The Republican journal., 1882-03-09

using the cartridges from the boxes OF our
wounded comrades A critical moment has ar
rived. We can remain as we are no longer.
We must aduonce or retreat. 1t must not be the
latter, bit how It be the torne'F Colonel
Chamberlain understands how it can be done.
The ORDER IS given elk bayonets!" And the
steel shanks of the bayon2ts rattle upon the rifle
barrels -" charge bayonets, CHARGE" Every
man understood in moment that the move
ment was our only salvation, but there Is a
limit to human endurance, and L do not DIS
honor those brave men when / write that for a
brief moment the order was not obeyed, and the
little line seemed to quail under the fearful fire
that was being poured upon them. o for some
man reckless of life andall else save his cOuntrys
honor and safety, who would rush far out to the
front, lead the way, and inspire the hearts OF
his exhausted comrades. In that moment OF SUI
preme need the want was supplied. Lieut.. IL.
$. Melcher. an officer who had worked his way
up from the ranks and was then in command of
Co. F. at that time the color company, saw the
situation and did not hesitate, and for his gal
liant act deserves as much as any other man the
honor of the victory on Round Top. With
cheer and a flash of his sword that sent an in
spration along the line, full ten PAGES to the
front he sprang-ten paces-more than half the
distance between the hostile lines. GONE on!
COME On. COME ON BOYS" be shouts. The
color sergeant and the brave color guard follow,
and with one wild yell of anguish wrung from
its tortured heart, the regiment charged.
The rebels We're confounded at the movement.
We struck them with fearful shock. They
recOil, stc1gger, BREAK AND RUN, and like aYeng-
ing demons our men pursue. The rebels rush
towards stone wall, but to our mutual surprise
two scores of rifle barrels gleam over the rocks,
and murierous volley was poured i'll upon
them at close quarters. \ band of men leap
over the wall and capture at least hundred
prisoners. Piscataquis has been heard from,
and as usual it is good report. This unlocked
for reinforcement was Company b, whom we
supposed were all captured.
our Colonies commands We're simply to hold
the hill, and we did not follow the retrcating
rebels but short distance. After dark an order
came to advance and capture hill in our front.
Through the trees, among the rocks, up the steep
hillside we made our way, captured the posi-
| ON the morning of July 81 we were relieved
| by the Pcnn> yIvana Reserves, and went back
to the rear. OF our three hundred and fifty
men, one hundred and thirty-tive had been kill
ed and wounded. We captured over three hum
| dred prisoners. and Il detachment sent out 10
| bury the dead, found fifty dead rebels upon the
| ground where W. had fought our regiment
had Won imperi>hable honor, and our gallant
| Colonel was to be known in history the hero
of Little Round Top" We cared for our
wounded as we'll rs we could. There was but
little we could do for them. our dead were
| buried and their graves were marked by the
| loving hands of their comrades. | suppose that
| their remains have since been removed to the
| National Cemetery at Gettysburg. But some
how wish they had been left where they fell,
| on the rugged brow of Round Top, amid the
| battle Scared rocks which they baptized with
| their blood as they died. AN OLD PRIVATE.