Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-29
Written for THE EVENING" STAR
THE GREAT BATTLE OF THE WAR.
Copyright, 1851
PART III.
2ECAPITULAToRY.

Let us return to the Reserves, whom we left
Just resuming their march after enjoying well
come rest on the afternoon of this same LIST of
July. Besides the bodily recuperation which
they had obtained the incidents attending their
re-entry upon their native soil had exalted
their spirits To q high pitch OF enthusiasm, and
they buckled down TO the hard work of a July
nights march with a hearty goodwill. The
march lasted till two o'clock on the morning
of July 2, when, after twenty-five hours of
waking, they were permitted once more to
seek in sluinber surcease OF toll At little
after daybreak they were again afooE, and
about noon they reached the battlefield.
Cemetery Ridge wore now different aspect
Generals Howard and Doubleday stood at the
gate of the cemetery counseiing together how
best TO secure their position, and directing the
placing of their broken battalions. Hancock
had arrived, with full authority from Meade to
assume general control. His soldierly eye had
sition and on his recommendation orders had
been sent out to all the subdivisions of the army
to concentrate Cemetery Ridge. BY six
O'Clock of the LIST most of the third corps aud
all Of the twelfth had arrived, and the first
corps had been reinforced by STANDARDS Ver-
mont brigade. During the night General
Meade reached the field. and at the break of
dawn he commenced forming his line.
FORMING THE LINE-THE FIRST ONSET.
General Meade first contemplated massing
his forces on the right, and precipitating them
upon the enemy's left, commanded by Ewell,
who occupied the town. Pursuant TO THIS plan,
the Reserves, on reaching the field, were
posted I lgether with the rest of the Fifth Corps
In rear of the Twelfth Corps which constituted
Meade's right change of plan afterwards
caused their transfer TO the left in OF Little
Round Top. The general line OF battle, as it
came finally To be, a follows: ON the eX-
IRENE right, the Twelfth Corps; next it, on the
left, one division of the First Corps, on Culp's
Hill; then the Eleventh Corps, ON Cemetery
Hill, with two divisions OF the First Corps at
the base; then came the Second Corps; then the
Third Corps; then the Fifth Corps. forming the
extreme left. the sixth Corps being held near
the left as a general reserve For variety
OF reasonsS which time and space do not admit
OF going into here, General Sickles had formed
his corps-the Third-in such a way that it
was thrown considerably in advance of the
general line, making salient angle towards
the enemy, the right side OF which extended
nom the general line out to a peach
orchard near the EmmettSburg road while its
lett side reached back towards Little Round
Top. At about half-past three O'Clock on the
afternoon OF the I'd OF July the enemy attacked
this position of the Third Corps the first onset
being directed against the left side of the angle
described. cannot attempt here any detailed
account of the desperate fighting which this
attack involved, my only purpose being to
allude to it as leading up to the first participa-
ton OF the Reserves in the active work OF the
battle. SIckIes' lett was held by General j.
Hobart Wards brigade, which occupied the
OPEN ground covering the approaches to Little
Round Top. Wards line was long and thin,
and the enemy Outtianked 1t by the front of
nearly two brisades His overthrow was inev-
table. but me made IL nara To- aecomnIish
Twice he drove back the attacking forces but
was finally compelled to sucCunO. leaving to
Tops.
THE KEY TO THE FIELD.
Considering their prominence, as features of
the landscape and their commanding position
IN reference to the Union lines, these heights
had been curiously neglected. Except that
signal-statiOn had been located on Little Round
Top no occupation OF either of them had up to
this time been attempted. General Warren,
who was Meade'S chief engineer, having occa-
sion Just about the time OF Wards overthrow
To ride to the signaistation to take look at the
a mi m anpa
of securing Little Round Top from being seized
BY the enemy. an event Which seemed perilous-
~ imminent. Once let the enemy gain firm
footing on Little Round Top and he was master
Of the situation. He would flank our whole DO
sition- Ii was maniIe>tly the key of the battle
field, and any hazard ii must be held
Barnes division of the Fifth Corps had lust
6een ordered by sykes TO go to the assistance of
horse down the slope, Warren dashed over 10
Barnes and took The responsibility of detaching
Vincents brigade OF his division, and hur-
ried it back to take position on Little Round
Top.
