Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-04-26
A Thrilling Incident.

A writer for the Atlanta Mteifgencer,
in his "reminiscences ofthe War, No. 2,
gives the following thrilling incident of
the battle of Gettysburg,
When Gen. Longstreet advanced upon
the Federal left, its first line was carried,
sut the enemy, being heavily reinforced,
rallied, and, in turn drove our portion OF
the line, (Andersoh' $ Brigade, from the
position as well as other brigadss on our
right aud left Again we charged, and
again were driven back This was cri-
tical moment Tor us; nearly all our gen
era officers were killed or wounded.
Our heavy line had crumbled to a mere
handful, and the flower of Longstreet
Corps lay weltering in blood. We were
slowly retreatng, leaving many Of our
dead aud wounded i'll the hands OF the
exulting foe. The hosts of the enemy
came on like tire mighty tides OF the
ocean, and the loud pens of victory were
already rising from their haughty lips.
The blue hills in their rear were brlstllng
with bayonets, and pouring torrents OF
reinforcements down their wind ing
slopes. Now, when we should have been
reinforced with 30, 900 troops, Gen. Lee
had not man to send u.s. Officers broke
their swords upon the rocks and many
of the men wept Our dead and woun-
ded comrades lay around MS by thou
sands, and it seemed as if there was no
hand to save the shattered remnant from
destruction But aid did come. A man
"a solitary man-threw himself before
the juggernaut of Federal power, and
alone and unaided, sought to stay its on
ward progress. remember, as ifit were
but yesterday, the zouave cap and iron
grey beard OF the stranger. None knew
him, but all idolized him for his bravery.
He moved through the awful storm with
steady step, and his .uplifted sword
seemed to say to the advancing foe, thus
far shalt thou come, and no farther.
He said nothing, but his god-like ex-
ample made hero Of every man who saw
him. Soldiers looked in the face OF their
comrades, and the question came sim
ultaneously TO their blackened lips
who is hep VINO is he2 echoed right
ana left, far up and down the line, The
enemy came on like tornado, and the
grand hero stood. .enveloped 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 heY
men groaned-"W Is he?" officers re-
peated, until the cry became strangely
Wild and fearful Gen. Lee some one
shouted, and the word ran along the line
like an electric flash. Gen. Lee for
ever" rang aloud above the battle
roar, and as one man our gallant sol
diers rushed like thGnderbolt upon
the astonished foe. Follow Gen. Leel
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 with
stood the terrible impetuosity OF this on
set The Federal troops, though they
fought desperately, were compelled to
give back, and at last to retreat in con,
fusion to the heights, leaving their dead
and wounded in our hands.
But where was the stranger2 Alas
''the paths Of glory lead but to the grave
The war is over now, and the brave men
whom we met that day as deadly enemies,
we meet now as friends. We would not
detract one ray from the crown Of mil
itary glory that adorns each of their he
roes, bur would do justice to our lamented
dead and ii, by this imperfect sketch,
/ can add one flower to the chaplet OF
fallen hero's fame, l shall feel myself
amply rewarded And that bero-"who
is hep The answer comes up fran tho
graves of Gettysburg-General Paul
]. Semmesl