#4
Lt. Colonel George Arrowmsmith (157th NY)
related by John Applegate
“There are many
heroes in American history who have won national fame. There are many
others whose reputations are more circumscribed, but who were just as
brave, just as patriotic, just as self-sacrificing. The last may be
counted by the hundreds of thousands who, at the call of the
President for volunteers, went forth from the counting-house, the
farm, the workshop to engage in deadly strife with the enemies of our
country. Many were young men of rare promise, talented, cultured and
brave, and who might have attained high national distinction in civil
or military life, but were cut down in battle at the very threshold
of their career. As observed by President Lincoln in a compliment to
the character and intelligence of regiments arriving in Washington at
the beginning of the civil war, they contained individuals quite
competent to discharge the functions of the highest executive office
of the nation. I propose to speak of one of these gallant heroes, a
youth of brilliant promise, cut down in the morning of life; a
soldier of this republic, who entered the field to die, if need be,
for the honor of its flag, with no expectation of a return to
peaceful pursuits until the object of the war had been accomplished.
“Washington,
D. C, July 27th, 1863.
Mr.
Editor:
As
several incorrect reports have been madewith reference to the death
of Lieutenant-
Colonel
Arrowsmith, I thought it would be gratifying to his friends to know
all the particulars just as they are. The morning of the day on which
the battle occurred, the regiment marched from Emmetsburg, a distance
of ten miles, reaching Gettysburg very much worried. The greatly
superior numbers against which the First Corps were contending made
it necessary for the Eleventh to be thrown promptly forward. Without
stopping for rest we were moved through the town upon the double
quick and placed in position behind Dilger's Battery, which was soon
engaged by three batteries of the enemy. While lying there the
numerous shot and shell thrown among us rendered our horses so
unmanageable we both dismounted and sent them to the rear. After the
rebel batteries had been silenced the whole brigade was thrown
forward. Soon after reaching the position assigned us I was ordered
by General Schimmelfenning to move over some distance to the right
and attack the enemy, who were then driving the Second Brigade of our
Division. This order I proceeded at once to execute. In order to get
my regiment into position to do effective service, I found it
necessary to move up to within fifty yards of the enemy, who by the
time I reached my position had placed a whole brigade in line to
resist my attack. The attack was made, Colonel Arrowsmith occupying
his proper position on the right, encouraging his men and faithfully
and gallantly doing his whole duty, while I gave my attention to the
centre and left. We had been fighting but a short time, when, upon
looking to the right, I discovered that the Lieutenant-Colonel was
missing. I moved at once to the right and found him lying upon his
back, badly wounded in the head, breathing slowly and heavily, and
evidently insensible. As my presence along the line was more
necessary that he had fallen, I could stop but a moment, and returned
to my position. The men were falling rapidly and the enemy's line was
taking the form of a semi-circle, evidently with the design of
surrounding us, at the same time concentrating the fire of their
whole brigade upon my rapidly diminishing numbers. An enfilading fire
from a battery upon our left was also doing fearful execution. I had
looked around several times to see if some support would not be sent,
or an order for retreat. Neither came. The last time I looked I saw
one of General Schimmelfenning's aides about half way across the
field, taking the saddle off his horse and running back, and I
learned from some of my wounded men who fell before we reached our
position, that the same aide came out a short distance and hallooed
to me to retreat. I, however, heard no order. Seeing that we were
likely to be all shot down or taken prisoners, I ordered a retreat.
From the wounded left on the field I learned that the
Lieutenant-Colonel died shortly after the retreat. An attempt was
made to bring him off, but the proximity of the enemy and the hot
firing prevented. Lieutenant-Colonel Arrowsmith died, as every true
soldier would wish to die, at his post, gallantly fighting for his
country. A brave man, a skillful officer, possessing a keen sense of
honor, generous to a fault, bound to him by a long personal
attachment formed and ripened in the various relations of teachers
and pupils, associate teachers and fellow officers, I mourn his loss
as that of a brother, and offer to the family and friends of the
lamented hero my warmest and tenderest sympathy.
I
am, sir, with great respect,
Your
obedient servant,
P. P. Brown, Jr.,
Col. 157th N. Y. Vols.”
It
is idle to speculate upon what he might have been
had his life been spared. We accept him with admiration and gratitude
for what he was. Enlisting as a mere boy, without rank, he was at
once unanimously chosen by his fellow volunteers as the commandant of
the company. In one year, for merit, he was promoted to the office of
Assistant Adjutant-General upon the staff of General Tower, upon the
recommendation of the Division Commander, General Ricketts. Without
leaving the army, he was elevated to the field office of
Lieutenant-Colonel by the Governor of New York, who was thus prompted
by the fame of the soldier, and was only restrained from appointing
him Colonel by his generous refusal to accept the position over a
friend. On the eve of Gettysburg his comrades urged his
higher
promotion, with flattering testimonials from persons of distinguished
military rank, but here was ended his rising career. It was an
honorable death, and his epitaph is briefly written: a sterling
soldier, a true patriot, and a brave man.” - From Reminiscences
and Letters of George Arrowsmith of New Jersey
by John Applegate, 1893
Lt.
Colonel Arrowmsith graduated from Madison College (now Colgate) in
1859 and became a member of the New York Bar in 1860. He was indeed
a bright young, but very generous and unassuming mind. Beloved by
his men as much if not more than his family in many ways, this young
man was only 24 years old at the time of his death at Gettysburg on
July 1st,
1863. At the age of 24, in the prime of his youth, he led 410 men
into battle with the coolness of an officer twice his time in age and
experience fearlessly laying down his life in that terrible maelstrom
of death and destruction that would forever be known as the Battle of
Gettysburg.
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| Lt. Colonel George Arrowsmith |
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