Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-07-17
Fridays Battle at Gettysburg.

heavy, at four o'clock. It was a cloudy
sultry morning. The clouds hung thicl
and heavy, and came down low upor
the hills. Two more, and then more
rapidly than the tick of a pendulum
came the conclusions. The cemetery
was hid from sight by the thick sulphur.
Gus folds rolling over and over, unfold
ing and expanding. There were 1ashe;
from two hillocks south Of the turnpike
flashes in the woods along Rock creek
Without cessation, increasing in force
and intensity, was the cannonade, break
ing the stiffness of the morning and
drowning all other sounds. There were
a few musket shots in the woods upon
the hill from the pickets in ADVANCE
Beneath the trees were Slocum's lines,
preparing TO gain what had been lost
during their absence. 1t was o'elocl;
before he was ready to make the attempt.
The men moved up slowly but deter
lmnedly. The rebels were in the pits
\ and, furious fire began. A thin
veil of smoke rose above the trees and
hoated away before the morning breeze.
More rapid was the fire of musketry,
more terrific the cannonade. Ewell was
evidently determined not to be driven
back. He held on with dogged peril
nacity. But in vain his oath, in vain his
effort. The door was closed, the rife
pits regained. Ewell was driven back
inch by inch, up Rock creek, and the
line was intact.
A dragon came dashing in from the
Bonaughton road with the information
that the rebel cavalry was coming down
upon the turnpike to capture our trains.
Gen. Pleasanton's compliments to Gen
Gregg and fitzpatrick. He desires Gen.
Gregg to check Stuart on the right and
protect the trains. He also desires Xii.
patrick to sweep down beyond Round
Top and feel of the enemy in the direc-
tion of Fairfield Gap. "That's good
first rate" is Kilpatrick's exclamation
He rubs his hands with satisfaction, as
you have seen children at unexpected
pleasure. His eyes gleam. His face
lights with smiles. His division is close
by, and in five minutes you see his long
column of horsemen defiling along Rock
creek, ascending the bank, sweeping over
the fields end disappearing in the woods
beyond Round Top. A half hour pass
es and you see, far down toward the bills
of the Cacoctin, the pillars of smoke
rising above the forests, and you hear
the sullen roar from bis light battery.
He is upon Longstreet's flank, pushing
on, and evidently troubling that general.
Gregg has gone north, and is at i; with
Stuart. Riding up the Bonaughton road
we find him in position, sending shells
over long stretch of field into the rebel
column, Just visible in the edge of dis
tant forests. Stuart replies and retires
He would like to get at that long train of
wagons coming in, but he will be foiled
in every attempt. Later in the day he
endeavors to cut round Pleasanton, at the
Two Taverns, but is thrust back uncere-
TEE LAST GRAND ATTACK.
| must pass over the two attempts of
The enemy on the left flank. You see
along the enemy's line
troops taking position south of DR.. Schum-
leher's. The forenoon passes. Between
one and half past one, a rebel battery
north of the seminary fires gun, and
hen all along the the rebel line, from
he right to the left, the rebel batteries r
pour a concentrated fire upon Howard's T
position. The lines cover an hundred ;
md eighty degrees of the circle. Their
Intention is well understood-to silence q
Howard's batteries because they enfilad-
ID the attacking force ready to move over
he fields towards the center-our weak
'st point. If they can give to the living Z
| quiet as profound as that Of the Sleep Q
rs beneath the ground, moulding to dust, c
ben they may hope to break through o
he thin line of men at The second corps. i
But Howard is not man to be kept t
ilent at such time without especial a
ause. 1t rains, halls, pours upon him. a
lis battery horses are knocked to pieces,
ombstones are knocked over, iron rail-
ngs torn, shrubs and trees cut down, r
ere and there a limb damaged, but be is v
OF silerced. He keeps at it ccolly and b
piritedly. Not only Howard's, but all d
he batteries along the lines of both ar I
lies are in full play. 1 remember the st
annonade at Antietam and at Freder-
,ksburg, but never have / heard such a h
par Of field artillery-three hundred 81
uns firing with the utmost rapidity- r,