Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-05-18
Selected MisWllauy.
GETTYSBURG.

We make the following extract from
the Address Of S. Thomas Mccullough,
Esq. descriptive Of the heroic charge of
the Second Maryland Confederate Regi-
ment at Gettysburg on Bird of July, 1868.
Marching through the beautiful and
picturesque valley of the Shenandoah
across the sacred soil of our own Mary
land, over the fertile fields and verdant
plains of the land of Penn, Ewell's
Corps, about eleven o'clock, in the night
of the first Of July, 1868, formed in line
of battle, and lay upon its arms in front
of Culp's Hill. Through the long and
tedious hours and seething beat of the
land, protected in measure from the
enemy's fire, by the friendly woods that
skirted the banks of Rock Creek, the
second Maryland rested on their arms,
through the terrific oannonade Of that
day, until late in the afternoon, when
the order came to charge. What mo-
ments these were What terrible sus-
pense The solemn countenance, the
kindly farewell Of brother and friend,
and the whispered messages of love, to
be delivered by the survivors to those
at homo, too cloqucntly told of bloody
work before them. The clear, command
ing voice Of the knign;ly Herbert rings
out upon the air, forward" and the
brave Maryland boys began their march
to defeat and death. Moving with the
precision and measured tread of disci-
plined soldiery, the battalion marched
down tho decline, and out into the open
field, and the charge was fairly begun.
Reaching the banks of Rock Creek,
they, for the first time, received the ter
rife fire of tho enemy. massed in force
on the opposite side. With a cheer that
only Confederstes could give, the line
plunged into the swollen current, crossed
and drove the enemy, broken and dis
comfted, upon his breastworks. Con-
tinuing the charge, with all the assur-
ancc Of success, they were, nevertheless
compelled to pause, 80 terrific and deadly
was the fire Of the reserve force, within
point blank range Of the enemy's posi-
ton. Herbert, Goldsborough and Thomas
had already fallen, while CALAMITY lead
ing their men in the charge. Brown
and Duvall, and host Of others Of the
rank and file, had bitten the dust, and
were lying all around us; Webb and
Owens and others had been carried from
tho field, wounded unto death; but
never, for moment, did those gallant
spirits wavcr. Charged by regiment
Of their own troops in the rear, whilst
they we're thus engaging the enemy in
front. they moved not. but fought on
that hill Of death, till the God Of mercy
and pity hung the curtain of bis night
around them, and shielded with the
mantle Of darkness, the men who were
too brave to seek shelter for themselves.
Reforming their line and renewing the
charge, they dashed tho abattis away.
and the works were theirs. But, fearful
as this was, the worst was yet to come,
and sacrifices were yet to be made -
Holding the works they bad SO dearly ]
purchased, during the night. the morn
OF the third found them engaged ia pre-
parations for another movement, which,
even at this distance Of thirteen long
years, / tremble to think Of Moving by
the left flank, our Brigade, commanded
that model soldier, Gen. Stewart. formed
at right angles to the works they had
carried, and prepared for another and
final assault Of the onemy's position. -
Immediately 10 their font Oh the noun
tain side, the oyerwhelmirg numbers Of
the foe, about fifteen ihouo4nd strong,