventure with 
 
 calmness not void of delight, 
 Stood the Ulster Guard in their prowess, 
 
 undauntable in the fight. 
 
 As the enemy came from the cover of 
 
 woods, where he had formed, 
 With a torrent of screaming missiles his 
 
 regular ranks were stormed. 
 Our infantry fire lightened sharply, our 
 
 guns were cleverly served ; 
 But the living took slain men's places. 
 
 and the ranks came on unswerved. 
 
The First Day. 13 
 
 They came in their might, and outflank- 
 ing Gates's intrepid command, 
 
 Fired oblique, destructive vollies, which 
 madness might scarcely withstand ; 
 
 But our soldiers knew they were fighting, 
 on their own, free, northern ground, 
 
 For their homes, their country, and all 
 things that in these birthrights abound. 
 
 And their zeal and enthusiasm were 
 their very light and breath ; 
 
 Each soldier did valorous actions and 
 smiled on wounds and on death. 
 
 Tho' the dead there fell till the living 
 fought from behind them at last. 
 
 To the ground our Guard seemed root- 
 ed, for they stood unshaken and fast. 
 
 Above them the smoke of the conflict 
 heavily lifted and curled, 
 
 And the hot sun floated behind it like 
 some fulvid, phantom world. 
 
 Toward which, foregone souls were as- 
 cending, in sacred columns and slow, 
 
 From the pitiless field of slaughter in 
 the real world below. 
 
14 The First Day. 
 
 The mingled thunders of battle shook 
 
 widely the \'alorous ground ; 
 Not since the hills were heaved upward, 
 
 had they felt such ponderous sound. 
 The sooty air, split with concussions, 
 
 bore bruit of the tight afar, 
 And hurried the long, forced marches to 
 
 this suck and whirlpool of war. 
 
 The Ulster Guard, fearless and hardy, 
 
 outflanked by a whole brigade, 
 Stayed the whelming Avave of onset and 
 
 retreated no whit dismayed. 
 They were last to leave the position and 
 
 as they sowly retired, 
 Often loading, halting and turning, they 
 
 on their pursuers fired. 
 
 On his horse Gates shouldered the col- 
 ors ( lest, haply, it should be lo.st ) 
 
 Till he knew the chance for its capture 
 was safely weathered and crossed ; 
 
 For not for from the Seminary, where a 
 stone and rail fence stood, 
 
 He again formed line with Biddle, at 
 the edge of a narrow wood. 
 
The First Day, 15 
 
 Here, with five brave batteries near 
 them, and Meredith on their right. 
 
 Assailed by a rebel division, they made 
 a desperate fight, 
 
 Till the enemy fled the carnage, and re- 
 treated with the sun ; 
 
 But to the dank and ghastly valley haunt- 
 ed by Willoughby Run. 
 
 Our forlorn hope saved from destruction 
 
 the greater part of their corps. 
 Whose confused retreat they defended, 
 
 and they could not, that day, more. 
 For the bulk of the Union army they 
 
 had helped, with courage grand, 
 To hold the great, natural bulwarks, 
 
 which back of Gettysburg stand. 
 
 Thus the Ulster Guard nobly combated, 
 in open field, eight hours, 
 
 'Gainst double and triple their number, 
 secession 's violent powers. 
 
 Then eastward they marched to the bul- 
 warks where, on a com'anding height. 
 
 By the verdant graves of the townsfolk, 
 they bivouacked for the night. 
 
i6 The Second Day. 
 
 At midnight the sleeplessly anxious took 
 
 heart and rest at a sound — 
 The advent of Meade and his army on 
 
 the rugged, rising ground. 
 The orderly footsteps of thousands, the 
 
 iron trample of steeds, 
 And the rumble of guns and caissons, 
 
 made music for loyal needs. 
 
 The Second Day. 
 
 On the second day of the battle the Ul. 
 ster Guard was arrayed 
 
 With a Pennsylvania regiment — a spe- 
 cial demi-brigade. 
 
