The Republican journal., 1896-07-09


to the ranks, lay down to die and was
promoted as his life blood ebbed away.
Adams Ireland and Lamson, all heroes,
are laying dead at the feet of their COM
rades. Libby, French, Clifford Hit,
Ham, Chestley, Morrison, West and
Walker are all severely wounded and near
ly all disabled. But there is no relief and
the carnage goes on. Our line is pressed
back so far that our dead are within the
enemy's lines.
Our ammunition is nearly all gone, and
we are using the cartridges from the boxes
of our dead comrades. A critical moment
has arrived and we can remain as we are
no longer. We must advance or retreat.
1t must not be the latter; but how can it
be the former? Col. Cham berlain sees how
it can be done. The order is given, Elk
bayonets!' and the steel shanks of the
bayonets rattle upon the rifle barrels.
Charge bayonets. charge Every nan
understands this is our only salvation.
| But there is limit to human endurance,
and | do not dishonor those brave men
when | write that for moment the order
was not obeyed and the little line seemed
to quail under the fearful fire that WAS
| being poured upon it Oh for some man
reckless of life, and all else save his
eountrys honor and safety, who would
rush far out to the front, lead the way and
inspire the hearts of his exhausted com
rades. In that moment OF supremest
need the want was supplied. Lieut.. II.
| ). Melcher, an officer who had worked
his way up from the ranks, and was then
in command of Co. F., al that time the
color company, saw the situation and did
not hesitate: and for his gallant conduct
| deserves as much as any man the honor OF
the victory on Round Top. With cheer
| and flash OF his sword that sent an in
spiraton along the line he advanced full
ten PAGES to the front, more than half the
distance between the hostile lines Come
on. come on. come on, boys"' he shout
ed. The color sergeant and the brave
color guards followed, and with one wild
| yell the regiment charged. The rebels
were COMPOUNDED at the movement We
struck them with fearful shock. They
recoiled, staggered, broke and ran, and
like avenging demons our men pursued.
| The rebels rushed toward d stonewall, but
to our surprise two scores of rifle barrels
| l,o, a.
volley was poured in upon them at close
quarters. A band OF men leaped over the
wall and captured at least a hundred
prisoners. Piscataquis had been heard
from, and as usual it was a good report.
This was Company B. whom we had sup
posed were all captured.
| Our Colonel S commands were simply to
! hold the hill. and we followed the retreat
i ing rebels but short distance. On the
morning of July Bird We were relieved
| by the Pennsylvania reserves and went
back to tie rear. OF our three hundred
and fifty men one hundred and thirty five
had been killed or wounded We captur-
ed over three hundred prisoners, and
squad sent out to bury the dead found
fifty dead rebels in our front over the
| ground We had fought for. Ourregiment
! had Won imperishable honors, and our
| gallant Colonel was to be known as the
hero of Round Top. We cared for our
/ wounded as best we could, although there
was but little we could do for them. Our
dead were buried where they fell and
their graves were marked by the hands of
/ loving comrades. | suppose that their
remains have been removed to the Nation
/ al Cemetery at Gettysburg, but somehow
| wish they had been left where they fell
the battle scared rocks which they
baptized with their blood While the
desperate struggle was taking place on
little Round Top the fearful conflict con-
tinued to rage in front of Sickles' COM
mand. Longstreet' S bleeding brigade fell
back in defeat. 1t was not because they
had not fought bravely, but because they
could not push back our line of battle 1t
was fearful blow to the fortunes of the
Confederates when Longstrcet was de-
feated on that eventful afternoon of July
2nd. That was memorable night at
Gettysburg. Mingled sadness and JOY
filled the hearts of the Union soldiers
sadness on account of the loss of so many
noble comrades; joy that it had been a
day of success to the Union army. 1t was
gloomy night in the rebel camp.
ALFRED STINSON.