The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1867-07-18
Gyurrespnndsnee.s

DEAR IIONEEn~ !t|oo' " .iO
Rhany Mountainsabout eightiniles, are
to besseen a series-ef sugar-loaf-shaped
hills, rising several hundred feet above
the Surrounding country. and each
about the same distance from the great
mountains, and several miles apart.
They stand like sentinels, in advance Of
advancing armies. " Round Top, +"
which was the left of our battle line
four years ago this day, is one otthose
Between, those hills, and
from one to another of them, are ridges
more elevated generally than. the sur
rounding country, but generally culti-
waited. Those ridges are very rough
generally, and in many places almost
covered with immense granite rocks
Such is the case for about two miles
north of "Round Top" Part of that
distance the western slope of hesridge
is very difficult of ascent, being steep,
high, and covered-with immense rocks.
Still farther northward it assumes the
appearance of ordinary; elevations, gem
tly slopihg far off westward. and is un-
der a, good state of cultivation. Still
further northward its again becomes
higher, and forms that lovely, historic
spot, known as Cemetery Ridge, which
elevation is continued northward about
one mile furthery where Rock Greek
breaks the chain, andleaves on its south
sidef Culp's Hil1," which is about five
miles from Round Top,n and was the
right of our army, or battle line. =
Frem the top~of Culp's. Hall on the
right, and of Round Top2 on the left
every movement Of the rebel army was
visible indeed, as much so as it would
have been if made in the streets of Up
per Sandusky, and viewed from the
dome of the Courthouse. Those ''sen-
tinel' hills have an ascending inclina-
tion in length. about q to "a of a mile,
at an angle of nearly 45 degrees; are
thickly timbered and wonderfully rug
ged. 1t is clearly evident that they
have been forced up from the general
surface, and that those great and nu-
merous rocks have been thrown out at
their very tops, rolling down ALI sides
to the plain.far bellows and cllngmgst Ito
the sloping sides, until the great exte-
rior weight seems to have closed the
monsters jaws.
Passing from the base to the summit
seems like passing upward through a
grove. covered with houses from one to
two stories high, with gables all down
hill, and narrow passages between
Sometimes you run against single rocks
almost as large as our CouEt-house,
with perpendicular walls, all smooth
and nice, and deep dark caverns be-
reach the top, and in many places it is
done at the expense Of considerable
muscle. Arriving on the top, which is
no larger than our Courthouse, you
find it to be solid rocks, rent in mighty
blocks, and piled. one upon another,
leaving near the center a deep, dark
hole through which man can pass and
come out, passing through Round Top
at its base. To look out upon the gran
deur of the surroundings from this,ele-
walton, and to have full view of this
once bloody field, through the heat o.
this July sun, tired, wet and painting
for little air, have I at last succeeded
in reaching the top. And, o, the gran
deur of the sight! No pen can de-
scribe it! But how still, and solemn
seems the spot to-day! A gray spur.
rel OH yonder tree, leaping from branch
to branch is all that is animate around
me. The rocks, though mighty, are
mute.~ No cooling breeze even agitate
a leaf on the trees. But this was no
always so. Those serpentine, stone
breast-works-having the appearance
of roughly built stone fences-passine
northward down the slope, speak ye
in whispers from memory, of life. death
pain, care and sufferings here in day
gone by. But let me speak of the seen
as it now exists. Westward, and abou
eight miles distant, rise the deep blu
Alleghanies, shutting out the view to
ward my western home southwar,
and northward, until lost in the dis
tance, more than fifty. miles away, il
each direction, stretch those mountai
barriers, whilst all between them an
me lies like brightly figured carpet a
my feet. Turning to the east a sea G
beauty is everywhere before me. Te
miles distant rise the spires of Littles
town. To the left and more distan
still is Hanover, with the Pigeon Hill
looming up to her left; more.to the lel
and nearly northward rise the spire
the colleges and residences Of the ono
modest and unassuming, but now as
piring and historic town of Gettysbur,
On that beautiful eminence to her rigl
sleep the thousands of our country
heroes, who fell beneath the starry fla
{ in defense of the homes and land the
loved. Still beyond, passing aroun
the northern and eastern base of Culp
Hill, and then flowing southwark unit
& it's serpentine course is lost to view f;
southwark, is Rock Creek, on the banl
of which were established many of OF
hospitals during that bloody period
our history. AS look on this graz
panoramic view to the east, and thin
: of youthful sports, school-day associ;
. tions, children beloved, a father al
grand-father's homes, of friends al
relatives almost numberless, of che
] ished haunts never to be forgotten,
early aspirations, &C.. and then thir
of leaving all, and. slowly. aseendil
"yonder bold; blue mountains to seek
!. home among strangers in the wilds
the ,West-now the glorious West-al
!. then think of the countless changes
the numbering dead-the sorrowil
= living-ofiscattereds youthful eompa
ions, of the grave, on the verge of whi'
the remaining few are now standfn