Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-12-21
LETTER FROM CHICAGO.

Mr.. Editor, The account of
'sPickett's Charge at Gettysburg,
in a recent issue of the MONITOR, re-
minds me of my intention to write to
your readers about the celebrated
painting of that wonderful charge,
that for nearly two years has been on
here in Chicago.
"The Panorama of the Battle of
Gettysburg" was painted by gen.
tleman from Paris. It is mounted in
a brick building erected expressly for
the purpose, and in such manner that
the observer stands in the center,
while the canvas hangs as cylinder
around him. By the use of real OBJ
jects in the foreground, such as old
rifles, sabres, cannon, straw stocks,
timber, etc., to aid in frightening
the effect, the prospective is made
perfect, and affords all the appear
ance of placing the observer in the
midst of the battle field itself. Indeed,
it is quite difficult to distinguish be-
tween the real and painted objects,
or to tell just where the earth ends
and the canvas begins. The point
of observation, is from the front line
of the Union left Center-the object
i've of the Confederate attack. The
Union line at this point was held by
the I'd Army Corps, under the com
mand of Major General Winfield
S. Hancock, who is easily distinguish
ed upon his powerful black horse, di-
recting the movements of the troops
as they are hurried forward to meet
the on-coming, and as it looks, never
ending confederate column. Every
thing is painted life size, and as |
remember the landscape, it is perfect,
with only this noticeable difference,
that in the picture the trees have
been thinned out by the artist so as
not to Obscure the movements of the
troops. The celebrated peach or
chard, and the strip of woods to the
north and just west of the COrdOra
house have received the most prun-
ing. But the hills, covered with
heavy timber, the stretches of plain
between the Union and Confederate
position, roads, houses, fences, etc.,
all look just as | remember them I'M
der that blazing July sun. | had the
pleasure Of meeting at the "Panora-
ma" member of the 9Th Va, which
he pointed out as a part of CARROTS
brigade, Pickett's division, coming in
solid square on the left Of the main
column, and striking the Union line
just at the angle of the we'll known
stone wall. Mr.. Parsons. for thai
was the gentleman's name, said ht
considered the picture perfect, enc
had but one criticism to make, ant
that was, that IN his judgment, thu
artist had represented the Union linz
behind the stone fence as too light
Doubtless he had a vivid memor,
of how numerous the "boys in blue
appeared at just that important mo
ment.
OF this 'tPanorama" | can say tina
it is true to the movement of troop
upon the field, and is the first pictur
of battle that eyer impressed me a
being realistic. The charge move
ments and action of artillery, th
supporting regiments of infantry, til
bringing up of supports, by colum
and line of battle, the dead an
wounded, stretcher work, and actu;
clash of troops in the very instant {
collision, are so zeal, that the repol
that a soldier became so enthusiast
in pointing out the familiar feature
of the conflict as to eXclaim, ssTherC
. grandmother, just wait moment Ill
til that cloud of smoke rises lit
and I'll show you just where our re,
ment lay" might be true.
The position and charge of the
e Vermont brigade was one of Il
| prominent features, and is point,
: out. and their brave and efficie
I work on Pickett's right, and Wilcox
y left is glowingly described to eve
It visitor to this wonderful battle seen
f The sold Brigade" ON that memo
t able afternoon, held Meade's eXtrel
n left, and were therefore posted |
1t hind little Round Top out of sigL
l. but the batteries they supported {
), plainly seen pouring out their m
'e siles of death
y The idea is quite generally prev
/. lent that had Pickett succeeded
> breaking Hancock's line, and gain
as secure footing at that poi
the field would have been lost, a