The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-24

N II 4
~ ~ Rights is past?
A. III ~ la VIVA. need that the spur
va ~a,gt, When nj tie runner is safe
81 &A--7sHtliit within the goa;
<"erN1-r-s What worth il EuloSy :
blandest breath
Tyb.n x-y;sp.,e5 an oars that are hushed in death
No, no, If you have but word to cheer
Speak it while am alive 10 heHri
In tie accounts have read of the battle oil
Gettysburg | have never yet seen any reIer-
ence made to the very important part tlat tne
people OF that beautiful little city TOOK IN tha1
memorable struggle-none less important that IL
occurred on the day before the hatJle. REFER 20
the enthusiastic reception which the people o.,
Gettysburg gave to our cavalry as we feaChSu
the city On the day before the fight, and the
wonderful effect of that reception on our troops
It will be remembered that Lees army was
encamped some miles from Gettysburg, ana
when oar cavalry advance reached the Guy
and passed on through the streets, men, women,
md children crowded the sidewalks ano vice
with each other in demonstrations oil Joyous
welcome. Hands were reached up eagerly 10
clasp the hands of our bronzed ana dusty
troopers; cake, beer, wine, and mix MeIe
passed up TO the moving column as we marcieu
slowly along the crowded streets; doors, wln-
doWs, and balconies were filled with ladles
waving handkerchiefs; bright eyes and smlllng
faces looked down from open windows upon the
troopers, with now and then a matron trying
to smile through her fast-falling tears as she
remembers her own boy IN the army.
Altogether it was one OF the most touching,
spontaneous and heartfelt demonstrations my
eyes ever witnessed. So wildly was the scene
impressed upon my mind that every event,
every incident OF that march through the
streets OF Gettysburg remains with me after
the lapse of over % years as though II were hut
yesterday. ! remember as | rode beside our
column how eagerly citizen and his wife, who
Al frorf-yarti gate messed TO
come in and~have something to eat; and when
declined they cried, Cant we do something
for you?" Hardly knowing what TO say to
this hearty profer Of hospitality, replied:
You viii have opportunity to do some
thing for to-morrow." And the lady's
startled look as she asked, "Why, will there
be battle tomorrow"
I remember a balcony where stood a bevy of
young ladies dressed in white. waving their
hand6erchiefs, and ! verify believe that the
effect upon our troopers would not have been
more intensified had they been veritable angels
waving their white wings and reckoning them
on.
In order to understand something Of the
effect that this unique demonstration had upon
our cavalry that day we must remember their
history up TO that memorable time few
years before those bronzed and hardy cavalry
men were the boys and young men Of the North,
living IN happy homes, surrounded by friends,
hearts and all the dear delights OF happy, peace
full life hut war came. and with the generous
eagerness OF youth they responded to the coun-
try's call for soldiers, and in day, as it were,
without preparation, these lads, who were as
guiltless of any knowledge Of a soldiers hard
duties as children, were brought face to face
with stern, cruel, relentless war.
Then came months and months OF hard, labor
jous duty amid danger and deprivations, with
the coarse and meager soldiers fare, learning
discipline and all sodierly duties in the face Of
an enemy who were better prepared. better
drilled, and with more-experienced leaders.
Then followed, might have been eI-
pected. humiiating defeats. Again and again
the enemy taught Us our lack OF skill and disci-
pine. Harder yet was the facing Of sickness,
disease, and death in the swamps of the Chick
shomuy, and, hardest OF all, to be pushed back
day after day to the shelter OF our gunboats on
the James River. Oh, il was hard, hard
school ia which our cavalry lads learned their
lesson, hEt they learned it, learned it st a fear
ful cost, but under circumstances that gave
them muscles of iron aBd hearts of oak. They
had learned to use the carbine. and saber. and
pistol, and to use them efectually; they
had learned 10 obey orders, that most diff
cult lesson to the volunteer soldier; they had
acquired confidence IN their arms, confidence
ID themselves confidence in their leaders; and
that Summer day when we reached Gettys-
burg there was not a caydiryman in our ranks
who did not feel that he was the equal Of any
other caralryman, whether in the blue or the
gray. Tie careless happy lads of few years
before had been transformed into stern reso-
lutte, veteran soldiers.
During al those dark days in Virginia they
had not seen a womau's smile, or been cheered
by one word or glance Of approval. But now,
all is changed; we are IN grand old loyal
Pennsylvania. We had reached Beulah land
No mere bareback and salt pork, but great
L. g -. H. :
been used 10 see ladies scowl, as we rode along
the Virginia pixies, until we expected nothing
else. And now, TO see nothing but smiling
faces and approving chances, was like mama TO
our hungry souls Small wonder that those
girls waving their handkerchief TO our unac-
cnstomed eyes were vision Of almost celes-
tia beauty.
am not giving you romance, but sober facts
rs they appeared 10 US that day at Gettysburg.
Not 20 have been affected BY the kindness Of
those people, under any circumstances, would
have been impossible. To receive such rcccp-
tIOn under such circumstances as we did was
an InspiTation. Ii awoke every feeling of chiv-
airy IN our souls. 1t recalled to memory all
the dean aud loving ones we had left at home.
IL brought back with overwhelming force that
love o. country that had first impeIled Us TO en-.
list IL inspired 10 heroic deeds The men
who lay down on their blankets that night
were capable Of grander, nobler deeds than
they had yet performed.
j remember that night Of having charge of q
reserve picket-post out on d turnpike near g.
farmers house, and how he invited US all in TO
supper, aud wasted the man out on post to come
In, toe. And when L x planned that he was on
duty, tic kind soul offered to take his place
while be came and ate supper; and how the
came Old farmer came out and chatted with US
till late at night.
an getting old now, and the war memories
are fading from my mind, but every Iitt1e event
OF that day seems TO remain. Even in my
dreams that night i saw my sisters waving
their handkerchief. and another, not a sister,
standing under the naples by her cottage door,
waved her handkerchief God bless her. She
IL the mother of my children now.
Well morning came; the bugles sounded in
the clear Summer air, and We aWoke ready, as
never before TO do or die.
Shots were heard at the outer pIeket-line-
few at first, then more and more in quick sue
cession then the sharp crack of the carbines
told US our troopers were at work. ] will not
attempt 10 describe what followed. We know
that Heth's Division of infantry advanced to
take the position occupied by our cavalry. But
Buford Was there-Buford, that grand old cav
airy leader-and he had decided the night be.
fore that that position must be held for our
own Infantry. Can it be donef If within the