The Worthington advance., 1882-02-02

tnese OH aSSallant9 IN mont Do1Oro the new
line can sweep down on our flank. our
brave colonel in ringing command, orders
. charge along the whole line. Then. be-
fore the cleaning and glistening bayonets
Of our "Buoktail" brigade, as It yeils and
cheers, sweeping resistlessly over the field,
the enemy gives way and flies in confusion.
But there is little time to watch them fiv
for that new line on our left is advancing st
rapid pace; and, with shells falling thick
and fast into our ranks. and men dropping
everywhere, our regiment must reverse the
former movement by @changing front to
rear, and to resume its original position
facing westward. for the enemy's new line
is approaching from that direction. and II Il
takes us in flank we are done for.
To "change front to rear" is . difRcnlt
movement to execute even on drill, execnta
more SO under severe IRE: but It is hum.
ed now steadily and without confusion, yet
not minute too soon! For the new line
OF gray is upon US in mad tempest Of lead.
supported by cruel artillery fire, almost
before our line can steady itself to receive
the shock. However, partially protected
by post-snd- rail fence, We answer fierce.
", and with effect 50 terrific that the ene-
my's lines wavers, and at length moves of
by the right flank, giving us q breathing
space FOR time.
During this struggle there had been many
an exciting scene all along the line as it
swayed backward and forward over the field
-scenes which We have had no time to
mention yet. !;
See yonder. where the colors of the reg
iment on our right-our sister regiment, the
149th-have been advanced little to draw
the enemy's fire, while our line sweeps on
to the charge. There ensues about the
flag wild melee and close hand-to-h hand
encounter. Some of the enemy nave seized
the colors and are making off with them in
triumph, shouting victory. But squad of
our own regiment dashes out, and amid
yells and cheers and smoke. you see the
battle flags rise and fall, and sway hither
and thither upon the surging mass, as If
tossed on the billows of tempest, until,
vrenched away by strong arms, they are
borne back in triumph to the line of the
149th.
See yonder, again! Our colonelis clapping
his hand to his cheek, from which red
stream is pouring; our lieutenant colonel
is kneeling on the ground, and is having
his handkerchief tied tightly around his
arm at the shoulder; the major and adju-
tant both lie low, pierced with balls through
the chest; one lieutenant is waving his
sword to his men, although his leg is
crushed at the knee; three other officers of
the line are lying over there. motionless
now forever. All over the field are strewn
men wounded or dead, and comrades pause
q moment in the mad rush to catch the last
words Of the dying. Incidents such as these
the reader must imagine for himself, to fill
in these swift sketches Of how the day was
WOn-and lost!
Aye, lost! For the balls which have 80
far come mainly from our front, being now
to sing in from our left and right, which
means that we are being fanked. Some-
how, away off to our right, half mile or
SO, our line has given way and is already
on retreat through the town, while our left
Is being driven in, and We ourselves NAV
shortly be surrendered and crushed-and
so the retreat is sounded.
Back now along the railroad cut we 90 or
through the orchard and the narrox y strip of
woods behind it, with our dead scattered
around on all sides, and the wounded cry
ing piteously for help.
'Harry! Harrv!" It is faint cry of Il
dying man yonder in the grass, and must
see who it is:
"Why. Willie! Tell me where Won are
hurt?" ask, kneeling down beside him.
and see the words come hard, for he is
fast dying.
Here in my side, Harry. Tell mother
mother"
Poor fellow, he can say no more. His
bead falls back, and Willie Bla OK is at rest
forever!
On, now, through that strip of woods, at
the other edge of which, with my back
against stout oak, stop and look at
beautiful and thrilling sight. Some reserves
are being brought up; infantry in the GEN.
tire; the colors flying and officers shouting;
cavalry on the right with sabres flashing
and horses on the trot; artillery on the left
with guns at full gallop sweeping into po-
sition to check the headlong pursuit-It is
a grand sight and fine rally, but vain one,
for in an hour We are swept off theI6eld and
are in full retreat through the town.
Up through the streets hurries the rem
nant OF our shattered corps, while the enc
my is pouring into the town, only few
squares away from US. There is a tempest
OF shrieking shells and whistling balls about
our ears. The guns of that battery by the
woods we have dragged along, all the horses
being disabled. The artillerymen load as
we 60, double charging with grape and can
ister.
Make way there, men! ie the cry, and
the surglng mass crowds close up on the
sidewalks to right and left, leaving long
lane down the centre Of the street, through
which the grape and mister go rattling in
to the ranks of the enemy's advance guard.
And so, amid scenes which have neither
space nor power to describe, we gain Ceme-
terry Ridge toward sunset, and throw our
selves down by the road in tumult of ex-
element and grief, having lost the day
through the overwhelming force of numbers
and yet somehow having gained it, too
(altnough as yet we knew 1t not), ror the
sacrifice of our corps has saved the position
for the rest OF the army, which had beea
marching all day. and which comes pouring
in over Cemetery Ridge all night long.
Aye, the position is saved-but where is
our corps. Well may our div sion general.
who early in the day succeeded to the COM
mand when our brave Reynolds had fallen.
shed tears of grief as he sits there on his
horse and looks over the shattered remains
OF that first army corps, for there is but a
handful of it left. OF the $50 men that
under our regimental colors in
the morning, but 100 remain. All our field
and staff officers are gone. OF some twen-
ty captains and ieutenants. but one is left
without q scratch, while one of my own
company only 13 out Of 81 sleep that night
on Cemetery Ridge, under the open cano.
py Of heaven.
Tnfar0hlv prOehornuo