The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-01-14
A BeautifuI sulieet for a NntlonnIAnth.m

The summit Of Missionary Ridge is
one thousand feet above the level Of
the Tennessee River, and towers alolt
in grandeur,a a fitting monument to com
memorate the great victory achieved
by our national arms on the memora-
bic 25th Of November. On that day
the Star Spanglcd Banner could be
disccrned slowly scaling the steep and
rugged ascent, riyeting the gaze Of
thousands Of anxious spectators in line
Of battle below.
1t seems that the seth and S7th In
diana and the l1th Ohio had failed to
receive the order to halt, when it was
given tStho line Of battle, Onward
they moved, as it were, to the very
jaws of death.
The terrible suspense Of their brave
comrades was only equalled by that Of
the great Napoleon when he stood upon
the summit Of ridge aterloo, gaz-
ing, between hope and despair, lat the last
grand charge Of his Old Guard, until
they were lost to sight in the clouds
of smoke from the cncmy's cannon
Step by step they ascended until with
in fifty yards of the bristling bayonets
of the Rebel lines, when they received
the order to lie down. The Rebels
opened upon them, and volley after
vollcy was poured into their ranks,
midst the wild and enthusiastic shouts
Of the Rebels and the defiant waving
Of the stars and bars (said to have
been done by Bragg in person y
Springing to their feet with energy Of
desperation, the glorious Seth Indiana
leads the grand charge to victory or
death, followed by tho S7th and l1th
Ohio, and onward they pushed their
columns through shower of bullets
that ratified like hail. and were lost
to view in the smoke of battle.
A dcathly stiffness pcrvaded the
line Of battle below for a few moments,
when the anxious inquiry passed along
the line, rs our flag still thepo?' II
seemed like hoping against hope to ex-
pect that the three regiments had met
any other fate than instant annihila-
ton. Every minute seemed a month
for half an hour, at the end of which
time the smoke disappeared, and our
glorious flag greeted the anxious spec
tators, floating in triumph over the
rebel works. 1t was the war-worn
banner Of the Eighty seventh Indiana,
which was held until reinforcements
came up and secured the position gain
ed by the most daring and terrible
charge that ever history recorded.
The flag of the Eighty-sixth Indiana
that sealed this victory, received in its
folds eighty-six shots-emblematic Of
the regiment it is so gallantly led
through the ranks of death to a crown.
ing victory. The staff was broken by
n ball, but it still waves over one Of
the most gallant regiments that ever
entered the field of battle
The answer on that memorable night
to ten thousand inquiries infused new
spirit in the army as it resounded along
the lne-"Yes, our flag is still there y
Forty thousand spectators who wit
messed the thrilling scene and asked
the question while held ia fearful sus-
pcnse, will ask it as often as returning
memory brings to mind the grand
charge eff the three gallant regiments
on Missionary Ridge.
Who will commemorate this great
achievement and the thrilling ngincdents
associated with it in poetry? The sub
cct is one cminontly worthy of oul
best poets, and could be embodied in a
National anthem that would inspire all
patriotic hearts with renewed devotion
to the glorious flag of our county,
| louisville Journal.