The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-06-25

the stone wall through the field, into the
woods, and the fighting at this point was
done for the day.
Hancock at Getty sburg with the Second Corps
on the I'd Day.
The morning of July I'd, and the second
day of the battle, dawned clear and bright
and found Hancock posting the Second
Corps On Cemetery Ridge As the troops
approached Gettysburg the day before,
the sounds of the fight, owing to the di-
rection of the wind, could not be heard.
Those who came ON the field after dark
| had no idea of the whereabouts of the
enemy, but as the daylight increased and
| objects became visible their lines were
seen nearly a mile distant On Seminary
Ridge. On that morning the entire Union
army, except the 9th Corps, had reached
| Gettysburg and the whole Southern force,
except Pickett division and Longstreet's
corps, had come up. The line of battle
was in the form of horseshoe, and the
!
pose the nation dead. This position of
the I'd Corps was the key to the whole
line for the centre once broken both wings
of the army would be separated if not de
stroyed General Longstreet says the
enemy did not see the value of Cemetery
Ridge until the arrival of Hancock. The
command of General Hancock on this day
was the left centre and his Second Corps
was held as reserves. The battle did not
really open until afternoon. About
O clock occurred sharp fighting on the
| left, in which Sickles' corps fought so
bravely and suffered so terribly. Han
cock was called on for aid and at once
sent ont one of his divisions, CALDWELL S.
The Irish brigade, commanded by Cen
Meagher whose green flag had been I'M
furled in every battle in which the Army
of the Potomac had been engaged, formed
a part of this division. AS large part of
its members We're Catholics the chaplain
of the brigade, Rev. William Carley, pro-
posed to give a general abs0lution to all
the men before going into battle. While
this is customary in the armies of CathO-
lie countries of Europe it was the first
time it was ever witnessed on this CONT
nent. Father Carley stood upon large
rock in front Of the brigade and address
ing the men he explained to them what
lie was about to do, urging them to do
Al ba,, ,f
the high and sacred nature of their trust
as soldiers and the noble object for which
they fought. He closed by saying that
the Catholic church refused Christian
burial to the soldier who turned his back
to the foe or deserted his flag. The bri-
gade was standing at order arms, and at
the close of his address every man fell on
his knees with head bowed down while
Father Carley pronounced the benedic-
ton. The scene was one never to be for
gotten. 1t was more than impressive-it
was inspiring.
Near by stood Hancock. surrounded by
his staff, who had gathered to witness
this very impressive occurrence, While
there was profound silence in tie ranks of
the Second Corps, over to the left, and
out by the Peach Orchard and Little
Round Top, where Weed, Vincent and
Haslet were dying, the roar of battle
arose and swelled and re- echoed through
the woods, making music more sublime
than ever sounded through cathedral
aisles. The act set med to be in harmony
with all the surroundings. | believe every
man in this brigade offered up a heartfelt
prayer. For some it was their last; they
knelt there in their grave clothes. In
less than half an hour many of them were
numbered with the dead. Who could
doubt that their prayer was good. What
was wanting in the eloquence of the
priest was made up in the incidents of
the fight. That heart would be hard in
deed that the scream of a shell, added to
Father Carleys touching appeal, would
not move to contrtion.
The struggle at this point was for
the ridge in front of the wheatfield.
known by everyone of the thousands
engaged in it as one of the bloodiest
contests of the second days fight.
| AS Cadwell's Division advanced to the
support of Sickles from behind huge
boulders, the men of Longstreet's Corps
rose up and poured into the Union ranks
most destructive fire. The lines were
not more than thirty yards apart when
the firing began. There was no cheering.
Every man there, both Union and rebel,
was a Veteran and knew just what was
wanted. They stood there face to face
loading and firing, so close that every
shot told. In short time the brigades
of Cross and Look began forcing the
enemy back, and after firing about ten
minutes the Irish Brigade made one of
their fierce charges The men rushed
forward with cheer and were soon with
the Johnnies. In one-half hour this di-
vision lost fourteen hundred men, OF the
four brigade commanders, Cross fell al