The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-09-27

ments OF the Union army, that was in the
field to watch and oppose him. Until il was
too late, Lee rushed headlong northwArd on
Pennsylvania soil, wholly unaware that his
antagonist was moving vigorously IN the
same direction TO intercept his columns.
Blinded by want of knowledge In this re-
spect, he marched his widely scattered corps
Here, on hostile soil, believing himself safe
from pursuit, he divided his troops into three
bodies, and allowed them to become removed
from cash other by more than days march.
When Lee was abandoning central Vir-
ginia to move north, the Union forces lay
on the Rappahannock line, facing southwark,
and threatening TO push on to Richmond;
and a. the Confederates sped their way to-
ward Philadelphia and Harrisburg, they
hoped that Hooker would remain there, Lees
skiIlful heutenants keeping up the appear
snce OF having q southern force In that vi
cinity In order TO delude the Union COM
mander as to the real situation. But acct.
dent enabled Hooker to foil Lee in his calcu-
lationA BY means Of lucky captures of dis
patches and incidental cavalry skirmishes
Hooker gained accurate knowledge that the
main part of the Confederate army had not
only vanished from his front, but had left
Virginia, and was actually approaching the
very gates OF great northern cities.
On receipt of this unexpected but timely
intelligence the whole Army OF the Potomac
turned northwArd in pursuit, just as the in
vader was prepared to seize his first prize,
Harrisburg; and, had it not been for the
knowledge thus accidentally obtained, Lee
would have been enabled to strike heavy
blow before anything could have reached him
in the way OF an opposing force
It was through accident also that the Con-
federats leader found himself in this emer-
gency, without any swift moving cavalry to
bring reports OF Hooker's threatening opera
tions In his rear TO his headquarters, and
when the situation became suddenly revealed
TO him through . chance scout, there was no
flying column at his command to fall upon
the advance Of the different Union corps, as
they marched toward him by several distinct
routes. For . leader like Lee this was an
unusual circumstance.
A few squAdrons OF troopers, with their
horse batteries drawn up on each road, might
have harassed the Union infantry and
obstructed their progress considerably. But
the Army Of the Potomac transferred to the
leadership Of Meade, as it entered Pennsyl-
wanna June 29 moved ON freely and conf
IDENTIFY into territory practically under the
control Of Lees hostile bands Meade did
not encounter 30 much as q cavalry picket,
and this accident of having no Confed-
crate cavalry in the way explains how IL
happened that when Lee, who had had %
many days the lead Of his opponent, had got
ten bis scattered corps into conjunction to
meet the foe no saw springing 50 lightly
across his track-the foe he had so carefully
arranged to mislead and retard, this foe
was actually in his presence, in line, ready
for combat.
OF the actual battle field events at Gettys-
burg there are q series Of strange things to
relate. During these three days, Of the
Warmest portion OF the year, the unusual
heat was very much mitigated by light
breezes, the sun being frequently yelled by
the clouds; yet not drop of rain fell till the
afternoon of the 4th. Seventy-six dogs.
marked the extreme heat the first day, 81
dogs. the I'd, 81 degSL the Sd The average
for the three entire days was a degs. Had
tbs rain, which fell from the 4th to the 9th,
come on the Cd, the roads would have been
impossible, the forced marches of the Union
soldiers could not have been made, and thu
slopes Of the ridges ON the field would have
been 20 slippery a. 20 make the scaling oi
them difficult, II not impossible. Had IL not
rained on the night Of the 18th Of June, 1915,
the future Of Europe would have been
changed. A few hours OF water, more or less,
FRUSTRATED Napoleon at Waterloo; storm
on the LIST or I'd Of July, 1868, might have
been fatal to Meade's army and to the Union.
Union advance, Reynolds, who had selected
thO held and made the plans to fight the
opening battle, fell MORALLY wounded in the
Arst hour Of conflict, and OF the four gen
orals-Howard, Hancock, Sickles and Slo-
cum-who next made their appearance on the
scene, Il 80 happened that the last one TO arrive
was superior In authority TO the ones prece4-
ing, and by virtue OF his rank assumed com
mand. So there was no permanent director
Of Affairs until after = desperate battle had
been lost, an army crushed and good ground
abandoned A greater misfortune still, oil
morO vital consequence than al. was tia fnci
thai the proper Union commander, Meade,
reached the front more than twelve hours toe
late Gen. Reynolds was killed on the morn
ing OF July I, and Gen. Meade did not reach
the lines OF Reynolds defeated troops unit
after midnight On the other hand, 4
proved a circumstance favorable to tn,
Union cause that q chain OF natural FORTH
cations existed at Gettysburg, consisting OF |
high ridge, terminating at either end IN rocl
bound crests, well sheltered by woods. Thi
ridge guarded two roads leading from tn
south, the Baltimore pike and the Washing
ton road, while IL commanded another Wash
ington road, all three roads being routes o
march for the Union army northward. Thi
strong position was secured, the difreren
corps commanders marching in in obedienc
70 orders, but by a very narrow margin
To Offset this Union advantage the Confed
crates found q curtain of woods around ever
important position occupied by themselve.
separated from Meades line by.sbout ons
half 70 three-quarters of a mile, which con
pletely concealed all their movements froE
view, affording them an opportunity c
massing their columns for attack unobserve
by the Union forces on the crests and hills.
When Reynolds, with the First corps {
Aeade's army, led the way to Gettysburg,
did not halt to secure actual possession {
these natural Notifications on Ceme4er
Ridge, that lay close by his line OF marcl
but pushed on TO seize the passes through ii
thin strips OF surrounding forest, in order I
prevent Lee from getting = lodgment
tam and on the high knobs which the