Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1866-04-20
A THRILLING INCIDENT.

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A THRILLING INCIDENT
a contributor to the Atlanta Intelligent
ces, concludes his "Reminiscences of the
War, Nc, 80 with the following incident
Of the battle Of Gettysburg:
"When General Longstreet advanced
upon the Federal left. its first line was
carried. But the enemy being heavily
reinforced. rallied. and in turn drove our
position Of the line, (Anderson's brigadel
from the position, as well as other brigades
on our right and left. Again we charged
and were again driven back. This was a
critical moment tor us; nearly all OF our
general officers were killed or wounded.
Our heavy line had crumbled to mere
handful, and the flower Of Longstreet's
corps lay weltering in blood. We were
slowly retreatiDg, many of our dead and
The hosts OF the enemy came on like the
of victory were already rising from their
naughty lips.-The blue hills in their
rear were brlstling will bayonets, and
pouring torrents ct reinforcemcnts down
their winding slopes. Now, when we
should have been reinforced with thirty
Thousand troops, General Lee had not a
swords upon the rocks. and many Of them
wept Our dead and wounded comrades
Law around us by thousands, and i. seemed
as if there was no hand to cave the shat
tered remnant from destruction. But aid
did not come-a mana solitary man
threw himself before the juggernaut Of Fed
| a f(,
stay it's onward progress. remember, as
if it were but yesterday, the zouave cap
and iron gray beard of the stranger. None
knew him, bat all ido!ized him for his bra-
very. He moved through the awful storm
with steady step, and his uplifted sword
seemed to say to the advancing foe ''thns
far shalt thou come and no farther" He
said nothing, but his godlike example
made hero of men who saw him. Sol
d:ers looked in the tace of their comrades
and the question cape simultaneously tc
their blackened lips ''Who is he?" echoed
right and left far up and down the line.
! The enemy came on like a tor
nado, and the proud hero stood enveloped
in the smoke OF their 1nuskets like a lion
at bav. Men forgot to reload their pieces
or concealed themselves behind the rocks
but stood stupefed with wonder. ''Whe
lis he e. men groaned-"who is he9" Off
GERS repeated until the cry became fearful
IsGeneral Lee," some one shouted, aud the
word ran along the line like an electric
hash.-"General Lee, for ever ~ rang
4 loud above the battles roar and as one
man our gallant soldiers rushed like {
thunder bolt upon the astonished foe; ''fol
) How General Lee !"' cried our wounded
comrades, as they lay upon the tramplee
: earth and tossed up THEN bloody caps
+ No body of men on the broad green eartl
could have withstood the terrible impetu
osity of this onset. The Federal troops
, though they fought desperately were com
: PEELED to give back, and at last to re
t ltreat in confusion to the heights, leavin
/ Idead and wounded in our hands y .a'
sl But where was the strangers ssAlas
s The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
d The war is over now, and the brave me
8 elwhon1.we met that day as deadly enemie
rive now meet as friends. We would not d,
tract one ray from the crown of the inilit.
it lry glory that. adorns each Of their hero.
e but would do Justice to our -lameted dea'
eI and if, by this imperfect sketch,I ca
$, add one flower to the chaplet OF falle