The National tribune., 1881-12-31

himself to fill in these swift Stretches of how t3
day was won--and lost!
Aye lost!' For The balls which, have so fa
come mainly from eur front, begin now to sins
in from our left and|right, whiermeans t hat w
are being flanked. Somehow, sNay off to ou
right a half-mile or 20, our lins'lI give n wa
and is already on retreat throughshe town while
our left IS being driven, and we.ongselye may
shortly besurroundelss and crusAetl-and 80 thu
retreat is sounded!
Back new along tie railroad out we so, OF
through 5lIe orchard. and the Iarew str ip O.
woods behind it, with, dead scattered ar ound
all sides, and the wounded crying pites ,usly
for help.
Harry! Harry" u is a faint orF of dying
man yondecin the grass; and nass.bes who it is
Why, Willie! Tell me where yeu are hurt?"
l ask, kneeiiDg down Beside him and I see the
words come .,ard for he-is fast dying
Here iIn my side, Harry Tell Mother
Mother
Poor fellow, he can say no moTe His head
falls back and Willie Black is at -esS forever.
On, now, through that strip of woods, at the
other edge Of which, with my back against
stout oak, stop and lock at q beautiful and
thrilling Sight. Some reserves are 1Jeing brought
up; infantry in the centre the coIers flying and
officers shouting; cavalry the right with sabers
flashing and horses on trot arti ia1y en the left
with guns at full gallop, sweeping into position
to check the headong pursuit. :sa grand sight
and fine zally, but a vain one; fsr Ia an hour
swept off the field and aEo-il fnll retreaty
through the, town.
Up through the streets, ,hurries~ Iie remnant ca
shattered corps, while the enemy is pourin e,
into the town only q few squares away from US.
There is a tempest of shrielling shells and whist,
ling balls about our ears. The guns of that ba3-
terry by tie woods ws have dragged along, all tha.
horses being dsablsd The sTtiJleEymen losd
as we GO, double charging wi6ls, grape and cazsr
ister
Mako way there, men," s. the cry, and ..iss
surging mass crowds close up On, the sidewalks 20
right and left, leaving long Lane, down the csa-
ter of the street, through which the grape and,
canister go rattlirg into the ranks Of the enenys,
advanoe-guard.
And, So amid scenes which, q have neither Jsace
nor power to describe we gain Cemetery Ridge.
toward sunset, and throw ourselves down byyths
roads in tumult of excitement and grief, having
lost the day through the oHefWneIInng f3Gce CT
numbers and yet somehow having gainec1 it, too
although as yet we know it not), for the sacrifice
of our corps has saved the position for therest of
the army, which has been marching all day, and
xhich camss pouring in over Cemetery Ridge 81
night long.
Aye, the position is sayed-but WHARF is, GER
corps? Well may our Divsion-general, Nho
early in the day succeeded to the command when
our brave Reynolds had fallen shed tears of grief
as hesis there his horse and looks the shat
tered remains of that First Army Corps, fog there
is but handful Of it left. Of the. 1--WE hundred
and fifty men that marched under cur regaMental
colors ON that morning, but one hundred remain.
All our field and staff officers are gone. Of some
twenty captains and lieutenants, but one is left
without scratch, while Of nay own company
only thirteen out of fifty-four sleep that night on
Cemetery Ridge, under the open canopy of heaven.