The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-01-16

VENTURE.
Gettysburg the Memorable, whose story
shall blot the page of history for thou
sand years, nor mar the brightness of the
record with its scenes Of blood and slaugh-
ter. Tell it to your children, ye who
have stood firmly amidst the whirlwnd
of war, and braved its tumult and butchery
with cruel daring. Its bloodshed is
washed away, but not its chronicle; and
the story is now less vivid than it will be
when century shall pass over our dust,
and hide our memory in oblivion and the
grave. 1t is sad to reflect, however, that
the evil which men do, lives after them,
the good is generally inferred with their
bones.
A black and sullen midnight settled
over our own Gettysburg, July l, 1868.
An insulted and defeated soldiery were
flying through its streets for safety, pur-
sued by an enemy flushed with temporary
success. All night a dreadful distress
and anxiety prevailed among the citizens.
They had seen one of the finest dwellings
of the town, the Hartman house, wantoDly
burned to the ground; and knew that at
that very time the plundering of others
were being perpetrated. They had seen
the Union Army rushing before a tri-
uphant foe, and although they knew that
they did succeed in gaining the Cemetery
hill, yet they feared they would not be
able to hold it; especially as they knew
nothing of the near approach of General
Meade, or Of the re-enforcements already
come within short distance Of the town.
The Rebels were loquacious and boastful,
and took delight in telling how easily
they could destroy the Union Army on
the morrow. Disheartened and despair
ing, the citizens watched sadly for the
dawn which they feared after all might
come too soon, and too deeply laden with
sorrow.
Mourning dawned again upen the bat
tie field. July 81 The day previous,
the Rebels were repulsed, but not defeat
ed /; and large force which had pene-
trated the Union lines during the night,
where they lay upon their arms, com,
menced the attack at sunrise Geary's
batteries responded, and being re -eniorc-
ed by Shaler and Lockwood's brigades,
advanced upon the assaulting columns,
aud drove them back iu disorder. Ewel's
best troops rallied the fugatives, and an.
other attack followed with the same re-
suit. Once more, and again defeated
At eight o'clock there was silence, and a
lell, quiet as the grave reisned over the
battle field. 1t was the foreruuner of a
struggle, sanguinary as it was final; and
again the repeated charge with increasing
fury. The assaulters in broken ranks
gave way, pressed upon by the daring
impetuosity of the Federals, and by main
force driven over the breastworks in ter
rible confusion; and as they fell back, a
battery on the Baltimore turnpike plough,
ed through their lines with shot and shell,
and hurled with destructive violence thro'
their ranks.
Ewell retreated with disaster one
o'clock came and the grand movement OF
both armies seemed iuvincible. The en-
emy opened FIRE with a hundred and
twenty five guns, aud we're answered
frop the Union lines, by the red fame
and thunder of hundred and fifty. The
earth trembled for nearly two hours un-
der the terrible concussion - the air
seemed filled with iron missiles; aud the
forest trees around were riven, torn and
shattered, as if struck by lightning. The
Union batteries ceased firing in order to
bring the Rebels to further demonstra-
ton.
They were not slow in making it. =
Pickett's division was thrown forward,
and supported by three brigades, advauc-
ed steadily for nearly half mile, intend
ing evidently to carry the Union lines by
assault; and having arrived within short
range, the artillery opened on them with
grape, canister and she'll They hesi-
tated for moment, then with yells rush
ed on till, within a short distance of the
lines, they were received with deadly
shower of musketry. They reeled and
staggered, and part rushing up to the
Union lines, threw down their arms and
surrendered; while the remainder turned
and fed. Over one-t third Of the men en-
gagged in this assault were slain, and three
thousand more taken prisoners. Oh
course, this closed the bate in this part
of the field, as there was not the slightest
probability of rally in those broken troops
for another attack.
Longstreet's last hope remained = to
effect Judgement on Granite Spur, and
secure the military train beyond. With
Hood aud McLaw's divisions OF his corps
he, while the fight with the Union centre
was progressing, assaulted this position
with energy, and at the same time di-
rected au infantry force with three bat
teries to point nearly two miles to the
southwest, with orders to press forward
- turn the flank of the sixth corps, and
make rapid descent upon the Onion
rear. They were, as they thought, max
ing good progress in this movement, when
they suddenly found themselves confront,
ed by two brigades of Kilpatrick's divis
ion of cavalry. A fierce engagement en-
IL IL. n,a1