The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-10-18

,:t,-+e "a,
! an enfilaaing are from the enemy'r guns, al
we'll as from the long line Of gray now ap.
pearing in full sight on our right So GU,
! regiment must form in line and change
front forward, in order to come in line Will
| the other regiments. Accomplished swiftly
| this new movement brings our line ut once
face to face with the eDemy's. which I'D
vances to within fifty yards, and exchanges
| few vo1leys, but is soon checked and stag.
| geted by our fire.
Yet now, see! Away to our left, and con-
sequently On our flank. new line appears,
rapidly advancing out Of the Woods q half
mile away, and there must be some sharl
| work done now, boys, or between the ole
| foes in front and the new ones on our flank
we shall be annihilated. To cleaf us Of
| these old assailants in front before the new
( line can sweep down on our fink, on,
brave colonel in ringing command; orders
charge along the whole line. Then, be.
fore the cleaning and glistening bayonets
Of our "Bucktail" brigade, as it yells and
| cheers, sweeping resistlessly over the field
the enemy gives way and flies in confusion.
But there is little time to watch them fly
for that new line on our left Is advancing at
| a rapid pace; and, with shells falling thick
and fast into our ranks. and men dropping
everywhere, our regiment must reverse the
former movement by changing front tc
rear" and to resume its original position
facing westward, for the enemy's new line
is approaching from that direction. and if i,
takes us in flank we are done for.
To "chauge front to rear" is q difficult
movement to execute even on drill, execute
more SO under severe fire: but it Is hum.
ed now steadily and without confusion, ye;
not minute too soon! For the new line
of gray is upon US in mad tempest of lead.
supported by cruel artillery fire, almost
before our line can steady itself to receive
the shock. However, partially protected
by post-and-r rail fence, we answer fierce
ly, and with effect SO terrific that the ene-
my's lines waivers, and at length moves of
by the right fink, giving us breathing
! space eor time.
During this struggle there had been many
an exciting scene ali along the line as it
swayed backward and forward over the ielc
scenes which we have had no time t.
| mention yet.
See yonder, where the colors of the reg.
! iment on our right-our sister regiment, the
| 140th-have been advanced a little to draw
| the enemy's fire, while our line sweeps on
| to the charge. There ensues about the
| flag wild melee and close hand-to- hand
encounter. Some of the enemy nave seized
| the colors and are making off with them in
! triumph, shouting victory. But squad OF
our own regiment clashes out, and amid
| yells and cheers and smoke. you see the
! battle flags rise and fall, and sway hithe,
! and thither upon the surging mass, as II
! tossed on the pillows of q tempest, until
| wrenched away by strong arms, they are
| borne back in triumph to the 3ine OF thu
| 10Th.
See yonder, again! Our colonelis clapping
bis hand to his cheek, from which a red
! stream is pouring; our lieutenant colonel
is kneeling on the ground, and is having
his handkerchief tied tightly around bis
| nrm at the shoulder; the major and adjn
tant both lie low, pierced with balls through
! the chest; one lieutenant is waving hi>
sword to his men, although his leg is
crushed at the knee; three other officers of
| the lire ere lying over there. motlonles
| now forever. All over the field are strewn
men wounded or dead, and comrades pause
moment in the mad rush to catch the last
words Of the dying Incidents such as these
| the reader must imagine for himself, to fill
in these swift sketches Of how the day was
won-and lost!
| Aye, lost! For the balls which have 60
! far come mainly from our front, being now
to sing in from our left and right, which
means that we are being fanked Som J.
how, away of to orr right, hall. mile u
SO, our line has given way and is already
Oh retreat through the town, while our left
is being driven in, and We ourselves may
shortly be surrendered and crushed-and
SO the retreat is sounded.
Back now along the railroad cut We go, or
through the orchard and the narrow strip Of
woods behind It, with our dead scattered
around on all sides, and the wounded cry
ing piteously for help.
| Harry! Harrv:" It is faint cry of
! dying man yonder in the grass, and mus
see who it is:
"Why, Willie! Tell me where you are
hurt?' I ask, kneeling down beside him
and see the words come hard, for he il
fast dying.
Here in my side, Harry. Tell mother
! Poor fellow. he can say no more. Hi
| head falls back, and Willie Bla OK is ut res
! forever!
On, now, through that strip Of woods. a
! the other edge of which, with my bacl
against a stout oak, I stop and look at
beautiful and thrilling sight. Some reserves
are being brought up; infantry in the cen
tire; the colors flying and officers shouting
cavalry on the right with sabres flashin!
and horses on the trot; artillery on the lef
with guns at full gallop sweeping into DO
| sition to check the headlong pursuit-It il
grand sight and fine rally, but vain one
! for in an hour we are swept off the field AM
Are in full retreat through the town.
Up through the streets hurries the rem
nant OF our shattered corps, while the enc.
my IS pouring into the town, only o fev
! squares away from us. Thee is tempes
of shrieking shells and whistling balls abou
our ears. The guns of that battery by tn,
woods we have dragged along, all the horse
being disabled. The artillerymen load al
| we go, double charging with grape and can
| lister.
"Make way there, men! is the cry, ant
! the surging mass crowds close up on tbs
sidewalks to right and left, leaving Ions
lane down the centre of the street. through
which the grape and c mister go rafting in
! to the ranks of the enemy's advance guard
And SO, amid scenes which have naithe
space nor power to describe, We gain Gene
| terry Ridge toward sunset, and throw our.
selves down by the road in tumult of cx
element and grief, having lost the da,
through the overwhelming force of numbers
| and vet somehow having gained it. to-
! (a!though as yet We knew it not), for thu
sacrifice of our. corps has saved the posi,io,
! for the rest of the army, which had beer
| marching all day. and which comes pourinl
in over Cemetery Ridge all night long.
Aye, the position is saved-but where i
our corps. Well may our div sion general
who early in the day succeeded to the com
nland when our brave Reynolds had fallen
| she'd tears of grief as he sits there on hi
horse and looks over the shattered remains
Of that first army corps. for there is but
handful Of 1t left. or the $50 men tina
marched under our regimental colors il
the morning, bu! 100 remain. All GU r field
aud staff officers Are gone. OF some TWEEN.
ty captains and ieutenants, but one is lef
without scratch, while one Of my Owl
company only IL out of 81 sleep that night
on Cemetery Ridge, under the open cano
by Of heaven.