The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-26

GENERAL GREENE IN 1863.
selves checked In front by the deadly fusil-
ladies' poured across the parapet, worked
around to the right toan empty breastwork
and began a fire on Greene's men from the
rear. Should they advance in that direc-
tion few rods they would reach across the
Baltimore pike and close the only avenue
of communication between Greene's forlorn
detachment and the Union army. AS it
was, one of the regiments sent out from
Cemetery Hill to reinforce Greene--the
Fourteenth New York brooklyn Zouaves)
ran into the line of the Tenth Virginia
Confederate before reaching the Twelfth
corps front.
When General Greene discovered the enc
my's fire coming from the rear, he called
about him band of skirmishers number
ing about GO muskets.
Theirs not TO reason why,
Theirs not to make reply,
and they followed their leader blindly
along the intricate hreastworks until they
stood abreast of the gap where the Confed-
crates lay, as shown by their flashing rifles.
Blindly they opened fire as told in the di-
rection whence they expected friends to
march to their relief Some of their bullets
sped past Che Tenth Virginia line and fell
among the ranks of the Brooklyn Zouaves.
In itself it seemed piece of bravado on the
part of General Greene to attempt to stand
off an avalanche of enemies with only a
handful Of men, but the Confederates were
completely misled by the ruse, for they sup
posed that the meager skirmish line repre-
sented column in reserve. They didn't
advance a step farther at that point, and
finding their ground swept by two fires, that
of Greene's skirmishers on one side and the
Brooklyn Zouaves on the other, they crawled
out of the trap by q stealthy flank march.
Greene's supports then moved forward to
hnite their ranks with his, and the danger
was over.
General Greene never received the credit
due for his bold and mastery defense of
Rock Creek and Culps Hill with skirmish
line against an army His fighting career
was brought to an abrupt termination a
few weeks after Gettysburg by wound
that disabled him for n field command.
The Twelfth corps went to Tennessee at
the close of the Gettysburg campaign, and
In battle at Wauhatchie on the night of
Oct. % the Rock Greek scene was repeated.
The Confederates ,assailed the line, and
Greene passed up and down the ranks Of
his brigade animating his soldiers and urg-
Ing them to stand at all hazards. A stray
bullet entered the mouth at one side, and
plowing the whole length OF it completely
stripped it of teeth and gums, so that he
was never again able to articulate plain
enough to be heard in battle.
General Greene's soldier son, Colonel
Francis Vinton Greene, served with him in
all his campaigns. Another son, Samuel
Dana Greene, was the executive officer Of
the Monitor in her fight with the Merrimac
and took command after Captain Worden
was blinded by the concussion OF she'll
He was only % years Of age, but was full of
fight and instantly gave chase to the ram,
which was stcaming away TO avoid another
encounter. General Greene has been for a
number of years the Oldest living graduate
Of the West Point Military academy.
GEORGE l.. KILMBR.