The National tribune., 1893-10-05

The Chateau of Hougemont at Waterloo
and Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg are as
prominent in the history of these struggles
as the names of the several fields upon VIII cl
those contests cumulated in the aggregation
of their several forces. The same relations
of such points In ali battles invariably pre-
sent themselves more by the force of circum-
stances than the genius or military prescience
of the commanding General.
The contest around such points always
RACES hotter and feIcer than in those parts
of the field where the opponents have pre-
viously arranged for the main battle.
The Ridge at Gettysburg sent the Confed-
eracy booming 10 its long sleep, and Bloody
Lane received the dying spark of McClellan's
farewell glimmer Of prOmethean warmth.
The roar Of musketry at midday of the
18th centering around The houses of Num-
ma and Roulette must have conveyed to an
intelligent commander that here should be
given the coup de grace whose striking blow
and vigorous arm must yield the laurels to
the fortunate striker The blow failed to
fall
Many prominent officers of both sides fell
at this part OF the battle; the Lane itself
was being flied with its defenders. Promi-
nent amongst them were Gen. Israel B.
Richardson and Others whose names are not
at this late date recalled.
The Federal troops, in proportion to the
number engaged or concentrated on this
point, lost more men and suffered more in
killed and wounded than on any other part
of the field.
The swaying of battle lines to and fro
beyond the bunker Church, across the noted
cornfeld, was far less disastrous in its effect
thar in he I'm tho RIGHT
where Mansfield fell. the troops advanced
and if repealed fell back into the East Woods,
to gather breath and strength for another
spring. Under the shelter of the woods the
line could be reinforced and reformed, its
alignments perfected with judicious care;
but every soldier knows the difficulty of
forming lines under fire, the case around
the farmhouses, when men were falling fast,
and slOwly-adyancing lines were almost lost
sight OF. Retreating was as dangerous as, If
not more so than, advancing. Forward was
the continued order Reluctantly, sullenly,
stubbornly the foe retired, setting fire to
Mumma's house, that its hould not shelter
the Yankees.
In the retreat and advance of both armies
from the fight on South Mountain the Sun
day previous, the BoonsbOro and Sharps-
burg pike became the leading route, passing
as it does through Keedysviile, from thence
across the Antietam Creek to Sharpsburg,
the distance between these two points being
about three miles.
This important road was persisteL y
cared for by both armies, forming as it did
an easy and convenient route TO the Shep-
herdstown ford across the Potomac, and this
thoronghfare leaving Boonsboro is the direct
road via Keedysville, Sharpsburg and the
Potomac River at the ford alluded to above
Alter the fight of South Mountain the
COniederaies began rating along this
pike, selecting such favorable points as
might afford shelter to mark their move
ments, as well as positions of defense.
A stand was made on hill about one
mile west Of Keedysyille. 4 force Of the
enemy seized on this ridge, that traverses
the road at right angles, exchanging shots