THE STRUGGLE FOR "RoUND TOP
On comes the victorious column of the enemy
pushing eagerly up the Iavine between the
Round Tops, intent on Selling Little Round
Top, which appears to them to be without de-
tenders. Hastily forming his command on a
spur jutting out from the sout hern side of the
heights, Vincent succeeds in checking the
enemy's advance Sending for reinforcements
Hazlet's regular battery, supported by the One
Hundred and Fortieth New York under Col
ORorke, comes to his assistance. The fighting
Is terrific O'Rorke, Vincent, aud Hazel ali in
turn are killed, Gen Weed is fnortalIv Wounded
Col. Rice succeeds Vincent in command and
Col. Chamberlain, of the Twentieth Maine regi-
ment, by skiIlful handwriting and desperate
fighting at last drives the Z 'nlederates out of
the ravine. and Little Round Top is for the
moment saved. Fishers brigade of the Re-
serves had been ordered to the assistance of
Rice and Chamberlain. and IL comes upon the
scene Just as Chamberlain has finally repused
his foe. but not too late to hasten on 10 Round
Top proper, and snatchiHg IL from the enemy's
grasp, 10 secure its subsequent safety. one OF
Fishers regiments, the Eleventh, fortunately
as the event Afterwards proved, Is lett 10 add Its
strength to McCandless brigade, which has not
yet become engaged.
ANOTHER CHARGE.
But only for time is Little Round Top safe
A fresh and larger force of the enemy again
assails the height, this time directly in front
The First and Second Divisions OF the Fifth
Corps successfully meet the asSailants in the
plain below, and tor a time stem the oncorning
tide OF Southern valOr that dasheS almost TO
the foot OF Little Round Top. BrayeIy ave
desperate, do tine Union troops strive To hold
their ground. But they are oyerpowered and
borne down. Soon they swept ruthIessIy
away, and nothing hinders The exuitant Toe
from climbing the Ooulder-oesprinkledh hillside,
and cIUsnlnS the crest with his victorious
bayonets- The crisis OF the great battle is at
hand. only give them i've minutes more and
the Confederate battaiiOns will have planted
themselves OH this commanding eminence, and
falling the Union flank Will roll Up the
Army o. the Potomac ike scroll. What mo-
menlous interests hang Ga that little span of
time. The perpetuIty OF the Union is at that
moment in extremer peril than IL ever was be-
fore, o., God grant! than IL shall ever be again
THE RESERVES TAKE \ HAND.
In two long lines the Conlederates approach:
their line is just beginning the ascent when
suddenly, near The top OF the hill. appears a
Union force. II Is McCandiess' brigade OF
CTawiOrd'S Pennsylvania Reserves. Moving
rapidly Upon the face OF the nil in columns OF
fours in another Instant. il by magic. lis
formation Is changed into column OF regiments
6ud%ne steePucss OF the ground permitting the
rearward regiments To deliver their fre over
beicheS forth burst OF lead and fire that
but veterans Of the Peninsula, of Bull Run OF
Fredericksburg, OF Antietam and vi south
Mountain. They load and nre rapidly, but
without hurry or nervousness. Steadily re-
morseles>Iy, they plump vOliey after voIIey
into the very bOsoms of the now halted and
aismayed Confederates, VINO see themselves
shut cut from their antic pated prize by a
Eall OI name. But Tor little they try braveIy
~ cling 10 the rocky hillside. such reply as is
oOSsIyie 10 IL fire destructive they gaiiantiy
attempt At one moment IL looks III they
would even dare a desperate charge up the
rUgged height, but the dreadful storm of
lead winch pOurs upon them passes
human endurance. Their lines WAIVER, and at
that instant Crawford gives his Pennsy ivania
boys The word To charge. With their peculiar
Cheer, when has more than once before sound
Cd tie kneN ot defeat in the ears of their
enemy, the Reserves plunge down the hillside,
bringing their pieces 10 the charge they run.
THIS - ali That Is needed 10 complete the Con-
iedeTate rOut- Away they 20 in devil-take-