 Whom colonel Gates took the command 
 of — and if one regiment durst, 
 
 The other durst more ; none braver than 
 that Hundred and Fiftv-first. 
 
The Second Day. 17 
 
 Not till afternoon did the rebels begin 
 their flanking attack, 
 
 And the demi-brigade went forward 
 when Sickles was driven back. 
 
 So they helped to check the invader, 
 and when the darkness divine 
 
 Closed the terrible strife, they were post- 
 ed centrally in the line. 
 
 In the whistling forefront of battle stood 
 
 firm the demi-brigade, 
 And a fence of rails, which was near 
 
 them, they changed to a barricade. 
 What the shield was to the crusader, this 
 
 was to them in the fight, 
 And behind it they lay on their muskets 
 
 throughout that sullen night. 
 
 O Night ! on the battle-field tarry ; thou 
 truce, two armed days between. 
 
 The troops asleep in their blankets, and 
 sentinels dimly are seen. 
 
 The hands of Darkness and Silence are 
 over the mouths of the guns. 
 
 And, in dreamland, dove-like are hom- 
 ing our country 's bivouacked sons. 
 
1 8 The Third Day. 
 
 Yonder, stretcher-bearers go laden ; here 
 
 runs a trench for the dead ; 
 Hark ! moans of wounded and dying, 
 
 and the caw of hunger o'erhead. 
 Oh! what shall eventful to-morrow bring 
 
 forth for the soldier brave ? 
 Shall he be the hero and idol, or rest in 
 
 a nameless ffrave ? 
 
 The Third Day. 
 
 At noon, on the third day, the prelude 
 
 to Pickett 's wild charge began — 
 A dirge, by the guns of rebellion, for the 
 
 Lost Cause and its ban ; 
 And the Ulster Guard "s covert station, it 
 
 fatefuUy so befell. 
 Was swept by a hideous tempest of shot 
 
 and exploding shell. 
 
The Third Day. 19 
 
 Unknown in their sharpest warfare was 
 the like to these men of ours ; 
 
 Full a hundred bellowing cannons play- 
 ed on them for nigh two hours. 
 
 The firing was constant and deaf'ning, 
 the ground was harrowed amain ; 
 
 But, by their barricade shielded, a few 
 men only were slain. 
 
 When the cannonade had subsided, 
 Pickett 's division began 
 
 To deboush from the woods and orchard, 
 where their strong right-center ran. 
 
 With shouldered arms, with their battle- 
 yell, and at double-quick, they came, 
 
 Devoted, that brave eighteen thousand, 
 to death and immortal fame. 
 
 The charge moved apace through the 
 
 open ; the militant ocean of men 
 Surged inland in three awful billows. 
 
 submerging meadow and glen. 
 The steel was as water that sparkled, the 
 
 standards as flying spume, 
 And the roar of guns was the breaking 
 
 on irrevocable doom. 
 
2 The Third Day. 
 
 When Pickett 's men entered the valley 
 in front of the Ulster Guard. 
 
 That Guard opened tire on them brisk- 
 ly. Did this their approach retard ? 
 
 Into one their three waves melted as they 
 marched by the left oblique ; 
 
 Then they all to the right faced quickly, 
 to strike where our line seemed weak. 
 
 Throu' their solid, advancing column, 
 
 great, horrible rents were plowed ; 
 Yet the ranks closed up in a moment, 
 
 and came on, fearless and proud. 
 But angrily toward them converging, the 
 
 daring demi-brigade 
 Moved down like a storm-cloud, and 
 
 met them with a deadly fusilade. 
 
 There rested the left wing of Hancock 
 
 back in the Ulster Guard 's rear. 
 Behind the guns on the bluft"-top, and 
 
 the right of Pickett was near. 
 What was it that led Gates forward, from 
 
 his barricade and shield. 
 To fullill, at the one great moment, this 
 
 gap in the foremost field ? 
 
