Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-01-20


An Incident OF GstrYsburg.
The advance OF the Confederate line
5f battle commenced early on the
morning Of July /. 1853, at &c burg,
says the New Haven Register The
infantry division commanded bv Major
General John b Gordon Of Georgia
was the first to attack Its objective
point was the left Of the Second corps
Of the Union army. The da-inz com
nander of that earps occupied a
position 50 far adTanced beyond the
main line Of the federal army that.
while It invited attack, It placed him
beyond the reach Of ready support
when the crisis of battle came Is him
10 the rush Of charging lines more
extended than his own The Con-
Tolerate advance was steady. and il
vas braveiy met By the Union troops,
who for the first time found them
selves engaged in battle on the soil of
the North. which until then had been
virgin to the war. 1t was "a far cry
from Richmond to Gettvsbary. vet
Lee was in their front, and the
seemed resolved 70 we come thei-
Southern visitors. with bloody hands
70 hospitable graves. Bat the federal
TANKS rested in air, and. being turned
its line was badly broken and. despite
its bravely resolute defense against
the well-ordered attack OF the Con-
fedeTate veterans, il was forced to fall
back
Gordon-s division was il motion al
a double quick to seize and hold the
vantage ground in his front. from
which the opposing line had retreated
when he saw directly in his path the
apparently dead body OF Union Of
ficer. He checked his horse and then
observed from the motion Of the ewes
and lips that the man was still living.
He at once dismonnted and seeing
that the head OF his wounded foeman
was lying 10 a depression in the
ground, placed under il 4 nearby
knapsacl. While raising him at the
shoulders for that purpose he saw that
the blood was trickling from a bullet
hole in the back. and then he knew
that the officer had been shot through
the breast He then gave him a drink
from flask of brandy and water.
and as he revived said, bending over
him:
Il am very sorry to see YOU in this
condition am General Gordon.
Please tell me who you are. wish to
aid you all can
The answer came ia feeble tones:
THANK you, general / am Brigadier
General Barlow Of New York. You
can do nothing more for me: / am
dying" Then, after a pause. he said:
Yes, you can if my wife is at the
headquarters Of General Meade. II
you survive the battle please let her
know that died doing my duty"
General Gordon replied: Your mes.
sage if live, shall surely be given to
your wife. Can DO nothing more for
you?r'
After brief pause General Brio
responded: May God bless you. Only
one thing more. Feel in the Breast
pocket Of my coat-ths left breast
and take out packet Of letters" As
General Gordon unbatto1ed the blood
soaked coat and took out the packet
the seemingly dying soldier said:
Now please take out one and read IL
to me. They are from my wffs.
wish that her words shall b, the last i /
hear in this world
Resting on one knee at his side GEN
eral Gordon, in clear tones but with
fearful eyes, read the letter. It was
the missive of noble woman to her
worthy husband, whom she knew 70
be in daily peril of his life, and with
pious fervor breathed a prayer for his 4
safety and commended him to the care I
of the God of battles. As the reading /
of the letter ended General Barlow 4
said: THANK you. Now please tear
them all up. 1 would not have them
read by others.
General Gordon tore them into frag-
ments and scattered them on the field,
''shot-sown and bladed thick with
steel Then, pressing General Bar
lows hand, General Gordon babe him
goodby, and, mounting his horse,
quickly joined his command
lie hastily penned note on the
pommel Of his saddle, giving General
Barlow's message to his wifi, but
stated that he was still living, though
wounded, and informing her
where he lay. Addressing the note to