The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-15
what awaited them as they marched

Fusileers upon the New Hampshire troops,
under John Stark and James Reed, at the rail
fence on Bunker Hill in 1775-steady, resolute,
confident, regular as if uoon parade
Take aiml" 1t was the word of command
spoken low by Colonel Baxter. The men
br ght thei. muskets to their shoulders, each
selecting his man. "Firel"
IL was as IL one gun had been fred-as if a
flash of lightning had famed in the faces of
I'lrsons command. There was windrow of
whole ranks going down where they
ooa. "CAargei" Over the wall leaped the
Twelfth Massachusetts, and the Eighty-eighth
pennsylvania, sweeping down upon the daZed
and astonished Confederates, most of whom
threw down their guns and gave themselves up
prisoners.
Southern correspondent has written of the
night scene upon their part of the field. As he
gazed upon the PROSTATE forms in the star
light, he thought it regiment in biyouac, till,
stopping and examining, he discovered that
they were sleeping the sleep that knows no
waking.
Tie Thirteenth regiment stood on the slope
of the ridge east of the Twelfth, at right angles,
facing north, confronting an overwhelming
force, pressing down upon them through a mar
row lane. leading up to the great red barn of
Judge McLain, from the windows of which the
Confederate sharpshooters were constantly
picking off the officers and men of the Thir-
teenth. There it was that Sergeant Morris,
bearing the colors ten feet iii advance of the
lines leaped into the air and fell dead with his
hands still grasping the staff.
SECOND DAY.
The historian who would take account of
important factors in the history of the battle
must not leave out the part performed by the
Ninth Massachusetts battery Captain Bigelow)
on the second day. 1t was a new battery;
never had been under fire. and yet, from the
position it occupied and the part assigned TO il,
accomplished great results.
Those who are familiar with the field will
remember that the Emmettsburg road runs
south from Gettysburg; that along this road. as
far south rs the house of Mr.. Sherry, General
sickles placed the right wing of the Third
Corps; that at the house Of Mr.. Sherry it de-
Elected east at right angle along road run
ming to Little Round Top.
L0ngstreet saw his opportunity and improved
il. by planting the Washington artillery Of New
Orleans to open fire upon the troops at the
angle, held by the Second New Hampshire, ad-
vancing his right flank against Sickle's left,
where it was weakest, and planning to sever him
from his connection with the troops on Gene
terry Ridge. The assault necessitated a change
of front on the part Of Sickles of those troops
facing west along the Emmettsburg road. I'm
mediately east Of Sherfy's house were CIark's
New Jersey battery, Phillips Fifth Massachu-
sets, and Bigelows Ninth Massachusetts,.
You must hold this position at whatever
sacrifice until can get other batteries into
position n your rear" was the order Major
&ceiilyery, commanding the artillery of the
Third Corps, gave 10 Bigelow. Up through the
wheat fields IN front came Longstreet's line.
Give them canister " was the order Of Bige-
low. 1t was clean sweep-not bush or tree
to obstrnct his range. The canister mows them
down, and he continues it till every charge is
spent, and then fires spherical case. The Con-
te1erates, seeing their opportunity, rush upon
the pieces Some of them are blown from the
muzzles. One by one the pieces are captured,
al save two, which retire into grove through
gap IN tbs Val. Not till several Of the Off
GERS and twenty-five Of the men are killed or
wounded, not Til Bigelow himself falls, not till
MctJilEegy has az array Of batteries in his rear,
do the pieces cease their thunder. BY the
tenacity and enthusiasm of these men. who
never before have been under fire, the enemy
i held IN check till the new line has been
established.
THE SECOND MASSACHUSETTS.
The Second Massachusetts, regiment was in
the Twelfth Corps, which was stationed on
CUPS bill, where breastworks we're thrown
up. Just at TIE close Of the attack on the Sec
oad day General Slocum was called upon TO
send re-entoTcsments to the left, and ali of his
troops, with the exception of Green's brigade,
were sent. While they were gone, Johnson's di-
vision OF EwelIs corps quietly crept up and took
possession The first thing to be done there
fore, Oh the morning of the Sd was TO dislodge
the enemy. After Smelling the position for
several hours, the Massachusetts, Second was
selected by General Slocum to charge into the
woods on the extreme left TO ascertain if the
ground was occupied by the enemy In force
The regiment descended a rocky knoll, came
into an open meadow, charged across IT. sink
lng 10 their knees in mire, rushed into the
woods only TO be moWn down by whitening
hre-to retreat with half their number killed
or wounded. The survivors of the regiment
have already erected a beautiful granitesnonu-
ment upon the spot, setting il upon huge
boulder, bearing this inscription:
From the hill behind this monument,
On the morning of
July g. 1863
The Second Massachusetts, Infantry
Made an assault upon the
Confederate troops
In the works at the base Of cups Hill, opposite.
The regiment carried TO the charge
- officers and 294 enlisted men.
II lost officers and
81 enlisted men
killed and mortally wounded and
officers aud 81 men wounded
] shall leave for a future letter dissertation
Of the scenes Of the third day on the left center
where Lee, after being foiled in his attempts to
turn the fanks concentrated all available
troops under Pickett, 1900 in all, to break
the line where he thought it weakest. The
Union line, when viewed from Sherfy's house.
appeared to be weak little to the left Of the
center. in one sense it was weak, because it
was lower than the ground at Sherfy's. /
doubt, however, If Lee took into account the
lower ground between Sherfy's and the crest of
the ridge. Looking at the position from which
Pickett started, it would seem as if Lee did
not take into full account the exposure TO
which Pickett would be subjected in the
charge-to the batteries on Little Round Top
and those in the Cemetery, which, from the
moment the Confederate troops emerged from
the woods, would open fire. For half a mile
the troops would be thus exposed and when
they reached the Emmittsburg road the eighty
guns which General Hunt had in position
would open IN their faces From the Emnaitts-
burg road 20 the Union line is about eighty
rods, and for that distance Pickett would re-
ceiye the storm Of the artillery and musketry.
PIcKErT's CHARGE.
l doubt if there ever has been charge sur
passing that made by Pickett. No language
can adequately describe 1.-THE three lines, a
mile long, sweeping on like waves of the sea.
Solid shot plough through them; shells burst
among them, but the ranks close and the waves
roll on. The musketry opens; hundreds 20
down, but the advance is not checked Up to
the Inc Of rails, up to the muzzles of the can
non the men Of the South press on, intent only
70 divide the Union line, fold it back in two
halves as you would open a door, seize the can
non, turn them upon the fleeing fugitiyes,