The Third Day, 21 
 
 Till beneath the height at our center, 
 Pickett had charged with a will ; 
 
 But he paused at a fence, for shelter, 
 just at the foot of the hill. 
 
 There, over the fence, was a slashing, a 
 grove that lay felled and dense — 
 
 Felled to clear the range for our can- 
 nons — and this he made a defense. 
 
 His hardihood showed his purpose in 
 
 striking our right-center line. 
 The demi-brigade battled fiercely, set 
 
 teeth to foil his design 
 To reach, on the bluff-top, our cannons 
 
 and silence them then and there ; 
 But, for guerdon, the enemy 's effort had 
 
 flagrant loss and despair. 
 
 For fate stood over against it, espoused 
 to the worthier side. 
 
 Tho' th' oppressor a while may prosper, 
 fate ruins him in his pride. 
 
 The Proclamation, bringing vict'ry, had 
 bid that the slaves be free, 
 
 And the side of the wronged will tri- 
 umph, whatever the odds may be. 
 
2 2 The Third Day. 
 
 The desperate onset of Pickett was, thus 
 
 far, fruitless and bare, 
 As yet, for the battery'd summit, he had 
 
 to do and to dare. 
 The Union troops that opposed him, he 
 
 outnumbered as six to one ; 
 But the fewer had cooler courage, and 
 
 willed to be not outdone. 
 
 So the strife for the fence and hillside 
 was stubborn and most severe ; 
 
 Both sides knew well that the title to the 
 guns was the question here. 
 
 At quarter the range of a pistol the ene- 
 my swarmed like bees ; 
 
 But he was screened and protected by 
 the fence and the fallen trees. 
 
 Then the demi-brigade, throu' the slash- 
 ing, charged with a right good will, 
 
 And they sent up a cheer that gladdened 
 the cannoneers on the hill. 
 
 In the fierce, hand-to-hand rencounter, 
 where the thick in the brunt contend, 
 
 The enemy's guns played among them, 
 alike on foe and on friend. 
 
The Third Day. 23 
 
 But Pickett 's men turned in confusion, 
 
 all hindered of their desire, 
 And into them, whipped and retreating. 
 
 Gates volleyed a scathing fire. 
 The hundreds of prisoners taken, now 
 
 seemed the best of the gain ; 
 But the place of the strife was covered 
 
 with rebel wounded and slain. 
 
 Give pause for a tear for Baldwin and 
 
 weep for them all who died, 
 In the three days' fight on the ridges, 
 
 that the Union might abide ; 
 For when the gray billow of Pickett fell 
 
 wasted back from its strand, 
 (jates found his own loss in the battle 
 
 was more than half his command. 
 
 At Gettysburg this charge ended the Ul- 
 ster Guard 's part in the fight. 
 
 The broken Confederate army fled, with 
 their wounded, at night. 
 
 On our troops and those rock-rib'd bul- 
 warks that seem'd for the hour to wait, 
 
 Dashed in vain the flood of rebellion ; 
 for the fiat of God is fate. 
 
Headquarters Third Division,^ 
 First Corps, >■ 
 
 July 4, 1863. j 
 General Orders. 
 
 The Major-General commanding the divi- 
 sion desires to return his thanks to the Ver- 
 mont Brigade, the One Hundred and Fifty-first 
 Pennsylvania Volunteers and the Twentieth 
 New York State Militia, for their gallant con- 
 duct in resisting in the front line the main 
 attack of the enemy upon this position, after 
 sustaining a terrific fire from serenty-five to a 
 hundred pieces of artillery. He congratulates 
 them upon contributing so essentially to the 
 glorious, and it is to be hoped, final victory 
 of yesterday. 
 
 By Command of 
 MAJOR-GENERAL DOUBLEDAY. 
 
 Edward C.Baird, Captain and A. A. G. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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