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

s sa1ts "a. E Eiiiss
1G the squadrons were
broken and the
GEN RARHswoarH effort ended in q
moral disaster. But
the effect was such as to alarm the lines on
Longstreet's right, and whole division was
thus drawn OF from the column sent with
Pickett to charge Cemetery Ridge.
Equally brave and more brilliant in its
consequences was Gen. d. McA. Gregg's
saber fight in open field three miles east of
Gettysburg. To harass the rear OF Meade's
army during the operations of assaulting the
ridge with Longstreet's infantry, Lee dis
patched Gen. Stuart, with four brigodes, to
strike from the York pike across the Han
over road To the Baltimore pike, and cut on
the retreat that was expected to follow Pick
ett's assault. The commands were led by
Gen. Fitz. Lee and Wade Hampton, and
Coils Chambliss and Ferguson. To meet them
Gregg had the brigades of Custer, Irwin
Gregg and Mcintosh. After some E6itgnish-
ing stubborn battle was begun by the des-
perate advance Of Gregg to carry ridge
crowned with StuRrt's batteries. All the
scattered troopers are soon drawn in. The
field In front Of the batteries-on Rummels
farm is perfectly free for horsemen.
Fences have been removed, the surface
is smooth, and horses may gallop at will
The first mounted charge was made by the
First Virginia, and Custer led the Seventh
Michigan against them, crossing the whole
cleared field to q fence left standing, and
meeting them at saber's length. This was
principally carbine fight, and the Michigan
boys were soon fianked and thrown back.
But the work was becoming exciting and
both sides stood ready to dash in at the most
advantageous point. Capt. William E.
Miller, of the Third Pennsylvania cavalry,
McIntoshis brigade, describes what now took
place. About half mile from the fence
where the First Virginia stood t'there ap-
peared moving toward US a large mass of
cavalry, which proved to be portions of Fitz
Lees and Hamptonhs brigades. They were
formed in close column of squadrons and di-
rected their course toward the Spang-
Ter house ION the Union right flank.
A grander spectacle than their advance
has rarely been beheld. They marched
with well aligned fronts and steady
reins The polished saber blades glittered in
the piercing rays Of the bright summers sun.
Erect in their saddles, determined in pur-
pose, onward the Confederates come. All
eyes are turned upon them, and it seems like
folly to resist. Undaunted, however, our
troops rose to the situation. The batteries of
Chester on the right, Kinney in the center
and Pennington on the left Union guns
opened with well directed aim. Shell and
shrapnel met the advancing Confederates
and tore through their ranks. Closing up
| the gaps, on they marched, and as they drew
| nearer, canister was substituted by our
artillerymen for shell, and horse after horse
staggered and fell. Still they come on Our
mounted skirmishers rallied and fell into
line; the dismounted men fell back, and q
| few of them reached their horses The
First Michigan, drawn up in close
| columns Of squadrons near Penning
| tons battery, was ordered by Gregg to
| charge. Custer, who was near, placed him
telf at its head and OF they dashed. As the
two columns approached each other the
PAGES were quickened, when suddenly crash
bctokened the crisis. So sudden and violent
/ was the collision that horses turned end over
end and crushed their riders beneath them
The clashing Of sabers, the firing of pistols
| the demands for surrender and the cries OF
wounded combatants now filed the air.
FTeHTINe NAN FOR NAN.
This was the supreme moment, and McIn
tosh gathered up some fragments, and with
them, and his headquarter guard and staff
| charged in beside Clusters men. Sim
ultaneously two battalions of the Third
Pennsylvania and one of the First New
| Jersey were hurled down the flank.
of the Confederates, and all fell upon theil
nearest opponents single handed, and grad
ually the assailants were forced back t.
their old position, the ridge behind Rum
mel's farm house.
The shock of this battle was such that every
| participant and all within sound, were
startled by the strange and terrific clamor
| The owner Of the farm, Rummel, was in hi
| house, and with an army and its horses anC
cannon invading his yard and garden, wa.
fully prepared for startling experiences, but
when the charging columns met he was Sc
| astonished that he rushed out to see whai
new thing under the sun had happened.
An incident of the severe fighting is giveI
in Capt. Miller's narrative. Gin the midst o.
| the engagement, and Immediately in front Of
Rummers house, E. G. Eyster, of Company H
Third Pennsylvania, captured dismounteC
Confederate and covered him with hi
carbine. Evster's attention becoming drawn
OFF by the firing around him, the Confererat'
drew his revolver and shot Eyster horse, anC
now he held Eyster prisoner. Then Sergt
Gregg, of Company A, came up and witt
his saber cut the Confederate to the ground
Before Gregg could turn around anothe
Confederate came up and with fierce RICH