Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-25

BREAK THE UNION LINK-THE DETERMINED
ADVANCE AMID TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER.
4 From Capt II. T. Ovens Account in the Phila-
deiphia Times.
On the night OF the 30th OF June, 1861, Pick
ett's division bvouacked In the woods about
two miles south Of Chambersburg. The men
were foot sore and weary, and went Into camp
from an almost continuous march Of mora than
thousand miles
The bright uniforms and braided caps OF
earlier Gays we're now gone, AID had given
place 10 the siouched hat, the faded threadbare
jacket, ana patched Dantaloons. The veterans
races were tanned by SuIhrnerS' heat and win
Iers storms, an q covered with unkempt beard
Boys VINO ENLISTED In their teens appeared with
long tangled locks, changed and weather
5aten low, apparently, into men OF middle
nIe. Their tents had been destroyed early IN
the war and their baggage had been reduced
rom time to time, until the men often marched
now for weeks together without change Of
raimenC The missiles OF war had plougned
their ranks, and fallen comrades. LEFT thickly
streTn on many fields pointed as landmarks
the track of the division and the course Of Dat
tie. Heavy lesseS in many battles and still
greater losses by disease, besides various recent
details, Ia addition 10 the two largest Orlgades
being left behind In Virginia. had reduced the
division low 10 about One-third Of its former
strength. But though its numbers were Iessened
It's prestige Vas sun unbroken: each bloody
conflict tnat Trimmed its ranks had spread
wider fame and forced confidence In the terror
OF their name. Upon the long rapid msrch Tn,
weak. the feeble and the sick had fallen by the
way and been left behind, and those now an
SBerlng 10 ron call were the strong on the
march and the stout In battle, VINO paused at
10 obstacle, quatIe1 at no danger and 10 whom
scenes OF carnage had grown familiar.
Wednesday morning, July /, was hot and
s0ltry. Through camp scattered over wooded
DILL and dale, the Jest, the laugh, and SaatcneS
OF southern song kept up a busy hum. TAe
morning wore slowly on TO noon, when stray
gierS returning into camp reported that out
upon the hills beyond the noise OF camp there
could be heard heavy distant cannon firing. The
can had opened, the play had begun. and
atrS S-eye view would then have disclosed every
100 u southern sle central Pennsylvania
~ "'ouds OF dusk end long dark col
nliea Win VARY ai4i artillery rushing
along TO unite In the blOooy -
In aud around the village or Gettysburs.
About O'Clock Gen. Pickett received mes
cage from Gen. ImOOden asserting that col
unn OF the enemy was moving In the direction
OF Chambersburg, and Pickett moved his divl-
sion ou5 upon the road i, above Greencastle and
1ned attack upon the rear OF Lees army
During the evening storm Of Wind and rain
and loud peals OF thunder passed over the bat
talionS ana the men were drenched In the
shower, but the tempest was over In an hour,
and the sun went down bright and clear. Tue
night came and rolled along over the long
hours until dawn to find the division still
drawn up To line OF battle watching under
arms for the approach OF the enemy.
At daylight on Thursday morning, the I'd Of
W,
men were put In motion on the road to Gettys-
burg. The sun rose bright and clear, rain drops
sparkled on every twIg and blade OF grass, a
Cool. refreshing breeze, laden with sweet per
fumes Of summer flowers, lifted the tangled
lock upon the heated BROW and famed the care
worn cheek, until along the long lines OF rough
and rugged veterans trampIng rapidly forward,
could be heard here and there some humorous
Jest or Joyous laugh, but before noon the day
was hot and sultry.
