Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-07-22

and lett half their number on the field of
death; the spot where Cushing fired the last
shot from the last gun at Picket's men. and
fell dead; where Webb's brigade stood and
rolled back Picket's assault; the bloody
ravine where the First Minnesota was sacri.-
feed to hold the ground until the line was
formed behind them; and many like places of
interest. After that walked along tho Rebel
lines and followed their points of assault.
1t was with the deepest interest, l walked
from the spot where Picket led his men, 5000
strong, through thew out upon the plain
where for three.fourths of a mile they adj
vanced In the face of nearly an hundred can
non, pouring shot and shell and grape through
their ranks. crushing. blasting, scattering
thousands until one could have walked all the
way stepping on the bodies of the dead.
There was nothing like it in all the history of
the war. Here picked up piece OF a shell
thrown into the column by the Union guns
and will bring it back to put into Mcintyre
Post with some bullets donated from the boys
of Sicily Post to Mcintyre Post. Relics are
becoming scarce, as they are eagerly sought
for by the muititudes who annually throng
these grounds. There are lots of relics for
sale, but as the supply seems to be inexhaus-
table, people are inclined to question their
genuineness, and prefer to hunt tile fields for
themselves. Some curious incidents occur.
few days ago. man from Delaware came
here and said he had a narrow escape during
the battle from shell which barely missed
him and burrowed under a rock. He offered
five dollars to young man if he would dig
the shell out. The offer was accepted, the
rock turned over and the shell recovered. 1
held the shell in my hand. being very careful
of course not to drop it. Not long since, an
officer came here, and asking for hoe, dug
up a sword he had buried during the battle.
Another officer recovered sword, which he
had thrown into we'll.
Wefound the people very hospitable, and
ready to communicate what they knew about
the battle, and so learned very much that was
interesting. Mrs. Sherry, whose house Is
frequently mentioned in the accounts Of the
battle, as it was situated near the famous
peach orchard where Gen. Sickles made the
angle of his line for the second day'a battle,
and where the fighting was of the most des-
perate character, gave me many interesting
"reminiscences of the conflict. She said there
were As dead horses in her door-yard, and
they had to hire help after the battle to bury
| them. In the body of an apple tree, in front
| of the house. still remains a solid cannon ball,
| which you can turn about with your hand as
the wood ia decaying. The house bears many
marks of the conflict.
One day, I enjoyed the services Of Mr.. John
! Holtzworth, nephew Of the gentleman at
| whose house was entertained, the guide of
the battlefield. He has made the battle a
study for the last twenty years. and is able to
give reliable information upon all import
ant points. No one visiting the battlefield
| should think of patronizing any one else.
| One evening my host very kindly took me out
! of Gettysburg about miles to visit the fine
monument erected where the cavalry battle
was fought on the third day, between our
forces and J. E. B. Stuart cavalry. Gen. Lee
| sent him to attack and turn our right flank,
| while he pierced our centre with Picket's
men, thus capturing our right and crushing
the Army Of the Potomac, but Stuart was
| defeated as well as Picket, and the Confeder-
| ate cause was lost.
On the morning of the first days battle the
| valley of Gettysburg was beautiful as Para
| disc with it's fields of grain, we'll fenced, and
| neatly kept. but at the end of the third day
| it presented scene of destruction and DESC
| lation perfectly indescribable. The grain was
trampled into the ground, every fence leveled
| with the ground, and the earth strewn with
the wreck Of the conflict. Even the stones in
! the Genet terry had been leveled with the
ground. For years it remained neglected, but
has now recovered its early thrift, and is a
most delightful place to visit.
Last evening had very pleasant time in
the G. A. r. hall, with the Post, where there
are many valuable relics stored. The Post
Commanders stand is made from a section
cut from the trunk OF tree pierced by a
solid shot. To the student of history visit
to the battlefield of Gettysburg is an event
long to be remembered, and amply repays the
efforts made to secure it. W. E. s.