Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1864-05-27
FOR THR STAR ! CHRONICLE.
Three Days in Cumberland Valley,
and East of 1t.

THE GETTYSBURu BATTLE FIELD.
A party of Lutheran preachers came
with US yesterday, having slipped away
from the Synod at York, to visit their old
College and the scenes Of warfare. The
latter was "done" by them before break.
fast this morning, but it seemed rather
tDo fast by cur party. Hiring a carriage,
VIC were first taken to Culp's Hill, on the
/ s. W. portion Of the v within which
we're our fnal lines of defence. The
csrthworks for cannon, and the earth,
stone aud rail breastwork thrown up for
q mile or moro along the brow of that
hill, remain IS they were, and Z under
stand are to remain thus for the benefit
Of future tourists. A worn horseshoe
from this hill retain "for luck" The
Government officers collected, after the
battle, thousand. Of small arms, and
everything else deemed worthy of trans
portation; curiosity hunters have explored
for miles around for memorials, and have
carried away tons Of lead and iron mis-
siles; and many interesting relics Of va
rious kinds are preserved in the town and
vicinity. Remains Of tin cartridge boxes,
beef bones, scraps Of leather, shreds Of
caps, garments, and blankets, and various
kinds Of cloth used for baversacks or
knnpsacks, cast Cor "shed" as they say
here) in piles as men rushed into combats
from which they never returned-these
are the principal memorials remaining
on the surface. The owner of "Sherfy's
peach orchard" is a Dupkard preacher,
and from him, while gathering stones
from ledge Of the battle field. l had q
few pieces Of lead which bad been fat
tened by lodging in crevices Of rocks.
The bones Of few horses lie uncovered,
while others are buried on the surface BY
having earth thrown over them--au un-
seemly heap. The grave of Rebel
officer was pointed out by the road side
going TO the n. W. Of our line. The
Rebel graves generally we're natural hol-
lows into which they were hastily laid,
aud earth thrown over tbem-leavipg the
surface nearly level. There are woods
two or three miles beyond our lines on
the N. and N w., within which the
Rebels lay until prepared to attack our
lines, and were much exposed on the
more open surface between the two lines.
One or two attacks made by our forces,
resulted adversely to US. Trees where
balls have been extracted, and other trees
showing the passage Of balls BY thar
ragged work, are about all the outward
signs, on the farms, Of that deadly strife
of 10000 men. The tranquility of all
around, this beautiful day, makes it im-
possible to conceive Of the "horrible dis
cord and maddeuiug fury that ragged"
here less than year ago.
"Ths Granite Spur" is q memorable
point, between the two Round Tops, al
most at tho extreme N. W. Of our line.
Hugo rocks we're there piled up by na-
ture, and the gaps between were by our
men filled with other stones, thereabous
abundant: upon and behind this bold
rampant, cannons were dragged, and
smaller fire arms taken. On the last
days fight, the enemy massed large
force from their N. W. lines, and bore
desperately against this work, but we're
literally moved down; our defence was
so perfect, and their exposure coming
down and up the valley was SO great,
that the dead and wounded fell like grass,
while the survivors, prostratiog them
selves, yelled and grcsned for mercy.
Our coachman said he was the servant
of Rebel officer, from Florida, who had
been forced into the war, and had been
in many engagements. The black boy
was employed for cook, and stated that
the Rebels we're jubilant the first day,
dubious the next, and retreat was com
manded at the end of the third day, when
he managed to escape. He afterwards
met bis former master, . wounded pris-
oner, bound for Johnson's Island; be
was quite friendly, and said be would
write and let the black boys father and
mother know where he was.
A well-informed gentleman Informed
ne that the fidelity to his flag Of q color.
bearer of the 150th p. V. in the first
lays fight, elicited the expressed admira-
ion Of Rebel General. l suppose that
bearer was young Gutelius, Of Mitain-
,urg, who was buried in this National
jemetry. There arc now nearly three
thousand graves here, and boards erec-
ed ct the head Of each. When ole
tands in the center Of this amphitheater,
nd surveys the mute, long, fearful rows
t so many brave mems bones buried be-
esth, he has . more realizing sense of
be cost Of that victory than any mere
nod. n, 6ou,os amid o;ve Some