The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1863-08-11
The Hero OF Gettysburg

A friend who recently visited the
scenes where the Federal s. llers, in the
vicinity of Gettysburg, won such i'm
perishabIe renown, has impaired to US
some valuable information, or at least
some original thoughts, in reference to
that moinentous Struggle, which we
deem worthy Of being conveyed to our
reader. Il will be remembered HAT the
advance Of the Army OF the Potomac
was led by Gen. Reynolds. No gen.
eral officer in the army OF the Potomac,
no well MS General Reynolds understood
geography Of that region OF country.
lie saw ut glance that the position OF
Cemetery Hill was point on which the
battle depended. There was no time
tor consideration. The plan and its ex.
ecntion were twin thoughts, conceived
and born amid the roar Of battle. A
moments pause might have been too
latc-too late even to secure decent
retirement or save his command from
An overwhelming slaughter. Hence the
impetuosity of the attack made by Gen
Reynolds. Hence after he had fallen,
was it supposed that Gen. Reynolds had
sacrificed himself in the enthusiasm Of
battle, when by the aid of calmer reason,
he might have possibly passed through
the struggle unscra,ched. This is not
the fact, however, Gen. Reynolds coolly
devoted himself to victory, because he
knew that the point which he had in
view, the result which he aimed at, i'll.
volved the salty of the army Of the Po.
tomac. Had he taltered just at that mo.
ment.-had any other man been in the
advance of the army of the Potomac,
the result might have been different
Cemetry Hill would have fallen into the
possession Of Lec-the army Of the Poto'
mac would have been crushed-Penn.
sylvania and the entire northeast placed
at the mercy of the invaders.
Thus after all ARE the great victories OF
every war won. As with Reynolds, on
Cemetery Hill, at the propitious moment
the real hero steps forth and gains the
actual vjctory-And sad to relate, such
as these too frequently are robbed OF
their Just honors, or in the decay OF their
briefhour of glory, cause to live and 90
down to the grave, while those who re-
main monopoized the fame of deeds in
the stern enactment Of which they
PLAYED no other part than that OF spec,a-
tors. Had Gen. Reynolds not given
the rebels the first check on Cemetery
Hill nothing there after could have with
stood the mpetuosi'y Of the charge of
those tiends Lees spies had been over
every foot of ground IN the vicinity OF
Cemetery Hill. The rebel chief under.
stood and properly valued the natural
Importance of the position afforded by
that hill. 1t was no chance plan that
drove the rebels to that point Neither
waa it mere fortune that induced Gen.
Reynolds to make an attack just there
and then. IIe, too, understood the To-
eality. His native genius at glance
comprehended the condition OF affairs
He was impressed with the stupendous
importance Of the position, AMI he struck
the blow just in time to check the foe
in time to save the army OF the Potomac
from rout and annihilation
Let it no longer, then be credited that
General Reynolds fell sacrifice to his
indiscption. Let it be fairly understood
that he willingly sacrificed himself in Or
der to save an army of which he COM
manded only portion General Key,
nods was nndoubted y impressed with
the great risk he was undergoing, when
he delivered battle to the enemy. He
was too good a soldier not to knew that
when he gave battle he must be pre-
pared to accept death. Thus impressed
it is no wonder that he hurled himself
and his command on the enemy like a
thunderbolt. T'henit was that the rebels
cned out, ''Great God we are fighting
the army of the Potomac" Then it
was that the victory was won and then,
TOO alas! was it that Gen. Reynolds tell.
Here we must pause. and leave to hlsto'
Ty the recording ofthe great event con-
nected with this glorious death. Our
object is only to rescue the name of Gen.
Reynolds from the charge Of 'indiscrect
impetuosty in making hisassault for the
capture and possession OF Cemetery Hill
ut the battle of Gettysburg. This as
sault was the prompting ola valor as
tlauntless and discretion as calm as ev-
er controlled true soldier. Let this,
fol- the present, be the epitaph Of Gen.
Reynolds, and while Cemetery Hill
stands, let it represent the monument OF
his fame. Indeed, let that hill hereafter
be known as Mount Reynolds.