GALLANTRY OF YOUNG SHALER.–

23. April 2009 by admin.

A correspondent gives an account of the gallant conduct of Henry Shaler, of Indianapolis, Indiana, at the battle of Gettysburg, written by a son of Daniel Noble to his mother. Young Shaler more than equalled the mythical performance of the Irishman who “surrounded’ a half dozen of the enemy, and captured them. His parents live on South Alabama Street, in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are Germans. Young Noble says: “Harry is a brick; he did more, that is, he took more prisoners, in the battle of Gettysburg, than any other man in the army. He took in all twenty-five men–one lieutenant and eighteen men at one time. He took them by strategy that was strategy; he ’surrounded them,’ and they had to give up. On the morning of the fourth he went out with his poncho over his shoulders, so that the rebs couldn’t see his coat; so they thought he was one of their own men. He went up, and told them to lay down their arms, and come and help carry some wounded off the field. They did so. When he got them away from their arms, he rode up to the lieutenant, and told him to give up his sword. The lieutenant refused at first; but Harry drew his pepper-box, and, like Crockett’s coon, the lieutenant came down without a shot. Harry then took them all into camp. He took a captain and five men at another time, making twenty-five in all, which is doing pretty well for a little Dutchman; and he deserves to be remembered for it.”

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