Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-07-03
of one Of the greatest battles in the an
mails Of history.

Va Ono VI Suc HtCdtcot UuttiCb lu Lue IN.
mails Of history.
On the morning Of the LIST of July.
twenty years ago, the two great armies Of
the north and the south faced each other
in this mighty death struggle the army
OF the Potomac under General Meade,
who had Just succeeded to its command,
with $1,000 men and 300 guns;
the army Of Northern Virginia
flushed with its successful raid into the
north. 73,5OO men only 1870 guns; then
there was Stuart with his 1900 cavalry
and sixteen guns, matched by Pieason.
ton with about the same number of cav.
airy and twenty seven guns.
"What are you doing here sir?" asked
Genl Buford of Major Kress, of General
Wadsworth's staff. as he entered Gettys-
burg about nine o'clock on that eventful
morning and met Bufsrd surrounded By
bis staff. Kress replied that he had
come to get some shoes for Wadsworth's
division. Buford told him he had bet
ter return immediately to his command.
"Why, what is the matter, general ?"
asked Kress. At that moment the far
of sound Of single gun was heard, and
Buford replied, as he mounted his horse
and galloped 'That's what's the
matter!" 1t was the signal for the un-
ion skirmish line to open on
the enemy and the battle of Gettysburg
had began. We will not follow through
the sheeted flames of fire and smoke and
iron shot and leaden hail. the details Of
that day of slaughter. As noble and
brave men as ever heaven smiled upon
gave their lives to their country on that
day of terror and strife. It was on that
day that MaJor-G General John F. Rey-
nolds, commanding the first, third and
eleventh corps fell. While exposing
himself in his anxiety to view the result
OF particular military msnoeuver, q re-
bel sharp shooter shot him through the
back of the head. the bullet coming out
near the eye. He fell dead in an instant
without speaking word. All honor to
the brave generals memory, but also as
great honor to the gallant private SOL
diers who on that sanguinary day fell by
his side-yes, all honor and praise be
theirs, for in honoring their memories We
but honor ourselves.
The union arms lay that night among
the tombs at the cemetery-the con-
federates Longstreet and Hill, upon
SEMINARY ridge, about mile opposite.
Those alone who have lain on their arms
knowing that the first streak of the
morrow's dawn would be the signal for
the renewal of the bloody combat which
would send thousand of them into
eternity, can realize what must have been
the thoughts, the dreams of these men
i-for exhausted they slept.
The second day of the battle-the End
OF July, was but repetition of the fierce
and bloody strife, of gallant charge and
disastrous repulse. of victory vacillatine
between the two armies, of that of the
day previous, Meade arrived on. the
field from Taneytown at 1 q. m.
utterly worn out and hollow
eyed, from anxiety, and loss
Of sleep and exhaustion. At dawn he
commenced reforming bis line and early
in the morning the fierce contest wai
renewed. The day closed with the
rebels defeated on our left, but victori
GUS on our right. General Daniel E
Sickles had lost a Leg and the enemy hai
lost their brave General Barksdale. In
the two days combat the first, thiri
and eleventh corps had been almost an
initiated, the fifth corps and great par
of the second were shattered and opl,
the sixth and twelfth corps were com.
paratively fresh. Meade was disheart
ened. There can be no doubt that h,
desired to retreat, that he might insur,
the safety of the principal northern citie.
while it was in his power to do 30, but
council of war unanimously voted to sta,
and fight it out, Have it your own way
gentlemen" the commanding genera
angrily exclaimed, "but Gettysburg is n,
place to fight battle in" It was q
this council of war that General Hancock
in giving his vote, made that signifcan
remark. "The army of the Potomac ha
retreated too often and now I am in favo
of remaining and fighting it out"
i At the early gray of the morning Q
the third, the artillery on both side
opened fire, and the contest was renewe,
with desperate energy. It was on thi
morning that the close and severe strue
gle for four hours among the trees an
the rocks ensued between the old Stone
wall brigade, and Kane's brigade q
Geary's division, which resulted in th
repulse of the former. 1t now appeare
that all that the enemy had gained b