Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-07-23


1 When the pyramids Of Egypt shall hav
sunk to the level Of the Nile; when the las
remnant of Grecian architecture, the last in
seiibed block Of marble, shall have perished
men VII still read Of Moses and the Pass o
ihermopyle Monuments, after all. ar,
I but for the present, and may only instruct .
I few generations But glorious deed is ;
joy forever
Six years ago, day after to morrow, the
Union army was stretched along these hight.
from Cups Hill to Round Top-a human
breAkwater, against which the great tida
wave Of Rebellion was that day to dash in
VAIN, and be thrown back 10 bloody spray and
broken billows. The Rebel ehieftain, flushed
lby his success at Fredericksburg and
Ihancellorsvile, forgetting that bis tri,
iuHiphs had arisen from the fact that he had
bought upon his own soil, behind natural
businesses, having the advantage Of choice
lof position and knowledge Of the country.
bad lnsolently crossed the Potomac, and in.
vaded the loyal State ofPennsylvania. But
IRON this invasion be was to be hurled back
IN bloody defeat, and in disordered flight to
Fecross the Potomac, never again to set foot
upon the coil Of loyal State. On wonder
high ground across the plain was drawn out
IL, battle array the Rebel host. 1t was an
open field; the terms were nearly equal, and
steady Northern yalor, animated by the love
Of country, was to meet the boasted Chivalry
of the South fighting for Slavery, sweep it
from the field strip it Of its meretricious
plumes, and give the Confederaey fatal
wound.
1t Is the solid qualities Of men and nations
that win 10 the long run. The ehivalry Of
false pride, the arrogance and vanity of a
favored class, whose elevation is only seen
by the depression of others, may BY spas
modie efforts, for time dazzle the ewes Of
the world, but cannot long maintain sue
cesslul contest with truth, justice, and the
strength Of free institutions. This was illus
trated in the war Of the rebellion, and in the
battle Of Gettysburg. This battle was not
won by superior strategy or military genius,
although managed with great courage and
skill by Gen Meade and his subordinate
commanders, who left nothing undone that
the occasion seemed to require, and who
made the best use Of the forces and op-
portunities at their command.
1t was a three days battle, with varying for
tunes the first and second days, in which the
steadiue,s Of Northern valor, animated By
the convictions of a just cause, and the lore
and pride of great free country, finally
wore out, bore down, and swept from the
field the Rebel masses, composed Of men Of
equal physical courage, but whose moral
power was impaired by the absence Of that
strong conviction of the right, which is a
vast element Of success.
In yOnder cemetery among the white
tombstones, where heayes the turf in many
a moldering heap over the buried genera
tons Of the hamlet, was planted the or
tillery, whose fearful peals would have
aroused the slumbeling dead, we're it not
ordained that they should awake only at the
sound of the last trump. just behind the
crest Of the bill, in the old cemetery, stood
the teut Of our glorious commander, the in
perturbable Meade, calmly debating bis
orders, while the storm Of shot and she'll
few over and around him. From yonder
st5splc, south west of the village, the Rebel
chieftain surveyed the field, directed his host,
and from time to time saw his advancing
columns reel and wither, and finally retreat
10 bOpeles fight and confusion. The flow
er Of the Rebel army had been chosen for
the assault, and were massed to bring over
vhelming numbers to bear on the point Of
attack, The Rebel chieftain brought to-
gether more dian $50 pieces of artillery,
with which, for three hours be poured a
terrific fire upon that part of the Union
I lines he intended to assault
/ twas a grand and solemn sight, when
line after line, with steady step and in per-
! feet order. emerged from the smoke and
swept across the field toward the Union
array It was a moment of vast peril and
import, Of which both parties we're power
I fully conscious. IF the Rebel assault was
successful, and we lost the battle, Washing
ton and Philadelphia were within their
grasp. The North invaded, defeated, and
demoralized, would do We know not what.
/ Foreign nations would be encouraged to in-
/ tervene and the South elated, would put
forth more desperate efforts than before.
If the assault failed, and we gained the
battle, the remnant of the Rebel hosts must
seek safery in fight, and blow would be
inflicted upon the Confederacy, from which
I it could scarcely recover. These thoughts
we're present in the minds of all; and gave
heroic courage to assault, and to resist. But
now the fire of our artillery was opened upon
the advancing columns, and the shot and
shell tore through their ranks, making great
gaps. which we're quickly filed up BY those
who came behind. But onward they came,
with desperate courage, until soon the fierce
fire Of musketry on both sides, mingled with
the horrid roar Of artillery Then, with
terrific yells they rushed npon our lines; but
the impetus Of their assault wes suddenly
checked They were met by courage as
desperate as their own, and fierce band-to-
hand conflict took place. The result was moi
long doubtful Their thinned and broker
columns we're flung back across the plain il
hsadloag fight, % leaving thousands o.
/ prisoners 10 our hands. the ground covered
with dead and dying, and wet and muddy
with blood We had gained the day, though
at fearful cost. The victory was great anC
/ mighty in its consequence. The prestige O
the Rebels army was broken, never to be re
covered, and the wound inflicted upon tht
/ Confederacy was never stanched, until j
had bed to death.
But I shall not attempt to give a genera
description Of the battle, or TO enuBerat,