John Burns had volunteered among the first in the War of 1812, and had fought at the battles of Plattsburg, Queenstown, and Lundy's Lane. He served through the Mexican campaign, and when he volunteered in 1861, had been told that he was too old, but was given work as a teamster. Finally he was sent back to his home at Gettysburg, where his neighbors made him the town constable. But his heart was set on fighting for the Union, and when the Confederates came to Gettysburg late in June, 1863, he made so much trouble for them that he was put under restraint. When the Confederates left the town he tried to arrest stragglers from their army by virtue of his office of constable.

When the actual fighting began on July 1st John Burns could not keep away from the battle. He borrowed a rifle and ammunition from a wounded Union soldier, and, marching to headquarters, for service. The Colonel of the Seventh Wisconsin Regiment gave him a long-range rifle, and he took up a position on a height from which he did sharpshooting with deadly effect during that day.

When the Union forces were driven back at sunset Burns was badly wounded and was finally captured by the enemy. He had a narrow escape from being hanged as a combatant in civilian's clothes. After the battle he was released, and returned to his home, where thousands of visitors came to see him later to hear his account of the great struggle.

Bret Harte took the incidents of John Burns' part in the battle, and made a stirring poem of the old man's unquenchable patriotism.

by Bret Harte