Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-06-27

opened lanes through whole brigades
Here and there a shell mutilate q doz
en- men, Killed three or four horses, o.
dismounted cannon but Lees entire
loss by the whole cannonade did moi
amount to 500 men. On the Fedora
side the loss was no greater-the de-
moralization about the same. The
BEST TROOPS IN THE WORLD WILL NOT
STAND IN LINE UNDER AR
TILLERY FIRE.
If they are moving it is different, and
the whirr of shot and scream Of shell are
part of the programme. The confeder-
ates planted almost every shot into the
Federal position, and for time every
living thing sought cover. Showers Of
dirt, flung high in air by the shells, de.
scended upon men lying in the ravines,
and it is singular fact that two of the
artillerists in Thomas battery were kill
ed by stones flung out by shot or shell.
A Confederate shot which struck breast
work flung jagged splinter more than
200 feet at right angles, and killed one
man and broke the arm Of second. The
Federal guns were short Of ammunition on
the start, and throughout the cannonade
the fire was slower and more regular than
the Confederates. Thomas alone had
four caissons hit and blown up. and some
of our batteries lost half their horses and
fourth Of their men. Az if by NUT
ual consent the firing on both sides began
to slacken, and in ten minutes more ev-
cry gun was silent. Then Federal regi-
ments sprang from cover, and in a mo-
ment Cemetery Ridge was again dotted
with blue. Lee was going to assault.
1t is close upon four o'clock, when a
long line Of Confederate skirmishers
moves out Of the woods beyond the En-
mettsburg road. Not far in rear is Pick
ett's division of Virginians in double-line
of battle, flags ripping and bayonets
cleaning. Kemper, Garrett, Armstead
Wilcox and Pettigrew are there, and
Heth's division protects the left flank
Look carefully now, for never again on
this continent will such an advance be
seen. 1t is
THE THIRD DAY OF THE FIERCEsT BAT.
TIE IN OUR HISTORY.
Lee has assaulted the right, the left,
and the centre. The mettle Of every
man has been tried, and there is not a
coward among them. This is the last
assault, ard it will be made on the Fed
eral left centre, where Hancock is watch
ing. Here comes the skirmish line
creeping nearer and nearer and uniulat-
ing like serpent. Behind them are the
solid columns Of Observation-Disclosures
out Of the woods are the bes. brigades in
Lees army-a column Of assault Is, 1000
strong. There is deep silence as lOO,.
900 pairs Of eyes look at the picture
Every line in that column is perfectly
dressed-every officer at his post. They
do not come with the rush of Hood or the
frenzy Of Ewell. 1t is march march !!
march with steady step and a from
of cleaning steel. Even an enemy wait
ing with loaded musket can cheer such
bravery-such firm Discipline. 1t has
been officially asserted that many OF the
men in Pettigrews command had never
before seen battle, but had they beer
veterans of hundred fights they mus
have been broken by their terrible recep'
ton at the hands of the federals. Thei
assault was aimed at Hays. He had
1000 men down behind the stone walls in
his front and on his right a battery fully
provided with grape-shot and canister.
STEADY, men-steady" was the COM
mand all along Hays front and scarcely
musket was fred until the confederates
were within pistol. shot. Then the bat
tery opened with canister and the infan-
try poured in their volleys, and In ten
minutes hardly confederate was LETT Oh
his feet At such close range the CAMS
ter wiped out men by the doze n, and
seemed as if
ALMOST EVERY BULLET FOUND LIVING
TARGET.
When the smoke lifts Pettigrew ha
fallen, and with him three-ffths OF nj
commissioned officers. Companies ar
wiped out, regiments reduced one-half
and those not i'll retreat are lying fla
down to escape the bullets. But Wood
ruff, whose battery has rendered victor
so decisive, is MORALLY wounded and tn
dusty road and trodden fields are drinking
the blood of many Federal hero.
The advance of Armistead first strucl
against the First Corps, but obliqued tt
escape the fire and struck Gibbons dlvis
ion. Here was also stone-wall, and her