The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-01


ing heap" over the buried generations OF the hamlet
planted the artillery, whose fearful peals would
dained that they should awake only at the sound Of
the last trump. just behind the crest Of the hill
our glorious commander, the ImpeT-
turbable Meade, calmly debating his orders,
Will while the storm OF shot and shell new over
southwest OF the village the Rebel chieftain sur.
yeyed the ned directed his host, and from time to
time saw his advancing columns reel and wther,
and finally retreat in hopeless flight and confusion
The flower OF the Rebel army had been chosen for
the assault and were massed to bring Overwhelming
numbers TO bear on the point of attack. The Rebel
cheftaln brought together more than 100 pieces of
artillery, with which for three hours, he poured
terrific fire upon that part Of the Union lines he in
II was a grand and solemn sight, when line after
line, with steady steps and in perfect order, emerged
from the smoke and swept across the field towards
the Union army IL was moment of vast peril
and import. OF which both parties were powerfully
conscious. II the Rebel assault were successful aud
we're within their grasp. The North invaded, de-
feated, and demolished, would dove know not
what Foreign nations would be encoq-
would put forth more desperate Efforts than
before II the, assault failed, and we
gained the battle, the remnant OF the Rebel hosts
must seek safety In flight, aud blow would be In
nicted upon the C0nlyd' racy from which IT. could
the minds of all, and gave heroic courage TO assault
and to resist But nov the fire OF our artillery was
opened upon the advancing columns, and the shot
and shell tore through their ranks, making great
gaps, which were quickly filled up by those who
courage, until soon the fierce fire OF musketry on
both sides mingled with the horrd roar OF artillery.
Then, with terrific yclls, they rushed upon our
lines but the impetus of their assault was suddenly
checked. They were met by courage as desperate
as their own, and fierce hand-to-hand conflict took
place. The result not long doubtful Their
thnned and broken columns were flung back across
the plain in headong light, leaving thousands of
prisoners in our hands, the ground covered with
dead and dying, and wet and covered with blood
We had gained the day, though at fearful cost. The
victory was great and mighty in its consequences
The prestige OF the Rebel army was broken never
to be recovered, and the wound inflicted upon the
Confederacy was never saunched, until 1t had bled
to death.
The next day was the 4th OF July, and the most
memorable since that of 1776. On another field it
witnessed the surrender of another large Rebel army
TO the great chietan OF the war, now our illustrous
President, The capture OF Nicks6urg opened the
the Confederacy all that part of its territory
lying west of that river. The loss to the Con
federacy was irreparabe. 1t was cut Off from its
greatly circumscribed. The mass of the Rebel
population were demOralized, and began to despair
From that day it became manifest that the Rebellion
could not succeed unless the Southern people eX-
and high devotion that viii sacrifice everything for
the cause, which, as 1t turned out they did not pos
sess BY our victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg
the Rebellion lost its prestige in Europe and all
hopes OF foreign intervention.
At the foot Of the monument sleep the heroes of
the battle. Here lie the father, the husband, the
brother, and the only SON In far-on homes, among
the hills OF New England, the shores OF the lakes
and in the valleys and plains of the West the widow
the orphan, and the aged parents are weeping for
those beloved dead. Many OF the tombs are marked
unknown, but they will ali &c recognized on uile
morning OF the resurrection. The unknown
dead left. behind them Kindred, friends, and
breaking hearts. None die so humble but leave
some one to mourn. "Perished at Gettysburg, In
defense of their country, 97s men, of whose names
homes, or lineage there is no trace left on EARTH
record, and when the books are opened on the last
| day their names will be found in letters Of living
light on the immortal page Of heroes who died that
In the fields before us are the graves of the Rebel
! dead, now sunk to the level of the plain, ''un-
| marked unhonored, and unknown" They were our
| countrymen of our blood, language, and history.
| They displayed courage worthy OF their country,
and of a better cause, and we may drop tear to
their memory. The news of this fatal field carried
agony to thousands OF Southern homes, and the wall
OF despair was heard N Wine me eVergaqes & @ ana orange
| had died for their country, ana not in fratricdal
strife, for its destruction on who can describe the
wlckedness Of rebellion, or paint the horrors of civil
The Rebellion was Madness 1t was the insanity
Of States the derlum Of millions brought on by the
| pernicous influence OF human slavery Ine people
of the South drunk with the spos OF the labor
| Of 1900, 900 Of slaves. They were educated in the
| belief that chvalry and glory were the inheritance
only of shareholders; that free institutions and free
labor begat cowardiGe and seryility that Northern
| gain, and would not fight for their Government or
principles And thus educated and thus believing,
they raised their hand TO strike the Government OF
their fathers, and to establish new constitution,
| the chief cornerstone Of which was to be human
The lust of power tho unhoy greed of slavery, the
mad ambition of disappointed statesmen, impelled
| the people Of the South to fearful crime, which
| drenched the land with fraterna blood, that has
he punished few crimes have ever been in this
| world but out of which we are assured that God
in His providence, will bring forth the choicest bless
ings to our country and the human race; even as
the rares flowers spring in profusion from the graves
OF the dead Liberty UNIVERSAL soon TO be guaranteed
| and preserved by suffrage universal; the keeping
! Of a nations freedom TO be intrusted to all
the people, and not To part only; the national re-
proach washed out-in rivers of blood it is true but
the sins of the world were atoned by the blood OF the
Saviour, and the eNpatOn OF blood seems to be the
| grand economy OF God, founded in wisdom, to NOR
| tails nscrutable. Resurrection comes only from the
grave. Death is the great progenitor OF life. From
| the tomb OF the Rebellion q nation has been born
again The principle Of liberty, SO glorlo9sly
| hitherto existed in theory. The Government
had ever been painful contradiction TO
the Declaration. While prOclaiming to the
world that liberty was the gift of God
| to every human being, 100000 OF the peOpl were
held in abject and brl talzing slavery, under the
shadow OF The national nag In the presence Of these
slaves professions OF devotion TO liberty were vain
| and hypOcritical. The clanking OF their chains
asCended perpetuay ia contradiction to our profess
slons, and the enemies Of republicanism pointed
| contemptuCusly to 'ur example. But all this is
passed. Slavery lies hJriediR the tomb OF the Re
helliOn. The Rebeihrn-thc offspring OF slavery
hath murdered its natural parent, and the perfect
| reign Of liberty is al aid.
With The ratification Of the fifteenth article, pro-
posed by Congress as aN amendment to the Consti
| tuition OF the United Sjates, which we nave every
reason TO believe viii soon be completed impartial
| Suffrage will be eStiii'shed throughout the land
The equal rights OF lu VIII be recognized, ami the
millennium Ia liberty and government VIII be real
iZed 10 which idt trs looked forward with hope
qhc principles Of bclty once planted in the earth
ana rpencd into tieir rich fruits, VIII be borne
through all the ages blessing mankind 10 the latest
nouoratlOn even as the seeds first sOWn by the hand
of GCd IN Paradise wt re blown by the winds from
continent TO contiLeni, until the world was Clothed
| with VerduTe, fruits ubd MOWERS.
| Ihepospect lor ltrty throughout the world wa
never so bright as 30 ~ To-day. III an citiIeu an,'