National Republican., 1883-05-17

I the fields we're covered by tho column which
was 10 make the most famous assault since
/ the final charge of the Old Guard at Waterloo.
| The blood-rod southern battle crosses waved
| In countless number above the steel-capped
/ hosts cloud Of skirmishers covered their
| advancing 'front.' and their angry cannon still
| thundered over their heads 70 clear their way
to tho very heart Of the union.
| Across tho fields of two days fighting, over
| tho bodies Of the dead and dying, closing the
gaps made by our cannon shot, paying no
| heed TO tho sharpshooters, but raising the
| colors that go down, elbow to elbow in un-
broken line, right gallantly they came on.
| Striking our advanced posts, they roll them
back to our main position--the head of the
| gentle slope, over which 10 seems they march
unopposcd. Suddenly from the ground arises
the union line, and us the word hrel" rings
down its ranks, crashing volley is poured
| into the advancing columns, and men fall in
swarths as IL death had swept them with his
scytho. wild yell answers thi S defiance,
and rush 10 the onset is mado by the whole
body of attacking troops. With one unceas-
ing roll tho deadly musketry browns othor
| sounds, and the dull thud of desultOry cam
non can scarce be heard beating time to the
rising music of the battle. The charging
lines forget their bayonets, and are stung to
replying to our fire. Their momentum is
checked, but the column still moves on.
Pettigrew's division, which had farthest to
como and over tho most exposed ground, be-
gins to waver under the heavier fire which it
Is obliged to face. Pickett's advance is still
pretty we'll protected by the nature of the
ground, but gap between himself and Will
cox leaves his right TO crumblo under an
oblique fire from Stannards Vermonters and
the direct reply Of the two brigades Of Glib
bon's division directly in front. These flanks
crowd in toward Picketts center, protected
by the formation Of the ground, and give mo-
mentum to the wedge-shaped mass, which,
headed by Armstead, moves up hollow to-
ward Webb's brigade at the angle OF tho line.
This had also been the point of concentration
of the artillery fire. Here were the dead
mon and dismantled guns of Browns Rhode
Island battery, and here Cushing, holding
with one hand his torn-out vitals,
fired with the other the last gun of
the fourth United States and fell beneath
his smoking cannon. The other two brigades
Of Gibbon, their front relieved, began a vol
untary movement Co the right to aid their
overcrowded comrades. So this becomes n
general point Of convergence for both sides.
All without orders; for the struggle assumes
the shape of melee, and general direction is
impossible except such as federal and confed-
crate generals can give by voice and gesture.
Gibbon and Hancock both fall among their
men. Armstead sword in hand, leads on his
brave soldiers. With % rush his following
gain the broken batteries, and the flag of a
! Virginia regiment is planted on the hot but
|
has reached high-water mark and trembles,
whether its crest shall break in fire upon the
north or sweep back bearing upon the reflux
} tho wreck Of the confederacy.
Now for the countercharge. 1t is headed
by the corps headquarters guard and some
broken companies. Halls and Harrow's men
Join in. officer and private fight together,
and courage Is commander. Men and colors
are tramped under foot as they fall beneath
tho fire of tho confederates who como up to
hold what they have they have won. A rush
and the guns are recovered. The flag of Vir-
ginia goes down and the stripes and stars
, wave over the battery. A little below the
great mass of the advance, with some sort Of
, an alignment, has made stand, and deadly
exchange of fire ensues for some minutes
} Now Stannard's brigade swings down like a
! gate ON the flank of the rebels. Those in the
7 vortex see the movement through tho smoke
and with renewed ardor push down in front
with cheers and volleys. The magnificent
! column has broken into struggling groups. Ii
requires more courage to run than to fight
. Every battle flag is still the center of Il rally
The blue jackets still bear down. The masses
go to pieces The whole field can see that the
bloody tale is told, and the cheers Of victory
,, ring from Roundtop to tho right.
THE EDUCATION OF WAR. siah
5 The high honors of the war fell to our edu
) Gated soldiery Middle aged political gen
4 erals could not compete with them, but many
o young officers who studied while they fought
/; graduated in the school of war, masters no
only of its practice, but of its written science
: They took off their eagles and stars at thu
close of the conflict so thoroughly equipped il
, q now useless profession that in q new or mor'
{ prolonged war some Of them might hav'
Y startled the world with generalship and sol
; dierly capacity. These now commanded regi
{ ments, brigades and divisions which the,
: were competent to handle in wooded coun
try where communication with headquarter
q was difficult. Under our now chief the arm.
n hopefully plunged into the wilderness. 1t me
s a bloody check-more bloody than usual TO
q it was in the very lair of the enemy. But /
!, did not make the usual return to camp. In
j. stead Of retiring, Grant struck out by the lef
v flank. He pounded Lee whenever he got
q chance, and Lee struck back with interest
i But the army which never had refused to sta,
r with its leader now felt that it had leade
Q who would stay with his army.
LEES LAST ATTEMPT.
IS Then Lee tried to relieve Richmond by hi
!, old plan. He made diversion on Washing
7 ton. EARLY came rushing down the vale
u and reached the defenses of this city. Cabi
a a net and congress were sorely frightened.
y required all Grants courage and prestige Z
u prevent the army being brought back fror
), the James, and the state of the war in Vii
u gnia returned to the situation of 1862. Lin
y coin. who ever stood between his general
and the politicians called on Gen. Grant 3
- - come to his aid, and the general came up fror
a City Point and reinforced the president, wit
- his demoralized advisers. The valley ha
20 been the road for tho raids on this capital
. IL was the grain field of Virginia, and tn
. generals we had kept there were aids to tn
y confederate commissaries After some troubl
y with Halleck and the rest Grant got man o
u his own. Then the clouds of shame and dis
u aster which had overhung our arms wer
: pierced by the luminous rays Of one of tn
y most brilliant regulations Of the war, and tn
y scene of Stonewall Jackson's fame became TIL
70 field of Sheridan's glory. The road to Wash
!, ington was forever closed, and the littl
u u gamecock of the union armies stood CROWN
y on tho gate.
"a THE REST OF THE ARMY.
RS Our honored armies of the west were nov
l. everywhere successful. The magnifcen
20 Sherman had marched through Georgia, an
d the stride of his troops was over the Caro-
Is linas. The temerity of Hood was represse
s. by sturdy old Thomas. The extremities wer
l. paralyzed, and now came the final blow a
10 the head and front of the rebellion-Sheri
dams victory at Five Forks-the onset of tn
IL army-the capture of Petersburg-the fall 9
id Richmond-which no one stopped TO see.
c. was no longer ION 10 Richmond" 1t was =" o.
Of to Lee" The race for life or death came
IN its goal at Appomattox. The armies whic
Of had fought with a heroism never equale
W and a chivalry never surpassed faced eac
other for the last time, and the army
It, northern Virginia, with dignity worthy
y its great Deeds laid down its arms an
@, standards to its triumphant but magnan