Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-06-16
How Gettysburg Was saved.

lNviANHRohuShSo Ivy AhhtHsJ
A student Of the free college Of the city of
New York called on me the other day, men
tioning Gen. Alexander S. Webb as now pres
ident of that institution. Gen. Webb! A
train Of the most stirring memories of my
life started at the name, for it is indelibly as
sociated with a sight such as a man is privi-
legged to look upon but once in lifetime and
few men see even once.
1t was at Gettysburg. was an artillerist,
and so it happened that when that heroic
charge was made by Longstreets division, and
those splendid lines of gallant Southerners
came sweeping grandly across the field up in
to the very teeth of our guns the time came
when we must cease firing, for our own men
were SO closely engaged with the Confederates
that they would receive as much damage from
our fire as the enemy would. During this in
terval had what a soldier in battle rarely
hRs-leisure TO watch. On little knoll Just
to our right stood Webb's brigade of the old
Second Corps. In their front the brave Kem-
per was hurling down his brigade of Virgin
ians upon them. Forward and backward went
that thin and constantly thinning line of brave
boys, the officers rushing up and down tho
impoverished ranks, waving their swords and
cheering on the men. Toward the left of the
line stood two color sergeants bearing the only
colors visible, aud these they waved slowly to
and fro in that leaden storm in the face of the
opposing host. The battle cloud hung thick
above and in front of these brave men; the
deafening roar of battle, the lurid line of fire
dimmed by the thickening smoke, the hoarse
sho1ts OF the brave men on either side who
struggled msdly for victory, the roar of shell
and whistle of bullet swerved not those heroic
men from their perilous duty-the fate of
nation hung upon their bayonet5, and they
knew it, and every man became hero.
stood looking upon that scene perfectly
transfyed, the blood tingling through every
vein, sweeping in great hot, successive waves
through my frame, and thrilling through
every nerve such as you and hHve felt when
reading some grand, heroic deed of ages
past and gone. Suddenly an officer breaks
from the line, hatless, coatless, pale, leaning
heavily on his sword and limping rapidly to
where 1 stood. great shell-rent at his right
hip was letting the rich blood in streams
down his leg. Was he seeking help to reach
the hospital? Not be When near enough
to be heard above the roar, he demanded
"Who is in command of this battery?'
pointed to Major Fitzhugh, commanding
the artillery brigade, to whom he rushed and
besought him for Gods sake to send section
of guns to the support of his men; he could
not hold them against that fierce onslaught
ten minutes longer. Two guns dashed at a
gallop towards Webb's enfeebled ranks; they
broke way right and left with a cheer, and
our canister tore great gaps in Kemper's lines.
He fell wounded. But now come on Armistead
and Garnett with their brigades, and again
the odds are with the Southerners. Would
our brave boys be forced to give way Would
the army be cut in two at that point? The
sight grew maddening. Oh, somebody give
the right order now, if ever The fate of the
army-of Washington-ofth the ecountry-hangs
upon thread. Is there no help2 To the
right terrible blaokened line of disabled ar
tillery, dead and dying men, and struggling
! lines. To the left the same
But what's that? A flag comes up the hill
from the rear; following hard after it come
! hve solid columns of troops, double quicking
it under the fierce July sun. A moment more
and on the flag we make out the blue st.
George cross of the Third Division, Sixth
Corps and then we know that after the word
Gettysburg" shall be written Victory !"
But the die was cast before they could fire a
shot. Webb's brigade made fight that day
which Bohapartes Imperial Guard never sur
passed, and which for her0ism and results de-
serves to be handed down among the proud
est annals of the war. l say every man in
that poor, weak line of Webb's was hero
| that day, fit to be ranked with Ceur-de-Lion !;
and as the sun went down on that bloody field
registered a vow never to cease telling my
| couatrymen how that handful of heroes
fought for the dear old flag at Gettysburg.