The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-08-23

ntlnu- All were informed IllaG Gene
terry Heights, naturally very strong
position, and heavily defended by the
enemy's infantry and artillery, was
situated directly in our front and only
some half mile from the crest of the
hill behind which we then were; that
it had been stormed and taken the day
before by Confederate troops, but
could not be held, and that General
Lee regarded it as the key to the enc
my's position, which if taken, ended
the war.
OPENING FIRE on TIE HILL.
fl remember correctly, Pickett's
Division and the artillery were all in
position by II A. NJ. The battle, how
ever, did not begin for some hours
later The day was clear and bright
There was not Il cloud in the sky, and
the sun, from whose rays there was no
shelter, shone intensely hot. There
was no water near us, and not know
ing how soon the battle might begin,
no details could be sent for any. The
canteens which had been filled at the
last water we passed, were soon emp
tied, and there was great suffering
from thirst But there was no help
for it. 1t had to be endured. While
waiting for the expected signal, we saw
Generals Lee, Longstreet and Pickett
riding up and down the line, occasion
ally approaching the crest Of the hill
to take Il look at the cnemy's position.
1t was then whispered among Us that
Longstreet disapproved Of the proposed
charge, and had earnestly protested
against it. His protest was heard, but
overruled by the council Of war.
At p. NJ. a single shot was fired
from a Confederate gun, and in two
minutes aftcrward another 1t was
the preconccrted signal, and on hear
ing the first gun every man threw HIM
self flat on the ground in obedience to
orders. The cchos of the sound of the
second gun had not died away when
all the Confederate artillery at that
part Of the field opened fire upon Gem
etery Heights with salvo the like of
which had never been heard in Amer
lea till then. The Federal batteries
must have been surprised, or else great
" damaged by it, for it was several
minutes before they replied to it.
Yet when they did reply their fire was
very effective and deadly, and seemed
to be fully equal to that Of the Confed-
crates. | am not going to attempt to
describe that duel, so to speak, be-
tween the Federal and Confederate ar
tillery, each composed on this occasion,
so it was said, Of more than Il hundred
guns. To do so would be to fail |
confess that my pen is unequal to it,
and | do not believe that any pen
could convey an adequate conception
of it. The smoke from the Contcder-
ate batteries, although they were but
/ Il little ways from me, soon Obscured
/ them from my sight. This smoke was
/ lit up by red, angry flashes Of flame as
/ the successive discharges left the muz-
zles of the guns The firing was so
rapid and continuous that the report OF
single Gun could not be distinguished.
/ Over the space intervening between
/ the infantry and artillery frequently
passed some mounted officer and his
staff-notably once General Lee and
several times General Longstreet and
Pickett. The Federal batteries were
returning the Confederate fire with
great vigor, and when General Lee
passed over the ground it was being
swept with a deadly hail of every mis-
sile known to the nomenclature of ar
/ tillerists. His appearance at a place
/ of such eminent danger both thrilled
and Mortified the line, and the men
/ shouted to him to go away to shelter
/ Always regardless Of himself when
duty called, but mindful of the lives OF
others, he had one attendant with him.
F When the men yelled to him to 90
away. he took off his hat in acknowl
edgment Of their aficctionatc solicitude,
and then rode on without quickening
/ the pace Of his noble gray.
\ FLAG THAT NEVER TOUCHED TIE
/ GROUND.
Major James +. Dearing, chief OF
artillery Of Pickett's Division, had
/ boosted that the flag Of the battalion
should not OH that day touch the
ground. Accompanied by his flag
/ bearer, he galloped incessantly from
one end OF the line to the other, cheer
ing the cannoneers by his presence,
and giving them directions where to
direct their fire. While galloping