The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-05-02

In 'nelr hrst rush they swarm over Fed
eral breast-works, capture rifle pits and
leap through the flames TO bayonet gun.
ners; but when the rebound comes they
are swept away. Six, eight and ten men
return to Cemetery Ridge to represent a
company. A hundred return to repre-
sent regiment Out of brigsdes
scarcely full regiment can be found
Pettigrew, Armistsad, Kemper and Gar
net are dead or wounded-feld officers
are among every heap of dead--regi-
ments with scarcely captain left The
picture Of eighteen Thousand men m arch
ing forward with waving hsgs and steadv
step had been framed in blood and veil
ed with death
Lee had played his last card, and lost.
THE FOURTH DAY
AS the grand assault was beaten hack
every soldier realized that the battle OF
Gettysburg had ended. Lee had done
his best, and many looked for speedy
retreat At sundown word was passed
along the lines that his retreat had be
gun, and certainly but few expected to
see more than his rear guard when the
morrow came. But Lee was there and
in position. He had not sent off a man
or wagon, and he was de6antlv waiting
for Meade to attack him in turn. 1t was
only when night came and be found he
was not to be attacked that he gave the
orders for a leisurely retreat.
LEES SITUATION
In leaving Virginia to invade the North
The Confederate commander could not
burden the march with too many wagon
trains. The great point was to carry q
supply OF ammunition, and this point
was carefully seen to. There was more
or less fighting from the Potomac to
Gettysburg. and something of an inroad
had been made on the supplies before
the first davis fight Considerable am
munition was lost on the road, more
captured by Federal cavalry, and at the
end of the third days fight there was
nopenough ammunition in the Confed
crate army to take it through six hours
of fighting In the retreat to the Poto-
mac many caissons contained only two
or three round-shot, and thousands of
the infantry had no more than from five
to eight cartridges left.
To this must be added the want of ra.
tions. The Federal cavalry had sadly
demoraliza ID the wagon-traius, and made
many captures; and when night fell on
the fourth day of Gettysburg not one
Confederate in ten bad even cracker
in his haversack. Lee could wait no
longer. file must fall back for food and
ammunition
WHAT HE GAINED.
Lee had counted on great battle, and
it had come to pass, but 1t was battle
in the North instead of the South. He
had lost no more than he might have
lost by visiting for Hooker to attack
him in Virginia. Instead Of standing
on the defensive behind Southern breast
works, he had proved to the world that
the Confederates had strength to become
the aggressor, and that they could fight
as we'll in Pennsylvania as in Virginia
The effect upon the South was to in.
crease confidence in the Government
and in the army While the North
shouted its hosannas, 1t did not forget
that another invasion was possibility
The English and French summed up the
campaign to the general advantage of
the Confedera'es
Those who argued tina. the Confeder-
ate army could never stand before Meade
again had on ly to wait until the first
frnsts of autumn to see that same armv,
again numbering hardly more than half
hi. strength, pressing him back upon
Manassas from the Rapidan.
NJ, QUAD