News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-03-05

The COnfederates rode on unmindful of
the canister and shell that soon plowed
their splendid line The ranks closed up
the gaps, the officers admOnished and en-
couraged their men. "Eeep to your sabersl
keep to your sabersl" was the caution in
the south ranks overheard by Gregg's
troopers on either side of the pathway
Wade Hampton rode at the head of the
column, his well known banner in the van.
Under the combined power of the pepper
ing carbne fire from either side and the
artillery missiles in 'front.' the Confederates
at length wavered. The horses reared and
jumped, the men shouted and gestured.
Seeing the confusion in the front ranks of
the enemy, Custer swung his saber in the
air, and shouting, Come on, you wOlver-
inesI' led the First Michigan full tilt at
HamptOn's line. Then came scene sell
dom witnessed in modern war.
Both sides were moving at a mad gallOp,
and when they met the crash resounded
above the roar of carbine and cannon.
Hampton and Clusters men were formed
in columns of squadrOns, and their fronts
were thus about equal in breadth. When
they struck horse met horse and reared,
and the heavier bore down the lighter.
Horses and their riders rolled over and
over beneath the trampling hOOfs of those
~
saddles against their mounted opponents,
and carried them down in the struggle, to
go on fighting it out on the ground. Cries
of surrender We're heard on all sides, and
horses were shot in orJier TO prevent their
riders from escaping. There was little
attempt at orderly formation" >" said Gen.
Gregg, but as fast as one squadron was
broken another rode to the front. The Con-
federates used their pistols chiefly, but my
men relied upon the saber. Hampton was
wounded by one of Clusters men, who used
his saber on him"
While Custer and Hampton fought on
the 'front.' the long Confederate column
stretching backward on the open ground
offered the men of Mcintosh a chance to
assail it from either side Capt. w. e.
Miller led his squadron of the Third Penn
sylvania against the rear of the Confeder-
ate line and pushed through, followed by
some of the First New Jersey. Capts.
Treichel and Rogers, of the Third Pennsyl-
vania, accompanied by Lieut.. Newhall, of
McIntosh's staff, put their squadrons in
from the other side and hewed their way
toward a Confederate flag Newhall at
tempted to cut down the flag bearer, but
his sword was met by that of an opposing
trooper, and the man with the flag thrust
the pike of the staff through the daring
lieutenant's face. The Confederates had
the odds with them everywhere, but the
persistent attacks of Gregg's little bands
on the sides and Clusters splendid battle
in front left them no chance to rally for
grand lunge. Their column gradually
spread out under the pressure of fighting
i'll so many directions, and Gregg's men
broke into it in many places. At length it
gave way, and a retreat, as mad as the for
ward march had been, begun. Again, enc
mics were on the right and on the left
Every trooper of Gregg's battalions rushed
up to the border of the field and fought on
his own hook. Many squads, and individ-
uals as well, became involved with the
Confederate mass, and, borne on in the re-
treat, fought so long as there was hope.
Stuart retired his column to the original
position and kept up a fire until dark
ness fell, but made no further attempt to
pierce the Union rea-. Pickett's charge
had failed, Lee was rapIlsed at all points,
and the battle of Gettysburg was over.
GEORGE L. KILMER.