AT o'clock the division reached the crest Of
N 10Th
OF the distant BATTLEFIELD beyond, having come
since daylight tTenty-Seve miles. Here the
division was halted, and ruLnor circulated
along the lines that Gen. Longstreet, appraised
OF Pickett's approach. sent him this message:
Bring your division around on the right at
oLce. aooa IS ABOUT 20 attack and wan: you
Piled: my men are exhausted, and must have
rest before going any further" Gen. Lee re-
piled to Major Walter Harrison. who reported
10 him the approach Of Pickett's division: "reli
Gen. Pickett shall not want him this evening
tell him to let his men rest and will send MIN
word when want them" And soon afterward,
meeting Gen Pickett Gen Lee said: 81 am glad
you have come; shall have work for you to-
m0rrow."
Gen. Hood relates a conversation that oc-
CURED early In the morning, in which he said
10 Gen. LODgStreet, Gen. Lee seems little
nervous this morning." To which Longstreet
replied, lie wishes me to attack. do not wish
battle With one boot off,"
When tie division came In sight of the battle
ted, at O'Clock, II was halted by Pickett, aud
he, accompanied by his aid, Capt. S. r. Baird
rode forward and reported In person the arrival
Of bis division 10 LODgstreet, who. upon learn
Ing the Jaded condition OF the men, ordered
them into camp where they mad been halrei.
Many Of the officers and men of the division
came out upon the hill 10 view the distant bat.
tlefeld and 70 listen TO the uproar of that fierce
onset OF Hood and McLaSs, which began at
precisely 81 O'Clock and lasted until about X
Hood ana McLaws fell back at dark Leaving
upon the Held 1929 men, being a loss OF MORE
than oIe-th1rd OF their numbers carried into
action. Gen. Lee says: 1T being now about
dark. Gen. LoDgstreet retired and determined
10 await he arrival OF Pickett. Pickett's
division was silent, within sight and hearing OF
this sanguinary conflict, AMI, perhaps, the oo-
portunity to change the course of history was
lost. For had P1eketts division, upon It's arrival
on the field at O'Clock, been led straight into
battle, or had 1t supported the assault OF Hood
and McLaws at any time after an hours rest, it
was possible the battle Of Gettysburg would
have ended there without third days bloody
sequel
On Friday morning, July 8, Pickett's division
left his bivouac 81 dawn OF day. and moving
signed 1t In the ravine behind Cemetery Ridge
soon after O'Clock Long dark lines OF in
faDtTy were masSed along the bottoms, con-
given "to lie down aud keep still to avoid at
tracing the attention OF the enemy About
socloek Gems Lee, Longstreet and Pickett, IN
front OF the long lines OF PROSTATE infantry,
Viewing them closely and critically az they
rode along. They were not greeted with the
usual cheers, as orders had preceded them for
bidding this, but the men voluntarily rose uD
and stood In line with uncovered heads and
hats held aioft while their chieftains rode by.
This review over, strong detachmentS were
thrown forward 10 support the artillery sta.
toned along the crest OF Oak Ridge and Gene
tery Ridge, composed OF about 100 cannon,
anu stretching along the brow OF these
ridges for nile. The supporting de-
iacbments were placed about q hundred yards
In the rear or this line OF batteries and lay
down In the tail grass with cloudless sky
and bright july sun pouring It's scorchlng
rays almost vertically upon them for five long
weary hours, while they listened and watched
In painful suspense for some sound or some
movement to break that profound stiffness
which rested over the vast battlefield aud de-
pressed the spirits like dreadful nightmare
At O'Clock this awful stiffness was suddenly
broken, and the men startled By the discharge
OF couple OF signal guns fired In quick Success
sion, followed by silence Of half minute
and then, while their echo was yet rollinv
along the distant def1les and mountain gOrges
an uproar began as wonderful as had been the
previous silence. Lees 120 guns opened at
once with crash and thunder sound that
shook the hills for miles around from crest To
base, and were Instantly replied to By about
eighty guns ranged by Gen. Meade along the
front Of Cemetery Ridge, about one mile In
fIOnt.
No sound OF roaring waters. nor wind. nor
thunder. nor OF these combined, ever eQualIed
The tremendous uProar, and no command no