to have been made by Lieut. Haskell, is printed on pages 60, 61 and 62 of
the volume published by the Loyal Legion of Massachusetts, and is in part
as follows:

"Unable to find my General, I gave up hunting as useless--I was
convinced General Gibbon could not be on the field; I left him
mounted; I could have easily found him now had he so remained, but
now, save myself, there was not a mounted officer near the engaged
lines--and was riding towards the right of the Second Division, with
purpose to stop there, as the most eligible position to watch the
further progress of the battle, then to be ready to take part,
according to my own notions, wherever and whenever occasion
presented. The conflict was tremendous, but I had seen no wavering in
all our line. Wondering how long the rebel ranks, deep though they
were, could stand our sheltered volleys, I had come near my
destination, when--great heavens! were my senses mad?--the larger
portion of Webb's Brigade--my God, it was true--there by the group of
trees and the angles of the wall, was breaking from the cover of the
works, and without orders or reason, with no hand uplifted to check
them, was falling back, a fear-stricken flock of confusion. The fate
of Gettysburg hung upon a spider's single thread. A great magnificent
passion came on me at the instant; not one that overpowers and
confounds, but one that blanches the face and sublimes every sense
and faculty. My sword that had always hung idle by my side, the sign
of rank only, in every battle, I drew, bright and gleaming, the
symbol of command. Was not that a fit occasion and those fugitives
the men on whom to try the temper of the Solingen steel? All rules
and proprieties were forgotten, all considerations of person and
danger and safety despised; for as I met the tide of those rabbits,
the damned red flags of the rebellion began to thicken and flaunt
along the wall they had just deserted, and one was already waving
over the guns of the dead Cushing. I ordered those men to 'halt,' and
'face about,' and 'fire,' and they heard my voice and gathered my
meaning, and obeyed my commands. On some unpatriotic backs, of those
not quick of comprehension, the flat of my sabre fell, not lightly;
and at its touch their love of country returned, and with a look at
me as i