The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-07-13
A BATTLE SCENE.

tnt Hgnt l,OoO SIrOnS, anu cdne ouI VIII
only els.
BATTLE SCENE.
The spectacle from the cemetery was
magnificent beyond conception. Here,
upon this little bluff, in and around the
city of the dead, forty-six cannon stood,
their muzzles pointing threateningly to-
ward the hills beyond the town, and far
to the left, and down along the ridge,
and in the waving grass, stretched the
firm lines of infantry, their arms gleam-
ing like river in the summer sun.
How quiet and yet how sad everything
was. Here, among the monuments and
flowers above the dead, lay cur wounded,
and behind the iron ratings of the burial
places all the engines of war waited for
the conflict In one of the Enclosures a
marble slab marked the resting-place of
an orderly sergeant killed at Fair Oaks.
Alas! how little did his mother think,
when she laid him there to rest by his
peaceful home, that his comrades would
ever do battle above him, and crimson
with their blood the myrtle on his grave.
Nas.- nd then a soldier would wilt down
among the head-stones, pierced by the
riheman's bullet, and occasionally shell
flew screaming overhead, to frighten the
groups collected in the rear; but beside
this all was quiet Gettysburg, like a
doomed city, lay beneath US, silent as
the grave. Not voice came up from
its deserted streets; but the swallows
and the pigeons swept above the house
tops, and the song of the larks on the
meadows rang clear and mellow, as
though no danger threatened. As the
afternoon wore on, the skirmishers be
came hotly engaged; but three o'clocl
came and passed, and yet there was nj
sign of rebel infantry Out on the hill
beyond the town the enemys batteries
were visible, and in the shadow of th'
trees little groups of horsemen were col
lected; but these were all that we coult
, see. Occasionally we caught glimpse
of a wagon train moving off, far beyonC
the forests, and now and then a horse
man would dash along the skirt of th'
wood west of Gettysburg; but no on
could tell whether the night would settl
down with quietness or upon the carnag
of battlefield.
| GENERAL MEADE IN THE FIGHT.
One form, however, with mind iuten
on high purposes, stood on an eminence
leaning slightly forW ard, and with eagl
eve pierced the vail of smoke, and say
and felt, and knew that an hour NOR
terrible by far than the present was com
ing rapidly, was even present 1t wa
evident the willy commander of the rebe
forces had determined on some despel
ate charge, Lut when, aad in what MAI
ner it would be made, was unknown t
the man who stood calmly yet with dee
solicitude, regarding every pulsation {
the battle
On the left, through the woods, blac
masses were seen moving-larger, NOR
frequent, and nearerl Skirmishing
that part of the field becomes sharpe
General Sickles is ordered forward to d
velop the enemy's intentions. The blac
columns come ont of the wood and SUI
denly the thunder of artillery cease
and, with cheers and yells, the roar
musketry and fash of bayonets, full 81
900 men from Longstreet's and Hill
corps, came rushing against our line
,, HOW THE ENEMY CHARGED.
The artillery fire continued without
termission for three hours, when Su
denly, having been formed under Gov
of the smoke of their own guns, t
rebel troops were hurled against o
lines by their officers in masses the We
tread of whose feet shook the declivl
up which they came with cries that mig
have caused less dauntless troops tn
those who awaited the onset to bre
with terror Not man in the Fede
ranks hinched from his position. \
an eye turned to the right or left in scar
Of security, not hand trembled as
] long array of our heroes GRASP
! their muskets at a charge and waited
order to fire. On and up came
I enemy, hooting, growing, showing tn
= very teeth in the venom of their r.
until within thirty yards of our cam
I AS the turbulent mass of gray unitorl
y of flashing bayonets and cleaning ey
lifted itself in last leap forward aim
I to the very mouths of our guns, vol
I of shot, she'll, shrapnel and bullets W
J crashing through it, leveling it a
\ scythe. Its overwhelming onward r
J was in the next instant turned to
q besitatinp lean forward of a few sold