Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-12-28

INSIDE THE UNION LIKES.
was delivered across comparatively
level plain against troops who had
scarcely any advantage in the matter
If ground, barring the trivial stone
wall which fringed the front.
LOCKING at the field from this stand
point anyone can understand how Gen.
Longstreet might well have opposed
Lees determination to assault the fell
eral center, and can imagine how sick
his heart must have been when he saw
those three brigades of Virginians
marching to certain death and destruc-
ton. But Lee had fought two detached
corps Of the army Of the Potomac on
the LIST. and had failed to crush them;
he had assau ted desperately both TANKS
on the I'd and had failed, and on the 81
there was left for him only the Ma
poleonic tactics of breaking the center.
That awful charge would never have
been made. presume. if Lee had not
believed that his terrible two hours
cannonaae had silenced the batteries
along the federal front. Had IL been
supported as it should have been, It
might, perhaps, have succeeded, but all
.h.t was vital and forceful in Lees
armies marched with Pickett in that
fatcful charge.
Col. Freemantle, the English officer
Of the guards who had accompanied
Lee in his invasion Of Virginia, sat on
the fence on Seminary Ridge when
Pickett came down the slope and moved
against the federal center with the pre-
cision Of parade, and when The thin and
trokon ranks had almost reached the
famous "Bloody Angle" he swung his
cap ia the air and shouted; at wiz
succeed; it is the grandcst charge the
world ever saw." But Gen. Longstrcct
SAYS that ne knew that the ess5rt hal
failed; FIRST. because no l31y cf ,aen oa
Garth could stand saeh n storm of leaa-
en- and iron hail as Piclctts zen en-
lured, and second because there YVES
absolutely no support CA IaaS or II
rear for the brave men WHO had been
bliYdty sent to fee r,.atioa.
There is eae sad and pathetic picture
Of this battle which Ees always touched
me. but which the Gnid guides seem to
Rave overlooked On tie last days
battle. when Gen. Lc, was preparing to
hurl himself against the federal center
cavairp charge was made on his RICH.
wing lying around the Round Tops and
the DEVILS Den, viii h for absolute fu-
tilitv, fatality and atsurdity has not
been equalcd since the famous six hun
,lred rode against the batteries Of Bal
| al1lava. Clusters cavalry was lowering
on the extreme left when it entered
into the head of Gen. Farnsworth to
make diversion by charging into the
midst of the confederate troops at that
time not actively engaged. He had just
been promoted to a brigadier general
ship few days before, and had Dor
rowed a pair of generals shoulder
straps from one of his brother officers
These he had stitched upon linen
coat, and. proud of himself and his OPP
portunity. he was anxious to put his
finger mark upon the great battle.
Sword in hand he galloped down with
his little body of followers upon the
desperate Texans and Alabamians of
Hoods division. He was treated to
terrible infantry fire and at least two
batteries opened upon him with grape
and canister. He rode around in cir
Gle. and as he rode the guns of the bat
teries were turned upon him until il
seemed as if not one of his foolhardy
band would return alive. Gen. Farms
worth was mortally wounded and his
command was absolutely cut to pieces.
Col. Oates, of the Fifteenth Alabama.
told me some time ago that he was sat
isfied that Farnsworth shot himself
with his own pistol when he found
that he was seriously wounded, lest he
should be made prisoner. lie said that
one of his Alabama soldiers came TO
him on the field with pair of shoulder
straps which he said he had cut from
the coat of a Yankee major who had
lust been killed.
Col. Oates recognized the insignia OF
the bragadier general, and knew by
the color that cavalry officer had been
slain. He was taken to where Gen.
Farnsworth's body was lying, and upon
examining some papers was able to
identify him He said that Farnsworth
had several wounds upon his body; any
one of which might have proved fatal.
and that the shot in his head had evil
IDENTIFY been self-infi.cted- Be this as it
NAV, no drawer nor nobler officer ever
laid down his life on the battlefield than
this gallant son of Illinois. That his
ambitious charge was i'll advised, no
one doubts. for even in that day mount
ed cavalrymen with sabers had no more
chance at close quarters with infantry
and artillery than at this time-which
is absolutely niL-Col. John A. Coolrrill.