Shawnee
member
TRUE STORY
July 2nd, 1863 – Gettysburg. The 75th Ohio Infantry is one of the advance units on the northwest slope of Cemetery Hill protecting an artillery placement. Right after nightfall the Louisiana Tigers (9th Louisiana) come screaming up the hill in a desperate surprise attack and within minutes in the darkness the fighting is hand-to-hand, bayonets, pikes, ramrods, rifle butts, rocks and fists.
Lt. Oscar Ladley of the 75th Ohio is in the midst of this crazy melee and later (on July 5th) writes his mother…
“I was standing behind the wall when they came over. A Rebel officer made at me with a revolver… I had no pistol, only my sword. Just as I was about to strike him one of our boys run him through with the bayonet, so saving me.”
Three weeks later he receives this terse response from his mother…
“You made a narrow escape when that Rebel officer came at you with his revolver! Where was your Own Gun and How Came You to have No Weapon but your Sword? :banghead: You ought never go into battle without a Good Revolver!! “
Moral: Listen to your Mother! Don't have just one revolver!
July 2nd, 1863 – Gettysburg. The 75th Ohio Infantry is one of the advance units on the northwest slope of Cemetery Hill protecting an artillery placement. Right after nightfall the Louisiana Tigers (9th Louisiana) come screaming up the hill in a desperate surprise attack and within minutes in the darkness the fighting is hand-to-hand, bayonets, pikes, ramrods, rifle butts, rocks and fists.
Lt. Oscar Ladley of the 75th Ohio is in the midst of this crazy melee and later (on July 5th) writes his mother…
“I was standing behind the wall when they came over. A Rebel officer made at me with a revolver… I had no pistol, only my sword. Just as I was about to strike him one of our boys run him through with the bayonet, so saving me.”
Three weeks later he receives this terse response from his mother…
“You made a narrow escape when that Rebel officer came at you with his revolver! Where was your Own Gun and How Came You to have No Weapon but your Sword? :banghead: You ought never go into battle without a Good Revolver!! “
Moral: Listen to your Mother! Don't have just one revolver!
