The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-07-17
Ewell.
Hill. | r

The distance from the first tc the third is
ten miles: from the third to the second is
ten miles; and from the second to the
sixth ten-making the sixth thirty miles
from the first. On Sunday Ewell begins to
fall back. On that day Longstreet and Hill
are pretty well advanced from Chambers
burg, out toward Gettysburg. Lee is wait
ing for his opportunity, as cat waits for a
mouse You see the movement at glance
the entire Uuion army sweeping north in a
I ii"v, iihv ,auh of "'o"v,o :" L" hay friu
Ewell moving rapidly south along the Cum
berland valley-on the eastern edge to Get
tysburg, Lopgstreet and Hill moving east.
Lee is foiled in his anticipations Of splin-
tering the end of the column and driving his
blows its entire length. Suddenly the Union
army begins to shut itself together like a tel
escope. Instead os being heightened COL
umn it becomes a mass at Gettysburg. The
first and eleventh reach the town on Wednes-
day morning, July l, the third and twelfth ar
rive in the afternoon, the second and fifth
Thursday morning, and the sixth Thursday
afternoon.
THE GROUND.
Having given the general features of the
country, it is necessary for us to make d
more minute inspection Of the battle ground
1t is a difficult task, and fear that all at
tempts to give an idea of the locality will bs
to confuse instead of making plain.
| have said that Rock creek runs south
about mile east of the town. AS you ap
proach the town from the southeast on ths
Li;tletown road, or the Baltimore pike as i
is called, you have gradual ascent nearly
mile from Rock creek before gaining the tol
of the ridge-not an even inclined plane, bu
undulatins tue ground being broken, hsav
ed on either hand into rocky hills and knobs
nearly all ceraed-here and there an oaE
and Chesnut grove, scattered houses, Sulal
gardens. apple orchards, stone walls IN abun
dance-the ground divided into small patche
to get rid of the rocks. AS you approach
the top of the ridge your face set to tn
northwest,you notice hill half mile to you
right, quite sharp and steep, and wooded
Remember it, because it is an importan
point; on it, as we shall see, rests our rigE
wing.
Looking straight ahead you notice on tn
very top of the ridge house. 1t is not
dwelling house, but the gateway to the Get
, tysburg cemetery. The living do not dive
there but through its portal pass the dead
- their long appointed home. You see tn
marble slabs, the mural shafts clearly Gu
d against the sky, or dotting the green swar
e of the slope along the winding gravele
e walks and avenues. Remember this, alst
y for it is the strongest point in Meade's pos
1t ton. 1t is the highest point. The lit
n corps is there, and Howard has his batterie
st standing over the mouldering forms of tn
n dead who have been borne hiiher in times
y peace by mourning friends. Often there hs
IS been weeping, last farewells, aching heart
IS upon this lovely spot, but never before sue
IS a scene as that which is opening to-day
e Roses, cypress and daises are in bloom
< scenting the morning air; but the hoofs
n horses the rumble of ammunition trains, an
re the roar of cannon, resound through II
ee streets Of the silent city.
st Mounting the top Of the geteway, OR kee
ar er's lodge, let US behold the panorama. Ic
os look half mile distant in the northeast ar
~ see the wooded hill before mentioned. Tur
s. ing northwest, right in front of you on Il
h. western slope lies the town-a beautiful plac
c. 1t is not more than 40 or 80 rods to Il
t. buildings. On the north side of the Bal,
more pike, between the buildings and Il