American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-03-29
A Thrilling Incident,


A contributor to the Atlanta Lutelliqen
er. concludes his "reminiscences of Ii
, War, No. g." with the following thrillip
, incident of the battle of Gettysburg:
When Gen. L ongstreet advanced upo
the Federal left, its first line was carried
but the enemy being heavily reinforced
rallied, and, in turn, drove our portion O
the line (Anderson's brigade) from tn
position as well as other brigades on ou
right and left. Again we charged, ant
again were driven back. This was crit
ical moment for US; nearly all our gen.
eral officers were killed or wounded. Our
heavy line had crumbled to mere hand.
full, and the flower of Longstreet's corps
lay wetcrlng in blood. We were slowly
retreating. leaving many of our dead and
wounded in the hands of the exulting foe.
The hosts of the enemy came on like the
mighty tides of the ocean, and the lopd
peanS OF victory were already rising from
their naughty lips. The blue hills in
their rear were bristling with bayonets,
and pouring torrents Of reinforcemen,s
down their winding slope. Now, when
we should have been reinforced with 80.
900 troops, Gen, Lee had not a man to
send us. Officers broke their swords
upon the rocks, and many of the men
wept. Our dead and wounded comrades
lay around US by thousands, and it
seemed as II there was no hand to save
he shattered remnant from destruction,
3ut aid did come-a mana solitary
nan threw himself before the iuggernaut
u Federal power, and alone and unaided
ought to stay its onward progress. |
emember, as if it were but Yesterday,
he z"uave cap and iron grey beard of
he stranger. None knew him, but all
Iollzed him for his bravery. He moved
Trough the awful storm with steady
'ep and his upifled sword seemed to saw t
the advancing foe, "thus far shalt o
lou come and no farther" He said :.
othlng' but his God like example made tt
hero Of every man who saw him. c.
oIdlers looked in the face of their com. u
des and the question came simultaneous IA
to their blackened lips "Who is he?" IL
Who is he?" echoed right and left, far &C
and down the line. The enemy came as
like tornado. and the proud :. !.
'od enveIoped in tbs Smoke Of ,Lair ali
.sa~.-,'.7Ae hon at bay. Men forgot is
reload their pieces or conceal them sa
YES behind the rocks, but stood stupe pr
with wonder, "Who is hep" men WI
'aned-"who is he ?" officers repeat. ha
until the cry became strangely wild PIC
l fearful. "Gen. Lee T. some one r re-,
'uied, and the word ran along the line pri
an electric flash. Gen. Lee forev. the
= rang loud above the battles roar, IN,
as enc man our gallant soldiers clip
ned like a thunderbolt upon the thr
onlshed foe. Follow Gen. Lee I" 49,
I'd our wounded comrades, as they Law we
N the trampled earth and tossed up and
If bloody caps. No body of men on .no
broad green earth could have with trio
ID the terrible impetuosity Of this on. the
The Federal troops, though they war
5ht desperately, were compelled to to n
back, and at last to retreat in confu grea
to the nights, leaving their dead and fully
nded in our hands. ,in,o
Ut where was the stranger? Alas whic
epaths of glory lead but to the grave" m mig
war is over now, and the brave men of m
m we met that day as deadly enemies, say,
ow meet nc friends w, r,,, to pr
0"'u nut Cons
act one ray from the crown of militia. memo
ory that adorns each of their heroes, estab
would do Justice TO our lamented saiva
; and il, by this imperfect sketch, | THANH
add one flower to the chaplet of have
hero's fame, l shall feel myself and .a IT.
y rewarded. And that hero-"who
% The answer comes up from the
IS Of Gettysburg-General PAUL.. 4
les. have