The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-03-07
An Incident of Gettysburg.

you needu't read it, that's all A student
of the free college of the city of New York
called on me the other day, mentioning
Gen. Alex. s. Webb as now president 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 sight such as q man is
privileged to look upon but once in life
time and few men saw 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 that field up
into the very teeth or 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 interval had, what a
soldier in battle rarely has, leisure to watch.
On little knoll just to eur right stood
Webb's brigade of the second corps. In
their front the brave Kemper was hurting
down his brigade of Virginians upon them.
Forward and backward went that thin and
constantly thinning line OF brave boys, the
officers rushing up and down the impover-
ing on the men, iowa IDS the left of the line
stood two colored sergants bearing the only
colors visible, and these they waved slowly
to and fro i'm that leaden storm i'm the face
of the opposing host The battle smoke
hung Lille thick cloud above and in
front of those brave men; the deafening
roar of battle, the lurid line OF fire dimmed
by the thickening smoke, the hOarse shouts
of the brave men on either side, who
struggled madly for victory, the roar of
shell and whistle of bullet swerved not
those heroic men from their perilous duty
the fate OF a nation hung upon their
bayonets and they knew it, and every man
became hero, stood looking upon that
scene perfectly transfixed, the blood ting
ling through every vein, sweeping in great.
hot, successive waves through my frame,
and thrilling through every never such
as you and have 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, limping rapidly toward where
stood. A great shell-rent at his right hip
was letting the rich blood in streams down
his leg. He was evidently seeking help to
reach the hospital, Not he! When near
enough to be heard above the roar, he de-
manded "Who is the commander of this
batteryw I 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 cheer,
and our canister tore great gaps
i'm kempers lines. He fell wounded.
But now come on Armistead and Gar
nett with their brigades, and again the odds
are with the southerners. Would our
brave boys be forced to give way? Would
the army be GU; In two at that point? The
sight grew maddening. Oh, somebody
give the right order now, If ever The
late of the army-of Westinghouse the
country-bangs upon thread. Is there
no help? To the right a terrible blacken-
ed line of disabled artillery, dead and dy-
ing men, and tiercely struggling lines To
the left the same. But what's that? A
flag comes up the hill from the rear fol-
lowing hard after it come five solid col
umns of troops, dOuble-quicking il under
the fierce July sun. a moment more, and
on the Nag We make out the blue St.
Georges cross OF the third division. sixth
corEs-and then We knew that after the
word Gettysburg" should be written
victory" But the die was cast before
they could fire a shot. Webb's brigade
made fight that day which the imperial
guard OF Bonaparte never surpassed, and
which, for heroism and results, deserves to
be handed down among the proudest an
mails OF war say every man in that
poor, weak line OF Webbs was a hero that
day. iii to he ranked with Crur de Lion
and rs the sun went down upon the bloody |
field | registered a vow never TO cease tell |
ing my countrymen how that handful of |
heroes fought for the dear old flag at !
Gettysburg. Again | have performed that
vow