Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-12-04
Editorial Corresponience Of the Star Chronicle
GETTYSBURG Battles and Burial Field.

Gettysburg Battles and Burial Field.
Before becoming Of age, went on
foot, from Harrisburg to Mount Vernon,
through Gettysburg. Thi, little town
was then only noted for it's Lutheran Col
lese, sud q. the residence of Thaddeus
Stevens, and oil I remembered OF it was
its quiet, and the po!iteness Of foreign
resident who took some pains to crafty q
request Of stranger lad on bis lone jour
nsy. Little did it seem probable that l
should ever visit it again-or that SO se-
queetered = spot would become the theatre
of one of the greatest, most memorable
battles History has to record But go it
is. And next to the Battle, the Dsdca.
ton Of the National Cemetery is matter
to be remembered long BY those Who
/ chanced to witness it.
The battle ground is shaped much like
sn inverted n, the point being North, and
Gettysburg on the n. E. o. the lss
July, our Gen. Reynolds, With . small
force, came up from the South, and passed
N. W. to the Theological Seminary, where,
on 8 ridge, be met superior forces, hurry
ing back from York, and coming 10 from
CbAmbersburg: there Reynolds, aud Weed,
and Zook, and our Tucker, Weideussul,
Gutelius, and scores OF the BuSktsils, and
other Psnnsy lvanians fell, dead or voun-
ded. Hancock took command, and How.
ard came to bis aid, when the remnant OF
our forces fell back within the A. Here,
all night, they fortified the two lines, the
enemy confident Of 40 easy victory 10 the
morning. Meade with other Union corp,
coming up during the night, our lines OF
defence we're extended back about three
miles each, or six miles 10 oil, the cavalry
st the two south points Of the n. The
Rebel lines, outside, we're about twelve
miles long, sometimes hidden BY woods.
Thursday, and Friday, ID and Sd July,
the Rebels made every effort to break into
our liOes, attacking almost every point 10
front, and on the left and the right, but
generally With little success, suffering
repulse at last. The 6nsl, desperate
charge, on Friday afternoon, vas At Little
Round Top, near the extreme south point
on our left, where they massed their can
non, and, after it had done oil the ezecu-
tiou possible, they precipiia,ed their best
forces upon the exposed spot, with the
fury Of madOess, and frightful yells. But
our arms we're so disposed ,hs. they swept
through the advancing Infantry, with
mu.ke,ry and grapesho,, so that the Reb-
els fell, literally, like grass before the
scytbe: another column advanced and
went down in like manner: hundreds Of
dead, and thousands of dying and terrified,
covered every foot of ground then, like
discounted demons, the exaspsrated, dis
appointed invaders, withdrew......aud on
the immortal 4,h Of July their shattered
columns we're in full retreat to Virginia.
Hooker fairly outgeneraled Lee oil the
way from the Rappshaunosk. and 'the
forced march of our army to flank Lees
long column at Gettysburg, was . great
surprise to Lee. The Rebel leaders prob.
ably knew better, but the masses thought
they had only the Militia, and probably
Gen. Mcclellan to vauquish. But, as the
battle ragged, they soon discovered they
had the grand old Army of the Potomac to
deal With, and their confidence began to
chill. In their last, ferocious assault, it is
said some of the Rebel chief,ains fairly
screamed, "Dsmn you, Yankees! ~ons
you run ?" and turned sadly away to seek !
safety 10 rapid flight.
Prof Coppce, . West Pointer, in . leo
,ure before the University Of Philadelphia,
described this battle as one Of the best |
specimens Of fair military strategy and
skill. he seemed to think each side Was
we'll managed, and made 70 great mistakes.
There was uuAinching bravery and oour-
age in both armies. To the power and
guidance of that Providence, who led
Reynolds just far enough on to secure "a,
SO great sacrifce) au impregoable posi-
tion for those in bis rear, all Of whom
came just upon the right point in just the
right time, and Of whom oil but single
regiment we're epgsged-to His protecting
hand is the result attributable.
Had not that proud host Of Lee been
.hus driven back-had the Army of the
Potomac been destroyed-in oil human
the Rebels would have swept
IN to Harrisburg, Lancaster, Reading,
Philadelphia, and perhaps New York,
while Baltimore and Washington would
,sve fallen before them. Our militia
would have bent to the wave like' bull.
ushes in the swelling stream. The rich ,
alleys Of Pennsylvania would have been :
obbed Of horses and everything most
adly needed-our mines would have been Q
cities ravaged-and the War :