The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-27
TIE GUNS OF aErTYaBURG
The Most Terrific Cannonade in All
the annals of Civilized Warfare.

The Most Terrific Cannonade in All
the annals of Civilized Warfare.
From the Chicago Times
On the morning of July 100000 men on
the field at Gettysburg knew that Lee
the forenoon every one knew where the
blow would fall The topography of the
field, the bloody struggles on the wings, the
movements of troops and batteries-there
were dozen signs to indicate what was
coming.
From daylight TO o'clock there was
sputter of musketry along the front as the
sharpshooters and skirmtshers fired at long
range. From 9 10 10 the cavalry on the
wings had the fight ALI to themselves. From
10 to ii gun here and there shelled the
confederate sklrmishers out of the bitches
in which they were hiding, bat there
seemed to be no fighting anywhere. From
l. to ~ Lee was mssslng 120 field pieces in
front OF Longstreet and Hill TO open on
Hancock. Meade posted 100 guns to reply,
but the orders were to fire slowly.
At noon few couriers were riding furi-
ously in different directions, but not a gun
was being fired. The men in line ate from
their haversacks, and the artillery horses
nibbled at the grass as they were unchecked
by their drivers. Scores Of men had pocket
telescopes. These were passed from hand to
hand, and every gun on the confederate side
was located.
"They are going to batter US with shot
and shell and then charge. Lie close to the
ground. The shot will fall short or go
over u.s."
So came the word along the line. 1t was
a wise precautlon. But for the caution no
one could tell what would have happened
From u 80 to l o'clock seemed an age. At
/ o'clock sharp the boom OF a single gun
echoed over the battlefield, and a shell came
screaming over our heads aud exploded 200
feet in the rear. That was the signal. Be-
fore one could have counted twenty there
was a roar which can be compared to moth
ing one has ever heard. In two minutes the
earth was trembling. The stones in the
wall in front of US grltted together. Mud
had been used as plaster, and pieces OF it
fell out with chinking One would have
said that nothing could add to that awful
roar, but the federal guns opened in reply,
and then men lying down gasped as they
breathed and clutched sod or stone as If
perched on some dizzy hight and afraid of
falling.
For the first five minutes the roar shut
out all sounds-swsllowed them up as a
great ocean would another gill of water
Thousands of men closed their eyes and
clinched their teeth Officers who had been
standing up disappeared to hug the earth
Now the roar is split and splashed and pen
etrated by the missiles from the confederate
guns. They are throwing round shot, steel
bolts, fuse shell. peroussion-every form of
missile which portable guns can
take in aud belch out again.
They shrek and scream and
whir. They come from In front and from
the right and left. Some fall short and ex-
ploding in the dry soil throw a cloud of dust
heavenward to sift down on our backs.
Others sail high above US and carry death
into the ranks of the reserve, while now and
then one bursts just right to wound or kill
In our own ranks.
No living man will ever hearken to a
more terrific cannonade No battle field
OF the future will hold men for two long