The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-04-20


ly cut up. They were ready in line when tn
gray masses moved out
sIcKLEs CARRIED AWAY.
The instant the Confederates moved ont
every Federal gun which could be brought tt
bear was turned upon them, and Sickle
braced himself for the shock. There was n,
hating by the Confederates-n giving wa,
by the Federals; 90 900 men moved as one,
mighty battering ram faced with steel
living wall of20,000 men stood firm to receiy,
the blow. A rush, a cheer, and the shocl
| comes. For the next ten minutes on tha
mile and half of front men used the bayonet
Lines were broken, and blue and gray were
mixed in mob. Then the impetus of the
Confederate wave began to tell and Sickles
was pressed slowly back He would not re.
treat, but he could be pushed off his feet by
the greater force. iiae
UNDER THE PEACH TREES. -ta-H
AS Sickles' lines are gradually pushed back
over the broken ground, three or four brig
AIDES cut loose from Sykes and come to his. as
sistance. The new lines form across a meadow
over hlghway--under the peach trees, and
stretch out toward the pines at the base OF
Round Top. They are going to stop the ad-
vance of McLaws right there, but 1t will re-
qulre some terrible fighting to do it. Every
man in Longstreet's corps knew that to gain
that hill was to gain victory over Meade's
whole army, and they cheered as they rushed
upon the Federal bayonet. Every Federal
likewise realized the importance of the posi-
ton, and men died in their tracks rather than
yield the ground. Again and again McLaws
gathered his Texans in hand and threw them
at this or that point, but he met firm line
everywhere. In the peach orchard the fight
was struggle between savages. The Texans
charged there as many as five times before
they got foothold. How any one ever lived
under that terrible Federal fire is one of the
mysteries of war. It was one continuous crash
of musketry, so coolly delivered that every
man was target. Peach trees as large as
mans leg were cut down by bullets, and rocks
in the line of that fire were marked hundreds
of times. Five o'clock found the struggle
growing fiercer. At o'clock it was terrific.
AT shutdown the Confederates had slowly
pushed Sickles back until he had to be again
reinforced to hold his ground. Two thousand
dead men were lying between Seminary Ridge
and Sickles' lines when the stars came out
and the clash of war died away in sullen
yrowls. Sickles had been wounded, and the
soil had drank deeply of some of the best
blood in his corps.
HOODS ASSAULT
Hood and his Texans had charge directly
1t Round Top, and the first rush almost car
'ied it. He had no skirmishers to lead the
way, but charged in solid lines with cheers
which was heard above the roar Of artillery.
There should have been Federal division on |
that hill. There was not full regiment. The
Federal line should have rested it's flank on |
The slope as it stretched away across the peach
orchard. That flank was a hundred rods |
away, leaving a gap through which whole |
1rigades rushed without meeting foe. The
gray wave is at the base of Round Top when |
,he few Federals at the summit open fire, and |
are hurried forw ard. Artillery |
IAN be used up there. but men must drag the |
guns up by hand. In Wild frenzied mob |
ines broken and officers and men mingled, the |
Texans swarm up the slope and rally at the
crest. They are.too latel They have reached
he crest of Round Top. but can they hold it ?
THE FIGHT ON THE CREST.
AS the Confederates rush up one side the |
Eederals are climbing the other. They meet |
1t the crest, and that was the hell-spot of
Gettysburg. Lines do not advance, but mobs
If men sway back and forth over the rocks
md through the thickets, bowling, screaming
md shedding blood. No prisoners were ia
zen there. When these mobs swayed upon
nd in to each other muskets blazed, steel |
lashed, and the frenzied living trampled oyer
he CORY dead Men who were pierced with
he bayonet drew the stock of the musket from
he enemy's grasp and died trying to draw the
lorrible weapon from the gaping wound.
There were dead there who had their skulls
'eaten in-there were wounded there who had
'een knocked senseless by stones and rocks.
DRIVEN BACK ..,...-. tc,a 9
For forty minutes this bloody struggle surg
d to and fro over the crest. and then the Con-
ederates began to give way. The Federals
dvanced with renewed enthusiasm, and
hoods division was soon hurled into the fields
elow, shattered and broken, but stubbornly
ticking to the advance position. Fate had
cored another march against Lee. Hill could
ave taken Round Top on the first day with
nut seeing blue coat. Longstreet could have
arried it on the morning of the second day
Without the loss of hundred men. Hood won
in the evening at a fearful cost, but he could
lot hold it..
IN THE CENTRE. la
The Confederate centre, under Hill, had
noved up slowly and cautiously. 1t was
rand advance of regiments and brigades,
teel and peals of artillery. The first, Eleventh
nd Twelfth Corps were to feel the shock of
he assault, but the great blow was to bestruck
t the Eleventh. From the moment Hill
cit his position he was under the Federal ar
lllery fire. Shot and shell tore through bri-
AIDES until all order was lost in wild rush to
ct out ofline ofthe fire, but the advance could
ot be checked. If he could prevent the cen
re from reinforcing Sickles, Longstreet might
vim. This was his object, and he did not
lean hot fight; but, once the troops got I'M
er fire, they could not be held back All
long the centre was steady sheet of flame
nd continuous thunder, but Hill battered in
ain. Where one portion of his lines gained
round, another portion lost, and as night fell
e had secured no advantage, and had lost a
thousand men. -ea 455ia
ON THE LEFT. .ise t=ei
Ewell, holding the Confederate left opposite
he Federal right, had more cover for his as
aulting columns, and had attacked with
rim determination to win. He meant all the
ght he could get, and he got plenty For the
rst hour every advance received bloody {
heck. From to he gained ground. From
to the breast WOrks-hastily thrown I'D by /: