The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-07-26


'.WhatI" shrieked the impetuous veteran,
tomorrow morning-to Philadelphia III
start within fifteen minutesI"
There was bustling and a buzzing, the
surgeons, assistants and ambulance masters
all joining in, and finally the surgeon said
he should start by midnight.
''Nor" said the general, calner now, but as
decided as ever, perhaps, was too hasty;
I'll give you one hour to start me on the road
to Philadelphia"
The general then called for cigar, and be-
fore darkness came on the blue streaks Of
smoke were curling above his litter as he
moved on MANNED, but naughty and defiant,
home on a stretcher by company of men to
Winchester.
AN ARTILLERY PRELUDE.
This was Lees initiative to Pickett's
charge, the fire from 13S cannon concentrated
on Meade's left center Under it fell soldiers
with cigars between their lips or food in their
hands, while some were killed as they lay
sleeping or doing. Eighty Union guns took
up the challenge in reply. Meade and Han
cock rode along the line on the ridge to en-
courage the men to stand to their places, and
band struck up 1.-THE Star Spangled Ban
ner" Lee and Longstreet exposed, them
selves to the fire on Seminary Ridge, and
under the inspirations of the scene men forgot,
as it were, that they were mortal, or else
despised the thickening danger
Under the cover of that fire came Pickett's
column on their famous charge. The charg-
ing line really had three columns, Wilcox
brigade and Pickett's and Heth's divisions,
although Pickett alone reached the objective
point, the copse of trees at Ziegler's Grove.
This latter column moved one mile, the last
third of it under a sweeping canister fire.
The ground was so much exposed that the
Union officers, when they saw the purpose Of
the enemy, were astounded. There was des-
perate work done, though, and the men who
! saved the line richly earned their glory.
The closing scene of this fight is told in the
official report of Capt. Andrew Cowan, First
New York Independent battery:
90 1 received orders to move &c the
crest with Gen. Webb's brigade, as the
enemy was advancing I moved up at a
| gallop and came into position, several other
| batteries on my right and left The Con-
| federate skirmishers had just commenced
| firing, and their second line was advancing
| from the woods l commenced FIR
| ing canister at 200 yards, and the effect was
greater than / anticipated My last charge
| IA double header literally swept the enemy
from my front, being fired at less than
| twenty yards. My battery was the
| only one remaining on this part OF the hill,
the cannoneers being driven from ten pieces
on my right and the batteries on my left
having retired"
TIE CAVALRY CoMBATS.
Instances of individual heroism in the
Union lines during this cannonade and
charge would include nearly every regiment
and battery engaged. The bravery sof the
officers was conspicuous Cushing, mortally
wounded, nerved himself for parting shot
Gibbon and Hancock were wounded while
directing an attack on the flank of Picketti
column, and Webb, severely hurt, and see
ing the desperate situation of his brigade, re
ceiving the full force of the assault, stag
gered back to battery and asked for 1
couple of cannon to come to his aid
During the movements preliminary to tn
great assault, Gen. Fitzpatrick, with tn
cavalry brigades OF Merritt and Farnsworth
crossed over to the west of Plum Run, below
the mountainous ridge where Longstreet'
columns were resting after their fierce BATH
of the {, ~ond day, and attempted to seiz
EmmitsbIl Tad. Longstreet's successes i
pushing Sick.es back had opened this road Z
the Confederates, who used it at this poin
for bringing mp supplies The ground her
was rough, cut up by lanes and ridges, an
crossed by stone fences, which the infantr