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

there would be trouble In Meade's camp
All night long in the pale moonbeans shim-
mering through the leafy branches of the
forest the pickets watched each other. Oc-
casionally there were rifle shots-some dead
ly ones on each side, but the men on either
side were too wearied to keep awake over
such trifing matters and they reposed as
sweetly upon the ground which at daybreak
was to be their last earthly resting place, as
when in childhood they were soothed to
slumber in mothers arms. All knew that
at daylight the terrible contest would be re-
newed, and that thousands would sleep in
DEATH but as l passed along the lines at
rlshtfall l never saw men more cheerful,
more determined. 1t was not an unthinking
carelessneSs of the uncertainty-or, rather.
the certainty of the morrow, but the calm
resolution to yield their lives cheerfully for
their country. We who lie down upon our
beds at home to quiet slumber know but lit
tie of the indurating process which men must
undergo before they can sleep SO composedly
with the conviction on their minds that be-
fore another night their souls will be beyond
the scenes of earth, friends-ali that make
life desirable will be shut forever from them,
and they launched upon the great uncertainty
and the unknown.
In this terrible fight on the right General
Green's division of Slocum's corps sustsine
the onset of Ewell till q brigade from the
first corps was moved down TO assist.
THE SECOND ATTACK On THE LEFT.
On the left, when the fifth corps Was
brought into action, Gen. Barnes was mt
with his division TO the base Of Round Top
hill. The third brigade, Col. Vincent COM
manding, consisting of the forty fourth New
York, Col Rice; twentieth Maine, Lt.-Col
Chemberlin; sixteenth Michigan, Lt.-Col-
Welsh, and eighty-third Pennsylvania, Capt
Woodward, were on the extreme left, and
the second brigade, Col Sweitzar, compris-
ing the sixty second Pennsylvania, Iieut.-CN
Hull; thirty-second Massachusetts, Col.
Prescott, and fo1rih Michigan, Col. Jefferds-
The ninth Massachusetts,, Col. Quincy, was
absent on picket on their right Col. Tit
toms brigade, composed of the eighthteenth
Massachusetts,, Col. Hayes; first Michigan,
Col Abbott, twenty-second Massachusetts,,
LieLt.-Col. West, and one hundred and eigh-
teenth Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Col. Gywn acted
as support.
The enemy fell upon Col. Vincent first
Their first attempt TO turn our flank had
driven the third corps back from its adranc-
ed reconnaissance, bat The valor of the sec
cad corps had checked their advance.
The second attempt was still upon the
flank, and vas made with greater rashness
than he first. The .hira was IN rear Of the
filth, ready TO support, if necessary, their
gallant comrades.
The voice If Gel. Vincent rang clear
above the din of preparations and the tramp,
tramp, tramp of the advancing enemy
q" Don't yield an inch were his words He
Jumped upon rock. waved his sword, and
al the moment received ball which shatter-
ed his thigh. Co. Rice took command, and
the men stood steadily up 10 the terrible
work, taking deliberate aim.
General Barnes was cool and as firm as
the massive bould-rs Of granite around him.
Nearer came the rebels-no longer march
ins, bnt running for a bayonet charge
Gea Barnes dia no, run His men did not
They stood. They met the shock. The lines
mingled. There was a confused mass Of
men Swords were swinging IN air. There
were pistol shots, musket shots, bursting
shells from the rebei batteries, tornadoes of
grape and canister from our own. There
We're cuts, thrusts, explosions, flashes, clouds
Of smoke, wells, curses, groans, hurrahs-an
Internal uproar-men falling, heads blown
of, arms and legs tossed into The ara hor-
I'd, iudescribable confusion, carnage,
death,
4; is terrible 10 think of If; horrible TO
behold, but il is the stern necessity. So
justice comes through sutfsring-so peac-,
pure, gentle, beautiful, holy. through atone
ment FOR crime.
What deeds of vslor were performed -
There were many heroes thai day. A rebel
officer seized the eolors of the An Michigan.
Col. Jetferds, seizing his revolver, shot him
and reeained The flag. A rebel soldier, with
q bayonet thrust, run the colonel through
the body, inaiciing mortal wound, but as
be fell he held the flag be loved so well with
a frner grasp, clasping 1t in his arms and
pressing 1t TO MS heart The rebel soldier
too went down, his brain pierced by bullet
from Major Halls revolver.
The Great Battle of Friday.
Boom BOOM, Two guns, deep and heavy,
at four O'Clock. 1t was cloudy, sultry morn
ing. The clouds hung thick and heavy, and
came down low upon The hills. Two more,
and then more rapidly than the tick of . pen
.lulum, came the conclusions. The cemetery
was hid from sight by the thick sulphurous
folds rolling over and over, unfolding and
expanding. There were flashes from two
hillocks south of the turnpike, flashes in the
woods along Rock creek. The door which
mad Leen opened against Geary last night
was 10 be closed, and this was the beginning