The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-07-30
A Visit to the Battlefield of
Gettysburg.
Sketches and Incidents of the Trip
--.Reminiscences of the
Great Battle, &c.
Special Correspondence to MIDLAND JOURNAL.

Great Battle, &c.
Special Correspondence to MIDLAND JOURNAL.
We met lady at farm house close by
the peach orchard, who was living here at
the time OF the battle and who gave us some
very interesting points, some which had
never been recorded in history. Here we
turn to the left, pass by the memorable
wheat field. This was the place on the
third day of the battle that Lee made his
grand final charge, with Hoods, Long
streets and Picket's divisions, against the
3rd Corps. Being unable to stand this fam
GUS charge by the best troops of the Confed
crate army Sickels was wounded and driven
back; but being reinforced by the l1:h and
18th corps from Culps Hill, and four
batteries from Little Round Top,
the corfederates were finally driv-
en- from the field after tremendous
slaughter on both sides. A comrade told
me whe was engaged in the fight, that in
the woods and wheat fields you could scarce
ly walk for the dead and wounded. In
this section of the field, the monuments are
thickly settled and is mentioned in history
as the "Valley of Death.'
Passing from the wheat field in a south
east direction we reach place of interest
known as the ''Devils Den." How it re
ceived the name was unable to find out,
but Judging from the massive rocks, rent
With horrid chasms and assures, and the
wild and desolate place in which it is Sit
mated, with the low murmuring stream o.
Plum Run gurgling by, was impressed
that the name was very appropriate. We
leave this dismal place, pass up around the
hill in an easterlv direction about one
fourth of a mile and reach the summit of
Little Round Top. This is an interesting
spot. 1t was the key to success on the last
day of the battle. We arrived here just in
time to hear Major Hollyworth, who is said
to be the best posted man found, describing
the battle as seen from this point. Here for
half hour he entertained us making the
great story of the battle most absorbing, and
telling it in such away that we could easily
understand and grasp the salient points of
the great conflict. A desperate effort was
made by both armies to get this position. The
Union army hauling their artillery up the
rocky sleeps only twenty minutes before the
confederates arrived, and a desperate fight
ensued for the position. officers out of s
in one battery and three-fourths of the men
were picked off by the sharp shooters, one
of whom was hid in the crevice of rock in
Devils Den," with piles of stone in front.
and succeeding in picking off every guard
that would attempt to load. A good marks
man noticed the crevice of rock from which
the MIME balls came, and with one we'll
directed shell with the fuse cnt the proper
length, dropped it in the crevico, literally
tearing him to pieces, so much that he
never received burial, and could be seen
for weeks after.
While listening to the interesting sketch by
the Major, at its close photographer made
his appearance on an eleyated platform and
calling "quiet, look this way and Ill take
picture of the group" which he did in
second of time. The hour of four having
arrived, we descended Little Round Top to
the park at the base of the hill which is the
terminus of the R. r. from Gettysburg, got
few sandwiches and hot coffee, turned our
steps in northern direction toward town
passing numerous monuments which are on
the regular laid out avenue leading from
Round Top to Gettysburg on Cemetery Rilge
We arrive at plain one and half story
house where Gen. Meade had his head
quarters. The old lady still lives there
who occupied the house at the time of the
battle. She appeared glad to answer the
many questions in regard to the battle that
the boys would naturally ask. 1 informed
her that reporter of the press was present
and would take note of the place and the
incidents she related. The plain and simple
description given by her of the battle and
the visit after, by Gen. Meade was quite in.
teresting. His son who was with him on