St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-09-15


puES 'lia 'le poor c''tse OF the lel'ls seemed
W Sl'i III 'i,c terror Vi 'iielf OWNERS as lhey
roa'ileo III strange pastures 'Ti7ea " inc
moving lines u oat'1e from larhi 10 1arhl'
FoELoRN HOPE STRUGGLES.
When the battle was resumed on the Sec
ond day it WAS with phalanx against pha-
lanZ, the stout ranks OF Longstreet rushing
upon SicklcS' mea between Devils Den aid
The Peach Orchard on the Union left flank
The attack was made at O'Clock. Rows Of
Confederate cannon opened with deadly eff
feet, and the infantry moved up to deliver
best Of soldiers, a 1ian!1ing movement. The
force Of it was against Slchles' left center,
his weakest point, occupied by a thin line OF
infantry and the Ninth Massachusetts bat
terry, under Capt. John Bigelow The Ninth
belonged to the artillery reserve and was
posted here by the chief Of tic brigade Maj
Freeman McGilvery, with the order to hold
the ground until set TWO batteries on the
ridge. Give them grape and canister" A
Confederate battery advanced and unlirl-
beceI close to BigeloW, and the infantry
rushed upon his guns 50 close as to be blown
to fragments. Some climbed upon the
limJers and SHOT down the horses. When
=
position Bcelo" retired two Of his pieces by
the aid Of ropes and the force OF the recoil
at each discharge. More than half OF his
mo,l and officers were down, and On arriving
at tho I'ros;le house, where there was Il com
handing knoll, he made another stand until
lie was completely surrounded and then or
Gered his men to save themselves. Now be-
gan q fight for lie and freedom, and the bat
S.>1-,.~a 1-ero ,,SnI
Tense Private LiSal Drained 4 Confederate
with the heavy head of his ra1lnaer. Bige-
lows fgh5 was q foGiorn hope and lasted
three hours, and in it lie expended over three
tons Of ammunition. Eighty out of bis
lightweight horses fell, two officers were
killed, aad BiSelow was severely wounded;
and OF Tho l>e;i seven were killed and sixteen
wouadcd, while bu1 two surrendered.
Among the infantry re-enforcements that
came to sllc"lcs' ald III the heat OF the struS-
gle were the bI1Sades OF BROOKE, Cross,
Eoo,s and Kelly, Of C2IdwelIs division, Han
coc,.,5 Second corps. AS hellys men (the
Irish brigade came up to the line of fire the
commander ordered halt, and each soldier
knet while priest pronounced dissolution
Oh I'LL who might fall. Mingled with his
solemn "AGen' sounded the word For
ward" aid the remnant of the five battalions
of Corcoran and MeaGhcr, now reduced to
six companies Gil told, moved on under their
banners or the green and the blue. look
Went forward not less glorlously. y staff
officer was riding across tao field to find
Caldwell ald ask for aid at a threatened
point, end he CHANGED to meet Zoo! before
Caldwell appeared. To save time he asked
Zool1 to So with him. My Orders ere to
follow me ooieInl," said Hook. But q glance
to the lines told him that this was no time for
ceremony, and Ee added: "If you will give
lne the order OF Gen. 6ickles ! viii obey it.
Then bis order is that you file your
brigade TO the right and move into action
here"
Eoo.l wheeled his men cat Of column and
started across the Wheat Field, but exhausted
and diS0rG29lzcd masses OF Neh, GriFen back