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

ing breast to breast with the bayonet.
For quarter Of an hour be chung there,
unable to advance and determined not to
retreat, but reinforcements came to the
Federals, and the assulting column was
broken and pushed back.
It's the same with Kemper-with Gar
nett with every column Of assault. In
their first rush they swarm over Federal
breastworks, capture riae-pits and leap
through the flames to bayonet gunners,
but when the rebound comes they are
swept away. Six, eight and ten men re-
turn to Seminary Ridge to represent
company.
HUNDRED RETURN To REPRESENT A REG
IMENr.
Out Of brigades scarcely full rgiment
can be found. Pettigrew, Armistead,
Kemper and Garnett are dead or wound
ed-feld officers are among every heap Of
dead-regiments with scarcely captain
left. The picture Of $4,000 men march
ing forward with waving flags and steady
step had been framed in blood and yelled
with death.
Lee had played his last card and lost.
AS the grand assault was beaten back
every soldier realized that the battle of
Gettysburg had ended. Lee had done
his best, and many looked for a speedy
retreat. At shutdown word was passed
along the lines that his retreat had begun,
and certainly but few expected to see
more than his rear-guard when the NOR.
row came. But Lee was there in posi-
ton. He had not sent off man or wag.
on, and he was defantly waiting for
Meade to attack him in turn. 1t was
only when night came and he found that
he was not to be attacked that he gave the
orders for leisurely retreat. In leaving
Virginia to invade the North the Confed-
crate Commander could not burden the
march with too many wagon trains. The
great point was to carry a supply Of am
uni,ion, 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 days fight.
Considerable ammunition was lost on the
road, more captured BY Federal cav
airy, and at the end of the third days
fgh. there was not enough ammunition in
the Confederate army to take it through
six hours Of fighting.
IN THE RETREAT TO TIE POTOMAC
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 rations. The Federal
cavalry had sadly demoralized the wsg-
on trains. and made many captures, and
when night fell on the fourth day of
Gettysburg not one confederate in ten had
even cracker in his haversack. Lee
could wait no longer. He must fall back
for food and ammunition.
Lee had counted on great battle, and
it had come to pass, but it was battle
in the North instead of the South. He
had lost no more than he might have lost
by waiting for Hooker TO attack him IN
Virginia. Instead Outstanding on the de-
fensive behind Southern breastworks. he
had proven to the world that the Confed-
crates had strength to become the agrees
or, and that they could fight as well in
1
Pennsylvania as in Virginia. The effect
upon the South was to increase conf.
dence in the government and in the army
While the North shouted its hosannas, it
it did not forget that another invasion
was a possibility. The English and
French summed up the campaign to the
general advantage Of the Confederates.
Those who argued that the Confeder.
ate army could never stand before Meade
again had only to wait until the first
frosts of autumn to see that same army,
again numbering hardly more than hall
his strength, pressing him back upon
Manassas from the Rapidan.