The free South. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1863-1864, 1863-07-18

extends to the Potomac and across 1t into
Virginia. This hill is quite steep and diff
ficlut of assent, and formed a strong posi-
ton, on which the left of our line could
rest. The enemy assaulted this point
with great fury, throwing his divisions
one after another againstit Their efforts
were of no avail. Our men defended
their ground against every attack. 1t was
like the dash of the French at Waterloo
against the immovable columns of the
English. Stubborn resistance overcome
the valor of the assailants. Time after
time they came to the assault only to fall
back as they had advanced. Their final
retreat left the remnant of our men still
standing behind their works. The rebel
dead and wounded were scattered thickly
about the ground. Our own were not
wanting.
STORAIED WITH SHOT AND SHELL.
Nearly to the left extreme of our line,
and half way between the crests OF the
ridges stands neat farm house. Around
this dwelling the battle ragged as around
Hougoumont at Waterloo. At one time
it was in the rebel possession, and was
fercely attacked by our men. The walls
were pierced with shot and shell, many of
the latter exploding within, and making
of themselves a scene of devastation.
The glass was shattered by rifle bullets on
every side, and all the woodwork bears
testimony to the struggle. The sharp
shooters were in every room, and added
to the disorder caused by the explosion Of
shells. What the missils spared the SOL
diery destroyed. The rebels were driven
from the house, and the position was taken
by our men. They in turn, were dislodged,
but finally took and held the place.
THE REBEL DEAD.
Retreating my steps before reaching the
extreme left I returned to the centre of
our position on the Cemetery Hill. do
not follow the part by which I came, but
take route along the hollow, between the
two ridges. It was across this hollow that
the charges were made in the assaults upon
our position. Much blood was poured
out between these two swells of land
Most of the dead have been buried where
they fell, or gathered in little clusters be-
meath some spreading tree or beside
clumps of bushes. Some of the rebel dead
are still uncovered The first that meets
my gaze came upon suddenly, as I de-
Nscend q bank some three or four feet In
height, to the side of small spring. He,
is lying near the spring, as if he had
crawled there to obtain draught of wa
ter. His hands are outspread upon the
earth, and clutching at the little tufts of
grass beneath them. His haversack and
canteen are still hanging to his side, and
his hat is lying near him. His musket is
gone-either carried off by his comrads,
taken by some relic seeker, or placed in
the accumulated heap by our soldiers.
ADDITIONAL HORRORS.
The body of another rebel attracted my
attention by a singular circumstance
The face is discolored in the extreme,
black as that of the purest Congo negro.
The hands are delicate as that OF any lady
and of snowy whiteness. With the ex-
ception Of the face, the body is but little
swollen, and there are no signs of decom-
position. Several bodies that find with
blackened faces, but no others than tb 8
display such a contrast between the colCr
of the face and hands. Near small white
house in the rebel line lies an officer, evi-
dently lieutenant or captain. His right
arm is extended as if to grasp the hand of
q friend All possible positions in which
a dying man can fall can be noted on this
field.
on THE BMAIRTTsBURG ROAD.
Reaching the Emmettsburg road find
the same signs of battle that I have men
toned elsewhere. The rails are every
where SCARED by bullets, the fences
wheels of the guns and trodden smooth
by the feet of the soldiers. In every place
it is strewed with the wreck of battle.
shattered gun carriage shows where
rebel battery stood and received the shot
of our own.
SMELLING GEN. MEADE's HEADQUARTERS.
The little farm house on the Emmet,s-