Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-11-06

| from the enemy than usual. Generally We
raised the yell after infantry firing had
begun and near the enemy. On this occa-
sion we marched steadily on, and as soon
as the line got under way the enemy's bat.
teries opened ON us with most furious
cannonade. Many batteries hurled their
missiles of death into our ranks from Gem
etery ridge and from Round Top and Lit
tie Round Top on our front and on our
right ... $780,,
"As the charging column reached EN-
mitsburg road volley after volley Of small
arms aided with dreadful effect in thin
ming our ranks. We reached the first slab
or plank fence, and the men clambered
over with the speed Of a stampeded retreat.
The time that it took to climb to the top
of the fence seemed to me an age. 1t was
not a leaping over; it WAS rather a tum-
bling to the ground in the nervous hope
Of escaping tie thickening missiles that
buried themselves in falling victims, on
the ground and in the fence Against the
fence they ratified with the distinctness Of
large raindrops pattering on q roof Ev-
cry man that reached the road within my
view sank to the ground. Our stay In the
road could not be called a halt.
"In q moment the order to advance was
given, and we pressed on across the next
fence, but many Of our comrades remain
ed in the road and never crossed the Sec
ond fence, being wounded in crossing the
first and in the road. With our line weak
ened by the losses in the road we pressed
On and struck the enemy behind fence or
hastily constructed breastwOrk, over which
the First and about half Of the Seventh
Tennessee regiments passed. The rest of
ov>1x ryI> <I>o Nd
fence had not reached the works, because
of their horseshoe shape and because. the
point they were to have reached was to
the left and rear of where we enteredss AS
we encountered the enemy in his works all
was excitement. Our men fought with des-
peration and succeeded in driving the enc
my from his line. 1t was hand to hand
encounter, lasting but a moment, and as
victory was about to crown our efforts a
large body of troops moved resolutely up
on our left flank, and our extreme right
began to give way at the same time as
did our left. In the center we held the
works until, being unsupported, we were
forced to fall back. Those of the second
line who reached the Emmitsburg road
never moved beyond that point to our as
sistance. We fell back to the road, which
was literally strewn with dead and wound
ed.
"From the time we advanced q few yards
the artillery continually lessened our
ranks, especially battery on the right
that almost enflladed our ine-a battery
that seemed not to have been engaged in
the great duel of artillery. Those of us
who gained the road In retreat hesitated,
but there was no time for elaboration
The combined fire of small arms and ar
tillery rained upon us incessantly Around
me lay 40 dead and wounded OF the AZ of
my company that had entered the carnage
with me. 1t was death or surrender to re-
main. It seemed certain death to retreat.
Maybe we could regain our artillery in
safety. We rallied our shattered ranks
around the artillery and awaited an adj
vance of the enemy. believe that General
Lee looked for it. He seemed to be much
agitated and remained near the center of
his original line in front of Heth' 8 division
for some minutes anxiously watching with
glass in hand the enemy's line, exposed to
their fire. Finally he left us and went in
the direction of our right. Before he had
gone far he met General Longstreet COM
ing from the opposite direction. After
meeting they turned and went In front of
our line, both on horseback, and used their
aeldglasses in observing the enemy. They
staid on the highest eminence between us
and the enemy, exposed to the ceaseless
fire of the artillery. Every moment ex-
pected one or both Of them to be torn from
their horses.
"Heth's division went into this charge
with about 5000 men and was able to
muster only about /, 800 when Lee recross-
ed the Potomac. One company Of the
North Carolina brigade was 81 strong in
this charge and lost every man, officers
and privates, not by capture, but killed
and wounded. am far from being un-
mindful of the heroism and devotion of
other troops in that memorable charge,
but in justice to those of Heth's division
who fell inside the works on Cemetery
ridge, in the road and in open field, in adj
vance or in retreat-in Justice to those
who yet survive cannot be Indifferent
when Gettysburg Is painted without Heth's
division prominent in the grand charge.
Justice is justice and fact Is fact"
Heth's division opened the battle of Get
tysburg on the 1st of July, fighting wit
Reynolds corps. The Tennessee brigade in
which the writer of the above served was
Archer's command, the first one to cross
Willoughby run and strike bayonets with