Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-12-02

eessor of the old First that fought at
Manassas, was the only Msrylsnd or
ganization Of that arm in the service,
and its members consequently felt as
body and as individuals a peculiar
pride that upon them. small though
their numbers were, fell in large de-
gree the duty and the obligation of
upholdir & the honor of their native
Slate. This monument will tell
whether OF not that honor was safely
lodged and cared for.
The rart playea...v-the regiment
In THE e,lnnscs;on i nu..sor K to tell
The morning ofthe Goth Of june found
it in camp near Carlisle, under field
officers Lieut. Col Herbert and Major
Goldsborough. 1t was attached to
the brigade of Gen. Geo. II. Steusrt,
in Johnson's division, EwelIs corps.
When the command moved from camp
on that morning it was with ill-con-
cealed dissatisfaction that the men
found the movement 10 be, as thev
supposed. one of retreat. 1t was not
until the morning Of the first Of Jlly
that the movement was so far develop.
ed that lis aggressive character became
plain. When the sounds OF the en-.
gagement then progressing at Gettys
burg first struck upon their ears a<
they reached the crest of the ridge
that shuts in the Cumberland valley
upon this side, and the word was pass.
ei along the line. Close up, men close
up. Hill = corps Is III, the wild shouts
and hearty cheers and quickened pace
showed how ready they were for the
fray.
Passing over the scene OF the first
days engagement, they bivouaced fot
the night in the open ground to the
north and east OF the town, sharing
III the general belief that before the
dawn Of another day they would be
called upon to charge the heights
trowning in their front. 1t was with
something OF feeling Of dismay, GER
tainly with one Of disappointment, that
the tired men were reused from their
slumbers on the following morning to
find the sun high in The heavens and
no nomovement made. From their some
what exposed situation they were
moved TO the protection of the wooded
ground, still further to the east, and
there, in anxious anticipation, they
awited the signal for advance, which
they knew could not be longed delay
ed. At last, about four in the after
noon, the signal gun Was fired. In an
instant the roar and din of over 200
field pieces filled the air, telling but
too plainly what work would be re-
quired OF them before many moments
had passed.
The fire slackens, and their veteran
experience tells them that the infan-
try is now to be called into action.
The command is given. and steadily
the line moves on closer and closer
still to the foot of the heights, where
are the serried lines of infantry ana
the numberless batteries posted too far
above our own to be engaged with
prospect oi advantage The balls
begin to tell before Rock creek is gain
ed. Crossing that, the difficult ascent
begins, the fire thickens and the shrek
ing shells fill all the air with horrii
sound, but still the line moves on over
the huge projecting rocks, men falling
at every step, till at last, by nine at
night, the position is reached that is
TO be marked by the stone we rear to-
day. Herbert is down and the line
Is fearfuiy thinned but it is no time
to count the !osses-only time to think
Of the enemy in front aud upon the
flank. For the tired men there Is TO
be little rest or sleep, for, wedged IN
as they are in dangerous proximity to
the verv vitaIs of the Federal line, the
position must be held, no matter at
what hazard, and scarce a man can be
spared from the active watch. They
know, too, that the work before them
when the morning dawns is to be of
more trial still. aud SO they pass the
night, not knowing when the fierce
rush may be made in the attempt to
hurl them from their place, knowing
nothing Of support to the right or to
the left, trusting that all is well, and
ready, when the command is given, for
further sacrifice.
+ When the daylight comes they find
themselves almost alone. They stand
upon the extreme left Of the line, with
only the fraction that remains of the
Tenth Virginia further on. The posi-
tion seems scarcely tenable when, after
having lain for hours under a wither-