Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-08-10
A Federal Charge at AntIstsm.

George Alfred Townsend says In a -.
ter to the New York Graphic: On the
battlefield of Antietam, September.
1862, John Gordon, OF Georgia, at tho
bunker Church, saw sight memorable
to him early that forenoon: A regi-
ment OF Union infantry marched in six
columns, one after the other, at quick
step, directly upon his grim, expert
enced lines. The strangers were new
troops unscathed by any battle, novices
OF the suilerings of war. perhaps never
in their lives under fire, and their cloth
ing and aecouterments were new, as
il worn in militia parades only.
White, shining CATERS were over their
shoes, Zouave jauntiness was in their
suits as cut. their bayonets were bright
rs household silver, and they advanced
without firing gun in all the intrepidity
offschoolboys bred on moral histories,
conscious only of their good cause and
the animation Of the charge. Coming
forward they kept step. their colorss
were new from ladies hands, tho band
played gloriously, every officer was in
his place; 1t was like ideal war on
European open plains, not the war OF
ragged country and rough volunteer
multitudes discovering tactics for them
selves
"Save your fire, men, till they are
close on you" said Gordon; fresh as
they are, If they could break through
US on charge as cool as that We should
rue it."
The gallant line came on, beautiful as
women, intrepid as children. feeling the
music and the holiday. All! it was too
be for most Of them the holiday OF
eternity. As the first column was
right up on the sullen Southern line the
command OF Gordon came to fire into
them, taking aim. A terrible earth
quake OF rifles poured forth, renewed
and renewed. as II a devil mad arisen
and stamped and blew his breath. The
field and wood were thick with those
young boys, piled up like cordwood
spilled, and another Of the doomed
columns was coming undauntedly on.
coiors, music and glistening belts and
anklets as before, rs il the perished col
umn had second life and was renewed
in the trampled cern and high, clean
oak groves. What unaffected, un.
conscious braveryw thought Gordon,
as he gave the command 10 hold fire
until It would be deadly. Again the
demon burst through the limestone
mold and stamped and danced, and the
grand pageant went out in smoke, hail
stones and sighs.
did you ever see such coolnessv
exclaimed Gordon, all black with
powder and sweat, as the third and
fourth columns OF the same doemed
regiment came on again, paradlng
above their dead and every officer in his
place waving his sword for the charge.
Again the woods exploded. the air was
ripped with lead. the pageant sank into
the grave.
The remaining column and its gath
erings wavered now. War had made
its paralyzing impression upon these
green natures like forest fire on bios
SONS. But there was one man left, an
officer, who was seasoned through
with courage. Gordon saw him speak
strong words of courage to his shrink
ing command, higher in tone than the
howl Of the fallen; he waved his sword
in their faces, pointed 1t 10 the enemy
and cried: "Advancew They would
not step; The ground before them "as
TOO dreadful with dead. He took the
color in his bands and waved 1t and
ran forward with it. They hesitated.
Then wringing his hands alb, We his
head and throwing down his hat, he
adjured them by duty, manhood and
country to come on. They dared not
90. Massacre had produced its i'm
preston.
Then" says Gordon. who told (.
seventeen years after, when he was
United States Senator, THAT man
whom had watched all this while,
with my men ready and hot with bat
tie, walked deliberately in front Of his
command. wholly unsupp orted, right
on toward our line, more than half way
between the two. and folding his arms
looked into our muskets, rs il TO say:
came here to diep For myself ! re-
member no more, but my men have
said to. me many time that the last
words uttered, when was struck in
the face and fell with five wounds. were:
Don't shoot that mani never heard
Of his fate and have never known what
was the regiment"
laskcd Senator Gordon If there was
any difference between the courage OF
Northern and Southern soldiers. "Very
little" he said. - have seen the
Northern men stand charges before
Which any troops in the world would
have hinched."