The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-09

history committed, viz, in attempting to cover
everything he covered nothing. He did, how
ever, succeed in accomplishing the purpose for
which the movement was made-he saved the
left flank of the army, though he had to sacri-
fee his corps to do it.
Thus that point was finally turned, and the
whole of Birney's Division was now pressed
back towards the position from which it had
advanced in the morning. In the meantime
Hood, having brushed away Wards Brigade
found himself at the base of Little Round Top,
and at once
PERCEIYING THE IMPORTANCE
of the position his men began to swarm up its
sides and up through the depression between
it and Round Top. Now was the crisis of the
day Could Hood once seize this spot the bat
tie was won, and there seemed to be nothing
to oppose him. Our army had simply used this
position as a signal station, and at this time
the signal officers seeing our line aanked and
the enemy advancing were getting ready to
leave. There was nothing else there, not a
man nor a gun to oppose Hood, when, by what
some have called an accident call Provi-
dence-Gen. Warren, who was then Chief En-
gineer of the army, arrived on the spot and at
a glance took in the situation. Ordering the
signal officers to continue waving their flags, to
give the enemy the impression that the posi-
ton was occupied, he hurried down to get
some troops to take possession, and meeting at
the base Barnes's Division, of the Fifth Corps,
who was now advancing, detached brigade
from it and hurried them forward at the dou-
ble-quick up the side. They reached the top
at nearly the same time that Hoods Texans
reached it on the other side; and now COM
menced the fercest fighting of the day for that
position-the officers with their pistols and
the men with dubbed rifles, and even with
stones, hurting the enemy down the slope.
After the first VOlley there was very little fir
ing-the bayonet and dubbed rife settled the
matter; but tho attack was renewed again and
again. Hood was determined to gain the posi-
tion and our officers, now understanding the
vital Importance Of it, as resolutely resolved to
sacrifice their lives to maintain it. 1t is not
my province to tell Of the fierce fighting there,
nor the terrible sacrifice of men and officers by
which that position was finally maintained I;
for the Third Corps had no hand in it. But
although the top of the mountain was secured,
the enemy still chung to the base of it, and all
the ground at the base of Round Top proper,
with the elevated spur and the Devils Den,
from which the left of our line had been
driven, with the rocks and woods which af-
forded him admirable cover, were still in his
possession, and from these positions he con-
tinued to pour a fierce fire upon our troops
with littledanger to himself; especially from
the Devils Den, which was itself almost fort
ress.
The other two brigades of Barnes's Division
of the Fifth Corps continued forward, and with
Birney's men formed a new line to resist the
advance which the enemy were again making,
and stubbOrnly contestiug the ground, held
him in check until, our hne at the Peach Orchard
having given way, the enemy came sweeping
down the line, and enveloping their right
flank they too were swept back. And now en-
sued terrible maze of charge and counter
charge. CaldWell's Division, of the Second
ny,AA ovzlay ,oc De-,
lars, of the Fifth, were thrown in, driving the
enemy and being in turn driven back always
being outfanked, Ayres being nearly sur
rounded by the superior numbers Of the enc
my. Meade was now
ON THE GROUND IN PERSON,
and threw forward brigade after brigade and
regiment after regiment. Itseemed as though,
convinced at last that here was where the bat
tie was to be fought, and rushing to the other
extreme, he would sacrifice half his army to re-
| gain position which few hours before he had
condemned as untenable; and this notwth-
| standing he still had secure possession of his
original position. More than that, he occupied
| Little Round Top in such force as to render il
| impregnable TO the enemy, and his flank was
safe. The loss of life on both sides was fearful
! as these bodies Of troops were thus hurled into
1.-THE @hirling vortex of this maelstrom of death
| The whole of the Fifth Corps; all of the Sec
| ond Inat hancock could spare, nlmSeif Win
| characteristic bravery leading them in parts
of the First and the Twelfth were brought over
from the right, and With the Sixth Corps held
the line in the rear upon the original position
| The enemy had suffered terribly and were
pretty we'll exhausted, and inst now Gen. Craw
ford, with the Pennsylvania Reserves coming
| up, with his fresh troops charged the enemy
| again driving him back across the WbeatfielC
to the woods beyond; and this ended the fight
] ircr for ba low hot - nf he fol
In the meantime while all this fighting wa
] pninp ON. the Second Divisnn or what vet re