Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-05-19

the division that never lost gun or color
sweeps forward, and being Joined by many Of
the gallant men of French's command makes
the most heroic effort of the day. Passing
the furthest point reached by the preced'
ing troops he impetuously rushes on, passes
the brick house so conspicuous on the field
on, on until his flags waved within twenty.
FIVE PAGES of the fatal stone wall. Then with
a murderous fire everywhere around us we
realized the full absurdity of the attempt to
accomplish an utter impossibility. We had
not yet fred u shot. We had only reached
the spot where our work was to begin. For
ty per cent. of the force had already fallen.
No support within three-quarters of mile.
In our front, line after line of works followed
each other up the terraced heights to the very
crest, which was covered with artillery. To
carry the assault further would be extreme
madness Should we take and occupy the
first line, it would simply be to meet the fire
of the second and third. To fight the host
in front was not possible. We were here on
ly to be shot down without being able to re-
turn the blow. So the division, or rather the
half of it that still existed, began falling
back but Hancock would not be driven
from the field, and halting where the forma.
ton of the ground afforded some shelter to
his hard.tried command, he remained until
relieved at nightfall. And now the long,
long dreadful afternoon that awaited the
thousands wounded, who lay scattered over
the sad and ghastly plain.
The only place Of cover was the brick house
near the stone wall To this hundreds Of the
wounded dragged themselves, and great
mass of sufferers huddled together and strug'
gled to get nearer the house, that they might
escape the FIRE. All around the great heaps
Of dead bore testimony to the 6erceness of the
combat. Near by color sergeant lay stark
and cold with the flag Of his regiment cover.
ing him. Just in front of the stone wall lay
line of men Of the Irish Brigade, with the
green lockwood in their caps 1t was not
yet o'clock when the assaultng column re.
tired and we had nearly FIVE hours to wait
for darkness. We heard the clock in the
Episcopal Church in the city strike the hours
that seemed so long. The sharpshooters Of
the enemy soon got u position from which they
could enilade the house, and when any one
moved among the mass of bleeding men it was
the signal for the rifle balls to whistle around.
Few of us expected to live until night, and
but few did: Keeping very quiet, hugging
the ground closely, we talked together in low
tones. The bullets kept whistling and drop
ping, and every few moments some one
would cease talking never to speak again.
How quietly they passed away from the
crimson field to eternity, their last gaze on
their waving flag, the last sound to reach
their ears the volleys of musketry and their
comrades cheers.
THE BLOOD OF ALL NATIONS.
What cosmopolitan crowd these dead and
wounded were-Americans from the Atlantic
coast and the Pacific States, from the prai-
ries, from the great valleys Of the Mississippi
and the Ohio Irishmen from the banks of
the Shannon and Germans from the Rhine
and the blue Danube; Frenchmen from the
Seine and Italians from the classic Tiber,
mingled their blood and went down in death
together that our cause and the Union might
live. Every little while we could see other
columns emerge from the city, deploy upon
the plain, march forward, but never get so
far as the brick house. The appearance of
these troops would draw the fire of the bat
teries on the hills above US and hundreds of
deadly projectiles would go screaming over
US and we could see them bursting in the
midst of our friends. Evening came at last; /;
the sun went down behind the terrible heights
and we anxiously watched the shadows length
en- and steal across the field of blood, creeping
slowly over the plain through the houses Of
the city in the shade, then up the church
tower until the only object that reflects the
rays was the cross Of FURNISHED gold, which
sparkled moment against the purple sky
and then twilight was upon US and deepened
until it was difficult to discern objects. We
thought the battle ended, when through the
darkness loomed up the division of Hook
er. Nobly they came to the work, with empty
muskets and orders to carry the position with
the bayonet. The dark mass passed the
brick house and almost to the point that
Hancock had reached. They had come
up through the cleaning unseen, and surged
against the base of Mayre's Heights.
Again the hills flashed fire, shook, rocked,
roared and belched forth more tons Of iron
on the red plain, more minutes of useless
carnage. The sombre wave rolled back, the
last and most absurd attempt of the disastrous
day had come to naught, and seventeen hun
dred more had been added to the ponderous
list of casualties. Clouds overshadowed the
skies, and, guided by the lurid fres still
smouldering through the ebony darkness, the
immense crowd of wounded began crawling,
struggling, dragging themselves towards the
city, those who were slightly hurt assisting
others who were more seriously injured !;
those with shattered limbs using muskets for
crutches, many tainting and falling by the
way. And, when in the town, how hard to
fud spot to rest or a surgeon to bind up the
wound. More wounded than the city had
inhabitants, every public hall and house filled
to overflow, the porches of the residences
covered with bleeding men, the surgeons
are busy everywhere. In the lecture room
of the Episcopal Church eight operating
tables are in full blast, the floor is densely
packed with men whose limbs are crushed,
fractured and torn. Lying there, in pools of
blood, they wait 80 very patiently, almost
cheerfully their turn to be treated; there is
no grumbling no screaming, hardly moan; /;
many of the badly hurt smile and chat, and
one who has both legs shot off is cracking
Jokes with an officer who cannot laugh at
the humorous sallies because his lower jaw is
shot away.
A sICKENING SCENE.
The cases here are nearly all capital, and
amputation is nearly always resorted to.
Hands and feet, arms and legs are thrown
under each table, and sickening piles grow
large as the night progresses. The delicate
limbs of the drummer boy fall along with
the rough hand of the veteran in years; but
all, every one is so brave, and cheerful. To-
wards morning the conversation flags many