The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-06-25
War Sketches
BY. These Who Took Part In the War of the Re.
bellOn.


morning of July 2nd. From the top of |
Cemetery Ridge scene Of loveliness
spread out to view. To the westward
beautiful valley dotted with well kept |
farms, blooming orchards and yellow |
wheat fields met the eye. All was quiet |
in the early morning save the tramp of
armed men and the rumble of long trains
of ambulances in the distance. AS they
moved along the column, thoughts that
some of orr numbers must occupy them
before night, mangled wounded and |
bleeding, could not be repressed. In
deed, it was apparent that many of our
number would never behold another day, |
and who they would be was natural re-
Election, The trees were filed with little
birds whose songs made the air sweet
with music, but soon to be frightened
away by the screaming shells whose burst |
ING fragments would fill the atmosphere
Gen Meade established his headquarters
in a small house near the Taneytown road.
With the first streaks of dawn the Gener-
al-in-C Chief was hurlyng from point to
point posting his forces. On the extreme
right was the 18th Corps. Wadsworth's
Division of the 1st held Culp's Hill. Then
came the 2ud Corps under Hancock, which
held Cemetery Ridge. The Bird Corps I'M
der Sickles was on the front and left OF
the md Corps. The 9TH Corps was held
in reserve behind Round Top, while the
r.1 d; j al, ~
middle Of the forenoon and was held in
reserve. This was the position of the
army ON the md Of July, as near as my
memory serves me at this late day. The
line OF battle was in the shape of a horse
shoe. the Mon line some three miles and
the Confederate line on the outside some
two miles longer. Longstreet's Corps
formed the Confederate right, facing Han
cock ana SicbIes HIS Corps held the
center, and Elwell Corps formed the left:
extending to the town of Gettysburg. The
two armies were about equal in numbers.
During Tie forenoon there was not much
firing except occasional picket firing. The
men began TO build little fires and make
their canec. The officers were grouped
about and a scene Of quetness seemed to
persade the ain About one O clock the
ball oltncG. Slot and shell filled the air
Gen. Sclles lad taken q position some
what il advance of the main line, and
Hancock seeing lis position ordered him
to fall lack SO as to connect with Han
cock line when the reDel batteries open
ed. The order came too late and Sickes
mad to fight it out where he was. and he
was slowly driven back to the main line
Longsreets charge on the md of July
was grand but awful. 1t struck the Bird
Corps, outtianking them some two br-
gades OF more. 1t seemed to be Long
street intention to annihiate Sickles be-
fore re-enforcements could reach him.
But the bold Confederate had reckoned
without his host Sickles' men We're there
to die, but not to show their backs to the
enemy Wards Brigade was struck first
by The lines of gray. Hoods veterans
came forward with shouts and wells and
fell with dreadful force upon Ward front
the whole line from the peach orchard to
the front of Sickes' and Little Round
Top Hood saw that ii he could gain
Round Top the fate of the Army of the
Potomac was sealed For an hour vic
tory seemed first on one side and then on
the other Hood was determined to break
the Union lines and the boys in blue were
as determined he should not Sickles
called tor help and division was sent to
his support but this did not STAY the
storm and Sickles was forced back, leav
ing the peach orchard il the hands of the
enemy.
AT this point, when part of the 3rd
Corps was falling back with IA whole rebel
brigade close at their heels, deed was
performed by single regiment that was
never eNcelled and only equalled once in
all tie lighting in the world. The I,iobt
brigade or the Old Guard at Waterloo
whose deeds have been heralded all over
the world, were thrown all in the shade
IN comparison with the feat there ner-
formed. Gen. Hancock, seeing the criti-
cal position of these troops and knowing
II the rebels gained the position aimed for.
tle DAY might be lost, rode up to the LIST
Minnesota and asked, 'sWhat regiments,
Flrst Minnesota" said the Colonel
Hancock said: 81 want you to take vour
regiment and charge that column''-
pointing in the direction. The old Colonel
who stood six and half feet high, turn
ed TO his men, with the remark. ssYou
know what that means eyes. but we
VIII 90, and off they started on the run.
ana firing one voiley at close quarters.
liked bay"nets and charged into whole
brigade. The enemy were completely
palalyzed. They had never seen such
daredevil bravery before For a space
OF ten minutes they held the foe at bay:
but at what fearful loss to the LIST Min
nesota. They started with 263 officers
ana men and only II came hack on,,