The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-14

and that their converging lines of fire
crossed each other in all directions over
us. Many of their shot, fired from
batteries to the west of US, passed clear
over our Horseshoe and fell among
their own men, facing US from the east.
Imagine our position in the centre. Our
artillery opened as vigorously in return,
and now the scene became sublime. The
roar was terrific and deafening, and can
non balls, bursting shell, grape, canister,
shrapnel, railroad iron and Whitworth
bolts from England, and even sledges,
caisson bolts and spikes, and iron in every
imaginable shape, was tearing up the
ground and flying with horrible screeches,
as of invisible demons, through the air,
dismounting cannon, SCATTERING embers,
mangling thousands of horses and men,
tearing through trees and houses, and
destroying everything, while ever and anon
an ammunition caisson would explode,
scattering destruction for yards around,
carrying fragments of timber, wheels,
clothing and bodies high into the air,
and shooting up swift volumes of
smoke, to join the dense white clouds
rolling up to the sky from all parts Of the
field. The batteries and others whose
duty it was, were of course exposed,
but all other living things sought shelter
from the terrible storm, and the scene
brought before the imagination that great
day when men shall call upon the noun
tains and rocks to fall upon and hide
them.
Every soldier knew what was coming
that Lee thought no troops, unsheltered
by works, could stand that 't.feud enter,"
and that he would soon advance his in
fantry. But the veterans of the second
corps knew their duty, and sheltering
themselves as well as possible in a slight
hollow of the ground, helplessly watched
the cannon shot, ever knocking some of
their comrades into the air, and crushing
them into the earth, and calmly bided
their time. Two long, weary hours, and
then came the lull. We knew their in
fantry was advancing, and we rose tor the
death struggle, with q feeling of relief,
for it was at worst, but man to man, and
we could give as well as take. And now
they emerged from the woods-Long-
streets whole corps-near thirty thousand
strong. Gen. Pickett's division, of about
twelve thousand, fresh from the rear, was
in front of, and advanced upon our shat
tered division of less than four thousand.
We had reserves behind, though, to 60 to
our assistance if needed. Over the plain,
still covered with the dead and wounded
of yesterday-in three beautiful lines of
battle, preceded by skirmishers, with their
arms at right shoulder shift, and with
double-quick step-right gallantly they
/ ~r'aon. What was left of our artillery
7 ID, but they never seemed to give it
49, attention. Calmly we awaited the
onset, and when within two hundred yards
we opened fire. Their front line went
down like grass before the scythe; again
and again we gave 1t to them, when they
changed direction, and followed small
ravine up towards our right. To the right
we went also, marching parallel with them,
and firing continually, and no man seemed
to shrink from his duty. Three Or four
brigades Of the enemy closed together
near cave, when, changing again, they
rushed forward and planted their colors
on one of our batteries. Our brigade
rushed at them. The tattered colors of
| the First, in the advance, were rOw shot
down, the ball passing through John Dehns
(the color-bearers) right hand, and
cutting the staff in two where he
grasped it. Corporal O'Brien raised the
flag and bore it on. Gems. Hancock and
Gibbon were both wounded here while
cheering US on. Orders were unnecessary.
The fight had become a perfect melee, and
every man fought for himself, or under
the direction of his company officers Here
that noble soldier, Captain Messick, was
killed, and Captain Farrell, who had gal
lantly brought up the provost guard, Co.
&C.," to reinforce his shattered regiment,
MORALLY wounded. The enemy had halt
ed and were firing on us from behind some
bushes. We pushed on ; they fired till we
reached the muzzles of their guns, but they
could not stand the bayonet, and broke be-
fore the cold steel, in disorder and dismay.
Our division took more colors that it had
regiments. Marshall Sherman of 90. 90"
of this regiment, took those of the 2Sth
Virginia. Not daring to run, their officers
and men surrendered in scores and hum
dreds. At this moment of victory, Corp.
OBrien was shot down and the cOlors fell.
Corporal Irvine Immediately raised that
tattered but sacred flag of Minnesota, and
again it waved in glorious triumph over