Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-18

tered Carlisle our brigade Oaniers) was
third In line. AZ we passed on up one
| OF the principal streets OF the town l
| noticed that the troops in our front
| when they arrived at certain point.
! sent up cheer after cheer. That cheer
| ing was something unusual, as there had
been but little OF II since we crossed
| into pennsylvania. | was not kept lorg
| In suspense as to the cause Standing
| back In a hallway, and shut out from
( the gaze OF her curious neighbors, was
gray-hsired saintly-looking matron.
| waving white handkerchief at our
| troops as they passed before her door
| This was the occasion OF the cheer, and
we were not long in Joining heartily
therein. II was the first friendly re-
| cognition OF our men | remember to
\ have seen since entering the enemys
| country. | later learned while on duty
| at headquarters that the old lady who
| had thus given vent to her feelings was
an old and personal friend OF General
| Ewelfs. who. while stationed at the bar
| racks prior TO the war, had been fire.
| qucnt visitor to her house. She was
then only showing her appreciation Of
| the gallant old General and his foot
| sore and dusty troops.
The second incident was that nearly
| every person you saw on the street. little
| and big male and female had pieces OF
!
| wondered what il meant and watch
ing my opportunity. | approached two
young men and asked the reason for II.
1 They told me IL was the telegraph wire
| that had been cut by our cavalry between
| that place and Harrisburg, and they
| were keeping II In remembrance or that
| event.
| While at Carlisle we were quartered In
| the barracks (being used at this
| no nd
many articles captured therein was
| fun set OF instruments for band. They
| were used on the parade grounds soon
| after being taken from the place where
| they were hidden.
| We remained at Carlisle for several
| days. and then moved out on one OF the
| straightest roads | have ever seen, the
| name Of which | never knew. For miles
| over hill and dale. and as far as the eye
! could reach. could be seen the wagon and
| artillery trains with the troops scat
| tered here and there, acting as escort.
| For several days we followed this route.
/ until we arrived at a small place called
! Midi 'etown Here the far-on boom OF
cannon reached the ear. and called forth
the never very welcome remark Ihere
| they are. boys
This was near noon OF the list day Of
July. and the sun was very. very hot.
At Middletown we turned sharply 10 the
| left. and advanced possibly mile or
| more down 4 narrow country road. when
we were met by a courier, whose horse
| showed he had done some hard riding.
| He delivered his orders to General Rodes'
| who. with his STAFF. was riding at the
| head OF the column. Soon other couilerS
were dashlng down the line, and every
| thing betokened haste. orders were given
! 10 leave knaps.cks. blankets. and heavy
| baggage by tie roadside for the wagons
| 10 take up as they came along. Ammu-
milton wagons were hurried forward. and
round after round Of ammunition was is
/ sued. We were soon In light marching
| order. and stepping on briskly in the III
rection Of the firing. The heat Of the sun
| and the sitting dust Of the road Were
| forgotten. A. We advanced the firing be-
| came more rapid and more biting.
4 RAPID MARCH.
The distance some seven or eight miles,
was soon covered and we flied off TO the
! left into a wheat hed. whose long
boarded stalks stood far above our heads.
| Skirmishers were thrown forward. ana W
| we're ordered to lie down. This was
| useless order as far as l was concerned
! FOR / was already down, with my drum
( in front OF me for protection. ana mug
cling the bottom Of the wheat field as close
| as a flving-squirrel Possibly the prayer
| leod him n thrashing fitted through my
mind: "Oh Lord. II ycu are ever Solns
! 10 help a little boy out Of a scrape. now
| IS the tim :" \ short time elapsed, al
| though ii seemed an eternity 10 me. Tor
bullets were whizzins spitefuily and play
/ ing sad havoc with the wheat, Wnich &C.
! casionally would fall on me; then the com
mand Forward came. and forward the
linz went like a whirlwind l stu re-
tanned my position. In front the musketiy
firing became terrific. and ] Rugged the
ground closer. The firing at last seemed
10 recede and 1 was satisfied that our
bows had the hest of IL SO far. Cautiously
! rising to my feet. i went forward until l
came to a wall about three feet high ana
! Of about the same thickness, punt OF
\ stons. Looking beyond as best could.
/ for the whoe valley was full Of powder
! smoke. ] saw the dead and wounded, ana
4 stu further on heard the terrible crash
! Of battle. Gathering up some canteens as
I b 81 / could ] FASTENED back 10 a stream
we had crossed in coming up, filed them
and in company with some of the ampu-
J lance corps returned TO the heid. win
( the first ambulance full of wounded
/ went back 10 the rear where We had
| established the field hospital
THE HOSPITAL.
The doctors had selected as the hospital
| large Pennsylvania barn. about 4O)
wards north of the Fairfield road, and.
| perhaps. two and a half or three miles
| from the town Of Gettysburg. Here every
! thing was hustle, straw was being
| shaken out as pallets for the"wounded;
! the doctors were in their shirt-sleeNes'
temporary operating-tables. made OF the
doors and windows OF the barn, had
/ been gotten together; cases OF surgical
| instruments had been opened: chloroform'
/ lint and bandages were beng brought
| forth. Ii was not long before tne wounded
| began TO arrive, bOth Confederate ana
! Federal. for our troops had captured very
/ many OF the latter. There was no time Tor
J idleness: the lie Of Il human being, De he
! Confederate or Federal, hung in the
balance Parched and fevered lips had
I TO be bathcd with cooling water ana 80
on. until the duties at iie!d-hospiIal
seem almost endless 1t was late al night
ana ! was completely worn out when 1
! sought a straw pallet. 50 ended my hFat
, day at Gettysburg.
! The second day was mostly devoted 10
/ duties at the hospital. During the night
| we had been moved around 10 the !eit,
and fresh troops had been hastehing up.
I on this day our command did some nara,
! stubborn lighting, and the loss IN oIlcerS
/ and men was severe. the ambuaEces
were kept constantly on the 60 and the
! duties at the hospital were oYer5urden-
| some When night came IL was trily WEI
| come. for 1t had been trying day upon
| all AT the hospital. The second day had
| closed-what would the third bring?
The morning Of the third was hot ana
| sultry. The duties at the hospital were
| many and varied. AS the day advanced
sounds at the front did not correspond
with the day before. There was some niue
! firing, but nothing 10 Indicate general
| eneaeement Having some leisure from
duty al the hospital. about midday, III
company with Walter Pucc.. ! went Up
the Fairfield road to within ABOUT u
| mile OF Gettysburg. Turning to the E6hl
OF the road. we selected position on a
| high, rocky ridge, with fun view Of the
! mountains and ridge beyond and u very
limited one OF the valley that interviewed.
| The outlook was anything but encourds-
ing 10 two small boys but graha 10 100"
! upon. as here and there could be seen
! the calssons, with men Hitting 10 IA
| fro, and beyond the guns, ready Tor the