Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-23
lghttall / never saw men more cheerfnl

nlghttall never saw men more cheerfnl
more determined. 1t was not an untbink.
ing carelessness of the uncertsintv-or
rather, the certainty Of the morrow. but
the calm resolution to yield their lives
cheertuily tor their country. We who lie
down upon, our beds at home to Quiet
SUM Der know bus. little of the indurating
process Mich ine1 must undergo before
they can sleep so compcsedly with the
conviction on their minds that before
another night their souls will be beyond
the scenes of earth, friends-ali thst makes
life desirable will be shut forever from
them, and they launched upon the great
uncertainty and unknown.
In this terrible fight on the right Gen.
Green's division of Slocum corps sustained
the onset of Ewell till brigade from the
First corps was moved down to assist.
THE SECOND ATTACK ON THE LEFT.
On the left. when the Fifth corps was
broughs into action, Gen. Barnes was sent
with his division to the base of Round
Top hill.
The enemy fell upon Col. Vincent, with
the Sd Brigade, first. Their first attempt
to turn our flank mad driven the Third
| corps back from its advanced reconnois-
| sance, but the vaior of the Second corps
| had checked their advance.
The second attempt was still ugon the
flank, and was made with greater rashl ess
! than the first The Third was in rear of
the Firth, ready to support, if necessary,
| their gallant comrades
| The voice of Col. Vincent rang clear
above the din of preparation and the
1 fy,.r fEaFN .Af 10
enemy. "Don't yield an inch" were his
words. He jumped upon rock, waved
| his sword, and at the moment received a
ball which shattered his thigh. Col. Rice
took command, and the men stood stead
lily up to the terrible work, taking DELHI
crate aim.
General Barnes was cool and as firm as
the massive boulders of granite around
him. Nearer came the rebels-no longer
marching, but running for a bayonet
charge. General Barnes did not run. His
men did not. They stood. They met the
shock. The lines mingled. There was
confused mass of men. Swords were
swinging in air. There were pistol shots,
musket shots, bursting shells from the
rebel batteries, tornadoes of grape and
canister from our own. There were cuts,
thrusts, explosions, flashes, clouds of
smoke, yeils, curses, groans, hurrahs-an
Internal uproar-men falling, heads blown
off, arms and legs tossed into the air-a
horrid, indescribable scene - confusion,
carnage, death!
1t is terrible to think of it; horrible to
behold, but it is the stern necessity. So
justice comes through suffering-so peace,
pure, gentle, beautiful, holy, through the
atonement for crime.
/ While this was going on in Barnes d.
vision, General Ayers division came in
just in time to save the First from being
pushed back, or trampled down by the
still advancing enemy. General Ayers
division has the two brigades of regulars,
those who ali day long hung to the hollow
in front of Fredericksburg, and refused
to retire even when their ammunition was
gone, and all hope of winning the heights
had departed.
As tney came in fresh troops came up
for Longstreer, and again the contest went
on-the rolls of musketry like the roaring
of the cannonade incessant, reverberating
far away along the mountain passes.
| While all this was taking place in the
field and pastures, the Fourth and Fifth
brigades of she Pennsylvania Reserves,
commanded by Gen. Crawford, were sent
by Gen. Meade to clear the enemy from
Bound Top hill, which they had secured
in their desperate onset. 1t is exceedingly
rocky and covered with scrub oak. The
Buck tails led the charge. Col. Taylor,
leading them, was shot, but they moved
on, gained the summit, drove the rebels,
poured over the other side and swept down
upon the flank OF the forces attacking
Barnes and Ayers at the base. Hazlitt's
battery, by almost superhuman effort, was
dragged, Or lifted over the rocks to the
top and as the darkness came On, lighted
up it's fires, hurting death upon the masses
below.
We are not to forget that while this is
taking place an hundred pieces of artillery
along the ridge reaching up to the GENE.
terry are hurting shells and bolts here and
there upon the struggling infantry and
upon the rebel batteries across the fields.
and that from beneath those distant trees
beyond the little gurgliDg brook that
winds through the meadows there is an
answer for every shot, a cannonade kept
up, till Longstreet's shattered columns
have fallen back, discounted, into the
woods from whence they came. Conf
dence in themselves and confidence in theil
leaders were the marked features in the
naor0te of the army that night, They had
10 tear for the result of the morrow.
- THIRD DAYS BATTLE.
FRIDAY, July 8.
Boom! boom! Two guns, deep arc
heavy, at four o'clock. 1t was cloudy
sultry morning. The clouds hung thick
and heavy, and came down low upon the
hills. Two more, and then more rapidly
than the tick of pendulum, came the
conclusions. The cemetery was hid from
sight by the thick sulphurous folds rolling
over and over, unfolding and expanding
There were flashes from two hillocks
south of the turnpike, flashes in the woods
along Rock creek. The door which had
been opened against Geary last night was
to be closed, and this was the beginning
of the effort.
Without cessation, Increasing in force
and intensity, was the cannonade, break
ing the stiffness of the morning and drown
ing all other sounds.
There were lew musket shots in the
woods upon the hill from the pekets in
advance. Beneath the trees were Siocum's
lines, preparing to regain what had been
lost during their sabsence. 1t was seven
o'clock before he was ready to make the
attempt to close the door. The men
moved up slowly, but determinedly. The
rebels were in the pits and a furious IRE
began. A thin veil OF smoke rose above
Itba troaa and doeted awav before tho