Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-06-04


ordered to march toward the rebel capital
At Bull Run his army met a fearful defeat
amounting 70 a rout. The troops had beer
compelled to retreat panic-strieken from the
field. The people Of the North were stung "a
the quick. Determination and gy be
came tenfoId stronger than ever before
Thousands more men were called into SER
vice. The FORCES were kept busy night and
day turning out ponderous cannon. Facto-
ries were kept hamming necessarily in pre-
pairing the various needs of a mighty army
the settled conviction had come that the war
was not for dag bat thatit was a mighty
conflict 70 be fought to the bitter end.
Time would not permit our going into all
the details Of the history Of those years.-to
follow the gallant men In the hundreds of
marches. skirmishes and battles. The wild.
grand panorama is too great TO view in an
hour or even dag. It's scenes and lessons
should occupy the study Of years by every
patriotic ana truth-loying American. WHAT
pictures history brings to the imag ina f.sss ot
the yonnEer men and women ana no,9 Il ID
tine recollection in the minds Of these brave
soldiers, Witnesses of those events who nave
survived to this fortunate DAY. The pro-
tracted struggle in the border states-Min
springs Forts Henry and Done son Shiloh
and in the east the Peninsnlar campaign
and the terrible conflicts Of Fredericksburg
and charlottesville. won some victories ia
which the great heart of the North r65oiced
and suffered sad defeats which spread a
gloom Of sorrow over the loval people.
w pass over long series OF events ana
shan contemplate the greatest battle Of the
war. which may stand type of all the 9th
ers Lee flushed By mis- successes i'll yir-
ginia. determined again to carry the war
into the North through Pennsylvania and
New York. though ne little reckoned he
would suffer another more disastrous Antie-
tam than his army had encountered in the
previous similar attempt At Gettysburg
the two great armies met Lee had cody
taken his chances, and on the morning OF the
first day inspected his lines and saw every
thing in readiness for the Herculean strug-
gle on the day of the fight the Confeder-
ates greatly oatnumbered the Union men.
The rebels had attacked with great yigor
but the brave General REYNOLDS was there
prepared TO resist 10 the death the onconing
hosts. Early in the fight the gallant oacer
fell mortauy wounded. The death of the be-
loved General sent a shaft Of sorrow to the
hearts of fellow ofacers ana men alike, But
i was not the time for weeping. The small
Union forces must hold until the reinforce
ments come How nobly they held their po-
sition But overwhelming numbers finally
compelled our men 10 fan bacs and retreat
through thetown
There had not been wanting the most de-
termined resistance and examples OF heroic
deeds There had been retreat that day un-
der heroic protest But help was near.
General Meade had come on the ever memo-
rable field. All during the night troops were
husily getting a position. the rumhhng ar
tllery was heard the lights were cleaning
tn protected places where the surgeons were
at work the groanings and wailinGs of the
wound,1 rent the midnight air. The morn
ing came and the fight was renewed. and a
fierce and murderous struggle it was. Near
the close Of the day there was the mem0ra-
bic advance between Round Top and Little
Round Top il which whole lines Of nen
were moved down Ike trees IN whirlwind.
Men fought at close quarters. and many a
brave fellow Was impaled Rpon the hayonet
6t desperate foe. Faces were blackened
with smoke The field was covered with the
fallen. Bat the Union boys had won the day
and had prepared the way for glorious VIC
tory on tine morrow
The carly morning light Of the third DAY
was breaking. rhe boom Of two heavy guns /
signaled heopenine Of the fight soon from 4
ala the hits there burst forth flashes from
hundreds al eanno. The very woods were /
in a flame. Soopeued ehe conflict. The rebel /
colamn was advancing against the Union
right Then came the order to brave Kill 1
patrick to pitch into them with ali his might /
Good he cries Come on boys Above /
the ain of shouts and rumbling of wagons
rang the clear notes OF the hugle. Down
swept the heroic column and dashed with !
reckless bravery against the rebel lines. /
The onset was dreadful and drove the enemy
back Then came Lees attempt TO silence I
Howard'S batteries 50 that the Confederate I
column might advance with greater safety |
by escaping destructive entiading fire. 4
hundred and fifty cannon were concentrated /
upon the cemetery. Horses were torn in /
pieces. tombstones shattered into fragments |
trees demolished and here and there a sol /
der blown into eternity by a deadly she'll |
but the batteries held firmly on
In the afternoon came the last desperate I
attempt TO carry the Union position The /
Rebels advanced in three lines. As the first /
line came on Howard sent the deadly voleys I
from nifty guns into the enemy. The Gene
terry was enveloped in clouds of sulphnrous l
smoke as black and dense as volcanic I
The first line disappeared as
though translated in an instant. The second I
came only 70 suffer the fate of the first The /
last advance was then made. The Union /
directed tHeir men to hold their
tire until the enemy was very near They
advanced with fearful momentum bearing
back the Union line to the top Of the ridge
Then what scenes We who have never seen
a hattie can have perhaps no possible con
ception Of them Men We're lighting bat a
few feet apart, where bayonet. pistol and sa-
hee were the implements Of death men
hearts were turned into steel. there were
yellings harrahings men lighting with aw-
tul teuacity. scores ct dead lying where they
fell many headless. armleSs maneled bod
les it was sight that never was eXcelied In
horror but The blue line stood hrm. The
Rebel lines analy break, They Zee over the
neld thousands are surrendering The
victory is won, Treason has received
deadly blow But @ the thousands OF brave
hos.