Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-04-17
NUMBER XIIII.
A Thrilling Incident.

A contributor to the Atlanta LateHigencer con-
cludes his "reminiscences of the War, No. -
with the following incident of the battle of Get
tysburg:
When Gen. Longstreet advanced upon the
Federal LETT, its first line was carried. But the
enemy being heavily reinforced rallied, and. in
turn, drove our portion of the line (Anderson's
bngade) from the position, as well as other
bngades on our right and left Again we
charged, and again were driven back. This
was critical moment for us nearly all of our
general officers were killed or wounded. Our
heavy line had crumbled to a mere handful,
and the flower Of Longstreet's corps lay welter-
ing In blood; We were slowly retreating, leav-
OF the exulting foe. The hosts of the enemy
came on like the mighty tides of the ocean, and
the loud peals of victory were already rising
from their naughty lips The blue hills in
their. rear were bristling with bayonets, and
pouring torrents of reinforcements down their
winding slope. Now, when we should have
been reinforced with 10000 troops, Gen. Lee
had not 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 if
there was no hand to save the shattered rem
nant from destruction. But aid did not come
mana solitary man. threw himself before the
juggernaut of Federal power, and alone and un-
aided, sought to stay it's onward progress I
remember, as if it were but yesterday, the zou-
ave cap and iron grey beard of the stranger
None knew him, but all idolized him for his
bravery. lie moved through the awful storm
with a steady step, and his uplifed sword
seemed to say to the advancing foe, ''thus far
shalt thou come and no farther"
He said nothing, but his godlike example
made hero OF every man who saw him. Sol
diers looked in the face of their comrade, and
the question came simultaneously from their
blackened lips, rWho is hep" echoed right and
left, far up and down the line. The enemy came
on like tornado, and the proud hero stood en-
Iveloped In the smoke of their muskets, like
lion at bay. Men forgot to reload their pieces
or conceal themselves behind the rocks, but
stood stupefed with wonder 'Who is he?"
men groaned-"who is he?" officers repeated,
until the cry became strangely wild and fearful.
General Lee some one shouted, and the word
rang along the line like an electric FASH
General Lee forever!' rang loud above the
battle S roar and as one man our gallant SOL
dlers rushed dllik like thunderbot upon the aston
lshed toe, follow General Lee!" cried our
wounded comrades, as they lay upon the
trampled earth and tossed up their bloody caps
No body OF men on the broad green earth could
have WlthstOod the terrible impetuosity of this
onset The Federal troops, though they fought
desperately, were compelled to give back, and
at last to retreat in confusion to the heights,
leaving their dead and wounded in our hands
But where was the stranger?" Alas ''The
path of glory leads but to the grave" The
war is over now, and the brave men whom we
met that day as deadly enemies, we now meet
as friends. We would not detract one ray from
the crown of military glory that adorns each of
their heroes, but would do justice to our la
mented dead and if by this imperfect sketch,
| can add one flower to the chapfet of fallen
And that hero-''who is he ?' The answer
comes co up from the graves of Gettysburg-Gen.