Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-07-11

uer the heau OF "RliIeu IN actloo.
When they fought it was to the death.
After Fredericksburg more recruits
were sent down TO us. We received
them kindly, but we kept on counting
eighteen. Just as il Cumpny G would be
wiped out when the last old veteran
went. And they said that my company
was iated Other companies had been
dccimated, and other companies could
show long lists OF captured and
wounded" but no other company in
the brigade had suffered like G.
Then came Getty sburg. The eighteen
old veterans were there, aud the compa-
ny numbered sixty-eight with the new
men. O.her divisions were held in
reserve, or escaped the hottest OF the
fight, but ours was 10 beat back the
iercest charge ot the bloody war-the
charge against Round TOP, Somehow
Company was at the front again, and
as the fierce yells OF the coming Confed-
crates were heard above the mighty roar
of the cannon, looked down the line.
Some OF The new men were looking this
way and that. as il seeking cover, but
the old veterans peered coolly through
the smoke, and waited with leveled
muskets TO catch the first glimpse OF
gray uniform. On across the fields came
the cheering host, up the steep hillside,
and then u sheet of flame leaped out and
withered them. The gray line was ab
sorbed in that dame OF death just as
water dissolves salt.
But q second line sprang at us, and
third and fourth, and then they were at
the guns which we were supporting
Some one gave an order. No one e1-
actly understood it, but all rushed Tor the
guns. ShrleSs, groans. shots, shouts,
and then the line OF gray pushed back
the line of blue. They were all around
us--lront. right, leit-snd men neither
asked nor gave quarter. Back. back.
went the line Of blue. and Round Top.
the key Of Gettysburg. was won Tor the
Coniederates.
But only for moment. A double line
of blue pushed lis way up through the
smoke. hurled itself forward. aud Round
Top was won again. And how won
Men slipped andlel on the bloody grass,
heaps Of dead were piled up like logs.
and the shrieks and groans OF The wound
ed were awful 10 hear.
And when Lee faced southwark. fight
ing as he marched, called the roll again.
None wounded, none missing, but upon
the crest of Round Top we left ten old
veterans and fourteen new men. Ten
out Of eighteen, twenty -four out OF sixty
eight The blood-ihirSty iiend who
wieds the sword of war should have
been satisfied with that. Sixteen more
widows back in the little country village,
more orphans. more sobs and tears. Not
one Of The living could show wound,
but each one OF US would have reioiced
at the loss of al arm-at some grievous
wound which would have made the sur
geons shake their heads and look serious.
Only eight lett. Only eight men of
one hundred and three who marched out
OF the hamlet that May morning! The
new men had fought well, and we re
specled them, but We went on counting
eight. Three held commssions-the
other five were serseants-not enough TO
officer the company
In the dusk OF evening Stonewall Jack
son came down through the forests and
thickeis beyond the Rappahaunock, and
struck the Federal camps and opened the
battle OF the Wilderness. The eight old
veterans OF Company G were there, and
the new men made up band oi forty
strong. As we heard The crash of mus
kerry over on the left, our poor skeleton
brigade, numbering twenty three hundred
instead OF four thousand, fell into line
and pushed on through the stunted pines
after line of skirmishers. Company g
was on the skirmish line, and we found
the enemy firSt-a heavy line OF gray
coming through the wilderness at half
run. Down he knelt among the vines
aud bushes, and our fire checked them.
They fired few wild shots, retreated
little. and then we leaped up and drove
,hem-a band of forty drove q double
line of skirmishers. support, d by line
OF battle! History has not told it 10 the
world, but blood was left on the vines
aud corpses on The ground TO prove it,
They were feeling over strange ground
after foe whose strength was not known,
aud that was the reason oil our success.
We pushed them back TO the line OF bat
tie, attacked that. and then we were toss
ed back, torn and bleeding, almost blolted
out Of existence as company.
Of the eight old veterans six were ly-
ing dead under The trees; OF the new meh
twenty-five answered rol!-call after the
Wilderness Was that war or slaughter?
A captain aud second lieutenant only
were left to represent The one hundred
and three!
The end was not yet; but the end was
coming. There were 10 new recruits for
my company. but we were marching
toward Richmond numbering twenty
seven. Has the country forgotten The
a ID A toll