West-Jersey pioneer., 1866-01-13
For the West Jersey Pioneer.
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

The area of ground upon which the
battle was fought, extends North and
South distance Of about three miles, and
from East to West two miles and half
The rebels occupied circuit nearly seven
miles, and our army four, from one ex-
treme to the other, while Gettysburg lay
nearly in the centre of the area thus
formed. About ten miles to the North
west of the village, South Mountain lifts
its rocky crest into the smiling skies,
while lesser hills and ridges present
scenes of peculiar attraction and gran
deur. Upon these surrounding hills,
along which manoeuvred the two de6sAt
armies sonn to test their prowess in san
culinary struggle, the dark and deadly
storm was rising. Every heart in that
city was filled with horror and dread
every nerve quivered-every pulse beat
with fearful emotion. Grey-headed men
and women, whose feeble frames were
tottering on the verge of death, knelt
down in humble supplication for safety
and the success of our arms mothers
clasped their tender offspring closer to
their breasts with almost frantic emotions !;
husband and fathers, young men and
children sought for security from the
threatened shock, or means of defence
against the advancement of the foe.-
Never had Gettysburg been clouded with
such an appalling gloom. Never were its
citizens filled with such dismay. Never
did fear and hope so alternate in their
minds. But, the fearful moment came.
The low mutterings Of the first discharge
of artillery came borne to the ear from a
distant point, telling too plainly that the
contest had commenced. The signal
awoke to life ponderous batteries which
had been planted on the hillsides and
now the earth trembled beneath the
shock, as if thousand earthquakes were
hcaving it to its centre. One dense mass
Of smoke rolled up and down the noun
tain gorges at every discharge, until their
base and brows were hid from view
The fiery tongues that lashed forth from
the cannon seemed as if the rocks had
burst asunder, and were vomiting out
volcanic lava Soon, above the roar Of
cannon, the din of musketry, the clashing
of swords and the yells Of the combatants,
came shrieks and groans of the wounded
and dying. The air was rent with fear
full sounds; Kissing shells burst on every
side, hurling death dealing fragments in
all directions Rocks, ravines and stone
fences served as temporary breastworks
from behind which our Union soldiers
poured well-directed and murderous fire
into the ranks of the approaching enemy,
hurling them in wild confusion and dis.
order precipitately back, and thinning
their ranks with fearful fatality. Column
after column was decimated, and those
poor fellows who, but few hours before
exhibited all the characteristics Of vigor
Gus manhood, lay upon the field, shorn Of
their strength, mutilated, passionless
/ dead!
| This was the work of war but it is moi
in the scope of this article to argue the
motives and causes which led to SO terri
| BILE a condition. Facts are sufficient fol
our purpose, and these are supplied by .
subsequent visit to the field just described
after the battle had ceased and the belli
gerents had departed. Several days af
terward the field everywhere bore fresl
marks Of the struggle. Large number
q Of the dead Of both armies were to b
seen lying in the places where they fol
when the fatal shot struck them, and th.
soil was yet red with the blood of th,
wounded and slain. The dead lay thick
est where the fight had been tbickest AM
most obstinate. But within the space 0
a week all the Union soldiers that wer
wounded and killed, and nearly all 0
those Of the rebels, were gathered up, th
dead decently inferred, and the wounde'