Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-07-24

very few are applicants for the surgeons eer-
tilicate. Quietly they move onward as it no
extraordinary event was at hand. Long lines
of artillery rumble heavily along, followed by
trains of ordnance; here and there by the
roadside are gathered small groups of mon
with bandagcd limbs, actors in the battle Of
the evening previous, whilst over this de-
serted dwelling, and that barn. waves the
small hospital fag.
The sun rises, clouds obscure its brightness
as if 10th to look upon the scene to witness
such inhumrnity, but from which 10 people
are exempt who ever left history, or hen
Gifted the human race. The conflict began
ere Tubal Cain first worked in brass and
will continue till Il higher Virtue than man
has ever reached shall govern events. Soon
the division leaves the main road-makeS 4
detour to the right-winls over hill and
through wotd, towards the right Of our line
of. battle. The morning is now wearing
away-at times cannon shot breaks the quiet,
and she'll comes screaming through the air
now and then the skirn,ishers break fertii1;
varying from tie sharp, quick crack OF asinsle
rifle, to perfect vollies. Hour after hour thus
passes, and the battle is not yet begun; our
troops arc taking position-Ewell is on the
left, Hill holds the centre. and Longstrect Oh
the right; long lines of mcn are moving across
Wonder fields, or marching through that piece
of wood batteries OF artillery occupy this
hillock. and that mound whilstalong the low
range of hills Just back Of Gettysburg, ut in.
tcryuls are batteries uuiimbercd and ready
for action; towards the left body of cavalry
arc slowly moving. 1t nuw neurly noon, the
clouds break away, the air is warm and sultry.
The Signal iagsarc waving fast intelligence
along our lines presently the shrill sound of Il
Whitworth awakcs the silence. then batteries
slowly open from this point and that, the che.
my reply with vigOr. The fire on either side
rapidly incrcascs-dcnse columns Of smoke
hang over the beautiful valley, and rising up
ward, slowly float away. From that pulnt 4
new battery belchcs iorth.-anutlrr, ani still
another joins in the awful chorus-thc very
air seems filled with Kissing, screaming, burst
ing shells. The lurid flame leaps madly from the
cannon's mouth, each moment the roar grows
more intense; nOw chime in vollcys of small
arms. But where is that division which is to
play 50 conspicuous part in this day 5 tragedy?
They arc in line of battle, Just fronting that
frowning hill, from which heavy batteries are
belching forth shell uni schrupnc with fatal ;,-
curacy. The men are lying close to the ground;
hours pass land the deadly missiles como thick
and fast on their mission of death. See that
arm /; that leg shot off !; that hcale.s
body, and herr: the mang led form of Young
and gallant Lieutenant, who had brayed the
perls Of many battles. That hill must be car
ried to rOut the enemy; n terrible chastise-
ment has been inflicted upon him: with I'M
mense loss Inc had been driven from his position
two days previous-this is his stronghold
This captured, rout is inevitable; exceedingly
strong by nature, but rendered more so hy the
works thrown up the night before. 1t is
of great emergency: if unshrinking
valor, Or human. courage can carry those
heights, it will be done. Gen. Pickett receives
the order to charge those batteries at the OPP
perfume moment. The cannonade still goes
on with intense fury; our batteries are hand;
led with great skill. This battery and that
limbcrs up, advance to the front, wheel
into action, and again the roar of cannon
becomes almost deafening. Our shells seem
to burst with terrible accuracy; now Il
caisson of the enemy's is blown up
quickly ap6ther follows; tieir fire huckens:
the order comes to advance That hag which
waved amid the wild tempest of battle at
Gaines Mill, Frazcr's Farm, and Manassas,
never rose more proudly. kemper, with as
gallant men as erer trod beneath that flag,
leads the right; Garnett, with his heroes,
brings up the left: and the veteran Armistead,
with his brave troops, moves forward in sup
port The distance is more than half a mile
As they advance, the enemy fire with great
and solid shot give place to
grape and canister-the very earth quivers be-
meath the heavy roar-widc gans are made in
this regiment. and that brigade; yet they
quickly close up and steadily move onward
that flag goes down. See how quickly itngain
mounts upward, borne hy some gallant man,
who feels keenly the honor of his old common
wealth. in this hour which is to test her man
hood. The line moves onward, straight on
ward: cannons roaring, grape and canister
plungins and ploughing through the ranks
bullets whizzing as thick as hail-stones in
winter, and men falling as leaves fall, when
shaken by the blusts Of autumn. In Il double
quick, and with shout which rises above the
roar Of battle, they charge-now they pour in
vollies Of muskctry-they reach the works
the contest RACES with intense fury-mcn fight
almost hand to hand-the rcd cross and grid
iron wave dcfantly in close proximty-the
enemy are slowly yiclding--a Federal officer
dashing forward in front Of his shrinking col
umns, and with flashing sword, urges them to
stand. Gen. Pickett, seeing the splendid valpr
of his troops. moves among them rs if court
ing death by his own daring intrcpidity. The
noble Garnctt is dead Armistcad wounderl-
and the brave kemper, with hat in hand, still
cheering on his men. falls from his hOrs" into
the ranks of the cncmy-his men rush for
ward, rescue their General, and he is borne
mortally wounded from the field. Where is
the gallant Williams! the First is there, but
his clear voice is no longer hcard-hc has
fallen lfeless, and there goes his horse, now
ridcrlcss. There stand the decimated ranks
OF the Third: and Mayo. though struck, stands
firm with his faithful men, animating them
t. vet more daring deeds; but Calcntt, the
Christian soldier, who stood unmoyed amid
this carnival OF DEATH has fought his last bat
tic no sound shall awake him to glory again,
till the summons uf the Great Judge. an
nouncing to him the reward of the faithful
soldier. who has fought the good light. Patton,
Otev, and Terry, who but Il moment since,
stood at the head of their respective regiments,
are wounded. The brave 1lunton, hero of
Leesburg most worthy successor Of the noble
Garnett, Stewart, ,and Cant. lies wounded. Car
rington. his gallant regiment shattered, stands
firmly. Haunting dehantly his colors in the
very face of the enemy. Allen and Ellis killed.
Hodges, too, has fallen, and the modest, chiyal-
rous Edmunds lies numbered with the noble
dead: Aylett wounded and Magrudcr has
gone down in the shock Of battle. The fight
goes on-but few are left, and the shrinking
columns ofthe enemy gain confidence from the
heavy reinforcements advanced TO their sup
port. They, too, are moving in large force on
the right flank. This division, small at first,
with ranks now torn and shattered. most Of
its officers killed or wounded, no valor able to
rescue victory from such a grasp. annihilation
or capture inevitable, slowly, reluctantly fell
back. 1t was not given to these few remain
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