The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-04


ing as that Of Thermopyla, and Blenheim
and Bunker Hill.
The sun OF Gettysburg rose on the 1st
OF July and saw the army of the gray al
ready advancing in line OF battle; the army
Of the blue still Fastening eagerly forward
and converging TO this point. The glory
OF midsummer filed this landscape as If
nature had arrayed fitting scene for
transcendent event. Once more the un-
quailing lines so long arrayed against each
other stood face to face. Once more the
inexprcssible emotion mingled OF yearning
memory, OF fond affection, Of dread FORE
boding, of high hope, OF patriotic enthu-
siasm, and OF stern resolve, swept for
moment over thousands OF brave hearts,
and the next instant the overwhelming
storm OF battle burst. For three long,
proud, immortal days it ragged and swayed,
drifting from Seminary Hill far round TO
Wolfs Hill and Culps Hill then sweep
ing back, with desperate fury striking
the Peach Orchard and dashing
with fash and roar upon little
Round Top and Round Top, raging
in Devils Den, the earth trembling, the
air quivering, the sky obscured; with
shouting charge, and rattling volley, and
laundering cannonade piling the ground
with mangled and bleeding blue and gray,
the old, the young, but always and every
where the devoted and the brave. Doubt
ful the battle hung and passed. Then a
formidable bolt OF war was forged on yon-
der wooded khight and launched with
whitening blasts and roar OF fire against
the foe. II was living bolt and sped rs
| II resistless. IL reached and touched the
flaming line OF the embattled blue. IL
pierced the line. For one brief moment
in the sharp agony Of mortal strife II held
its own. II was the supreme moment OF
the peril of the Union. II was the heroic
crisis Of the war. But the fiery force was
spent. In one last, wild, tumultuous
struggle brave men dashed headlong
| against men as brave, and the next mo-
ment that awful bolt Of daring courage was
melted In the fervent heat OF an equal
valor, and the battle Of Gettysburg was
fought. 49,
II the rising sun Of the 4th Of July, 1868,
looked upon a sad and unwonted scene, q
dcsolated battle field, upon which the
combatants upon either side had beeu
American citizens, yet these combaiants
could they have seen aright, would hay,
hailed that day rs more glorious than cvol
before. For as the children OF Israel be
held Moses descending amid the clouds
and thunder OF the sacred mount bearing
the diunely illuminated law, so from tha
smoking and blood drenched field OF
which all hope OF future Union nigh
seem to have perished utterly, they vouiC
have seen a more perfect Union rising
with the constitution at last immutably
interpreted. and they would have heard
before they were uttered by human lips
the words OF which Gettysburg is the i'm
mortal pledge TO mankind, government o
the people, by the people, for the people
shall not perish from the earth.
The sun that set ON Gettysburg had no
seen, indeed, the end OF the war. Th'
army that Withdrew from the field main
tanned from that day war OF defense, bu
with a skill, n courage, and a persistenc,
which, although they could not summon
on either side brayer men than fought q
Gettysburg. called larger armies 10 th
field and demanded still greater sacrifice
The actual issue Was long delayed. Bu
not one army alone determined the resul,
II was the cooperation OF the east and tn
west which at length prevailed. Here n
Gettysburg Meade and his illustrious lieu
tenants had written their names in on
history. With other fields the iamou
! tAtllillla VI Allt tstrA EltaN Niitl W Alit va
have identified their renown; Sherman
who has outlived all foes aud calls ever,
true-heartcd American his friend; tn
silent noble, generous Thomas; Sheridan
our romantic Murat, our chivalric Rupert
; whose laurcls will crown with unfadin
luster the memory Of the bravcst o
the brave; and a great multitude O
: gallant officers worthy 10 rank with thcs
and 20 lead men as daunilcss as the mel
they fought. But by happy providence
Il was dccrccd that the leader Of all thcs
leaders and Of the united armies should b
/, apatriot with whom. at the head OF !, 900,
600 OF victorious soldiers, American libert.
= was rs secure as II was with Washington
whose magnanimity was worthy ofhis COIN
: ry,who, dying, knew no section and no foe
, aud by whose bier. iorccasting the happl
day that We behold, walked mourning an,
honoring, the licuienants OF Lee, his oil,
focman In the field. Might people no
Justly consider itself the favorite Of hcayeI
= which, led by Washington 10 indie
pcndencc, then torn by angry domcsti
; strife, should find itself brought 10 pcrfcc
and enduring peace, with malice iowar
none. with charity toward all, by III
patriotism Of Lincoln and the magnanimit
J Of Grant,