The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-10-06
CHAPTER VII

SA~"S "''
warp
| 1t was the third day OF the terrible battle
of Gettysburg, and the speaker was Gordon
| Grey. Meade had succeeded Hooker.
| And the sight was indeed thrilling. BY
| Lees command two hundred guns belched
forth their volleys on Cemetery Ridge, and
| for two mortal hours the air was thick with
! shrieking shells. Then the deafening can
nonade lulled, AMI the Confederates poured
| from the woods il double line of battle over
mile long, with sklrnlishers lowering on
their 'front.' Even the Union ranks could
scarca forbear a cheer of admiration. as
silently, and with splendid steadiness, that
magnificent column of eighteen thousand
men moved up the slope. A hundred guns
tore great gaps in their ranks, and still they
advanced with Spartan fortitude. Infantry
volleys smote their front, yet they pushed
fozyvard-nay, they even bayonetcd Che can
noneers at their guns and planted their hags
Old the breastwork. Then upon this strug-
Cling mass the Federals conyerged on every
side No human endurance could stand the
storm, and Lees ranks fell broken and
shattered, like forest trees swept by the
blast Of the tornado.
| 1t was night.
From a clear sky the stars looked. down
on the bloc d-stained slopes OF Gettysburg,
| where lay forty Thousand corpses, silent
witnesses of the three days carnage.
| Nine hours had Harry Winthrop been in
the saddle; well had he borne himself in
charge and pursuit; but, while his surviv-
ing comrades had flung themselves to rest
on the beaten sward, there was no relaxa~
ton for him, for the roll had been called, and
among the missing was Gordon Grey.
With feverlsh anxiety tbs, young officer
crossed and rec:ossed the battlefield,
searching for his friend among the count
| less bodies that lay ttere. Already fatigue
parties were abroad burying their dead
comrades by torch-ight, and Of these he
earnestly inquired if the Michigan lad was
| among the number OF their slain.
| All in vain, till at last in the dawn of the
morning SUCCESS seemed to crown his
efforts.
! "Some Of your fellows" said grizz1ed
sergeant, ellie over yonder, and there is
Just such youngster as you Gescribs
among them.'
II must see for myself" Harry said, With
determination. essay, Sergeant. will give
you and your men fifty dollars to uncover
the grave Of the boy you speak Of"
"Not Tor fifty thousand dollars" was tho
quick reply; shut for the sake OF such good
comradeship as you have shown, we will do
our best to help you TO And him. do not
know exactly where be is, but there are
not more than q score Of graves in the row,
and the poor fellows ara not very deep
under the sod.'
No, their graves are not very deep-iust
q couple Of feet Of earth over them, as they
lay wrapped in their blankets asleep in
death It was a Rhastly task to uncover
the l,teless faces, but 1t was done at last,
but the ono that lay there was not that, OF
Gordon Grey, but Of another lad whose
friends would never find his resting place
OF course, Winthrop had to write and beg
his mother to break the sad news to the
stricken widow. BE could picture to him
self the agony Of that lone heart, whose
wounds were beyond the healing Of human
sympathy, and If he dropped tear On the
letter whish bore the sad tidings, it was in
my humble opinion nothing TO be ashamed
OF, even in soldier.
But to boots and saddlesl History can
not wait in wartime for US to weep for lost
friends. The rest Of the year was spent by
the lighthouse in raids On Lees army,
which had retreated to the vicinity Of Rich
mond, in skirmishing adventures With
Moseby's men, and in foraglng expeditions,
which, if they gave promise Of little glory,
were well spiced with danger to the partici-
pants Then followed the retirement into
winter quarters, which was now made more
endurable by the introduction Of fox-huntr
ing, horse-racing and other manly sports,
that tended to relieve the monotony Of the
weary months.