Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-07-09

10 was WOms Is one u Al6 O9Je JecGs OF on
| assembling. Into our lives that sci
| vice has written more of the sublin1
| than usually falls to the lot of mortal,
! Each one has his own grand vision {
I the past. craven ttp0n his soul, and in
| communicable save to those who hav
! had like experience. In q reunion
like this it ali comes back upon tn
mind and passes before it in swift re
view like the airy phantasma of som
glorious dream.
We are met upon an anniversary {,
US suggestive above all others, of in
spring memories. Whose blood doe
not Quicken, whose heart does no
swell with the thought that on thil
day, and at tbs ae7af 6olJT, six years agt
he stood IN the thiekest of the fight q
the Waterloo Of the rebellion Droy
out Of sight all other battles, all othei
campaigns, and who does not feel thai
it is glory enough to have it to say
was at Gettysburg -
As you viii remember, our eneamp.
ment the night before the battle was
at the beautiful grove adjoining the
convent near Emmit6sburg. We had
come thither from our cantonments al
Stafford via Manassas, Edwards Fer
~ and hIidd1etoWn, having made q
series of forced marches in the boiling
heat of q Virginia June. Up to this
abOuts of the enemy 5e1Eeept from gen.
eraI ruu1or THAT @EsEa1-&ss cavalry was
ravaging the Cumberland valley, and
that Lees army, having crossed the
Potomac, was moving northward.-
Even the change in the chief COM
mand, by which the gallant Joe Hook
er was removed and General Meade
was yet a matter of mere
flying report. The new commander
was an utter stranger, the old one,
i
much pride in other fields, was tried
trusted and beloved.
But the soldiers Of the Army of the
Potomac cared but little Who'll led them.
Still smarting with the bitter disap-
and unjust reproaches of
they went into the
fight with the determination to win or
die in the attempt.
The Eleventh Army Corps, to which
we belonged, and the First Corps-the
two forming the vanguard of the army
drew out of their encampments at
Emmittsburg at seven O'Clock this
six years ago. Not a picket
shot had been heard nor a grey-coat
seen since we left Virginia, and on this
lay certainly none of us were in ex-
Dectation of a battle. There was some
hing rather suspicious, it is true, in
ihe rapid and incessant movement Of
.he column, by which we were hurried
along over that twelve miles march,
scarcely relieved by single halt
Anapsaclzs had grown light, as they
generally did on a long tramp, but
here were many feet now swollen and
ihoeless from marching over hot, flinty
in the journey from Stafford.
But the time had now gone by when
he army could not move without
shoes, or rather. the new era had about
,ome when 1t never moved NTH them,
ind there were no complaining voices
n the column. At 10 o'clock we cross
ID the Pennsylvania line, and you will
,emember how with dipping flags and
nuff1ed drums we saIuted the grand
I'D State on whose soil, before the sun
vent down, many a comrade found a
soldiers grave.
At eleven O'Clock the distant boom of
lrtillery gave us our first intimation
If the propinquity of an enemy. Again
md again the deep thunder echoes its
jo1emn summons over hill and valley,
md we know by the silence which
comes over the column that the prac-
is meaning. But they are not yet
ware that this low growing of dis
ant guns is the prelude to the sub
imest tragedy of the age.
There is no cessation IN the march,
he troops rather quickening their pace
lnder the slight stimulus of excitement
which courses along the nerves giving
ide and at every doorstep are gather
ID pale and trembling women who
minister food and drink to the passing
oldiers and VITA b1anehed cheeks and
vhitened lips utter many an invoca-
ion for their success. Clouds have all
he morning hung low in the thick sui
~ atmosphere. and at length burst in
o a violent rain which drenches each
Weating soldier to the skin, and does
10 good to his cartridges or musket.
The rain over the clouds drift away
nd the sun glares blazing hot upon
he huTrying troops.
We have ascended a plateau and at
ur feet is the village of Gettysburg,
leYond which is an undulating pla in
kirted in the distance by low range
f hills where the rebel batteries have
ound q alOdgement and have commence
d upon our approaching column. The
1irst Corps, which led the march, has
lready moved to the front, and, hav-
ng Iostits leader, the gallant Reynolds,
5 being hotly beset by the enemy un-
Ter Hill and EWell, so that we have
lot come a moment too soon for it's re-
ief. Pressing forward into the village,
lmost on the doubIe-quick, we find
ourselves surrounded by tumuIt of
masses of infantry hurry
QG GuIOuZn JIG SSAOCg5g dAb4l4GIX EhL-
oping to the front, cavalry rushing
lither and thither, arms cleaning,
abres cIashing, cannon laundering
md groups of terror-stricken citizens
,azing with mingled fright and amaze
nent at the hurry skurry of battle.
We have not time to observe these
hings-the enemy are approaching the
own and the regiments push forward
o their positions in the fields beyond.
OiIger's Ohio Battery has opened from
wheat field by the roadside in reply
% those saucy guns of Hills, and the
goes to its support. The
'ebel shells come ricochetting over the
ieId, and before we are in position one
las struck Corporal Mahon on the left
# Company E, and our regiment has
-iven its first brave life for the victory
# Gettysburg. We take our places
md another man is struck, while
,round US rebel shells scream for fur
her vengeance, or bursting, plunge
heir kissing fragments down deep in
10 the muddy soil of the wheat field
The command is given to "caIl the
oils" Z" and amid the thunder and din
IF the opening battle each man of the
Zig hty-second gives his calm unfalter-
ng answer, . here ~ (Alas. how many
who thus answered then, but replied
lot to the call of their names just now,
ire there to-day.l Yes, here they ali
ire Win brave young A1l6 TO De given
RELY for the dear flag, and the offer
ng will be claimed full soon.
From the nights in front the enemy's
runs keep be1ching their horrid fire
ind his heavy masses of infantry, the
lower of Lees army, are pouring in
rom the northern highways and ap-
,arent1y taking their positions. But
oon the grey swarm is detected creep
ng around to our right, and the sus-
)icion flashes upon the mind that it is
he enemy's intention to turn that
iank and force US back toward if not
beyond the town. This is confirmed
n moment, for we have the order to
.hange front from north to east, and
hen advance toward what was just
low our right. The Eighty-secOnd is
instantly in motion, and its companies
)eing doubled on the centre form solid
quare of moving men. The enemy
las observed the movement and from
light. left and front his ready batteries
lOur in their terrific fire. Fences OBJ
trueting the progress of the column
ire jerked down in a twinkHng, and
he fiat open fields offer not the slight
st shelter from the flying shells. Here
s one division, a mere handful, going
,ut to meet half way an advancing
.ebel corps, and fight it a pitched bat
le on. an oFen plain. Is this not a mis-