The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-13
GLORIOUS DAYS RECALLED
General J. l. Chamberlain Lectures
at Deering.
THE STORY OF GETTYSBURG
FIELD RETOLD.

| How Little Round Top Was oHeld-Th o
March to the Field-A Gallant and De-
cisive Charge By Maine Men.
The third of the Daering course of en-
| tertainments occurred at the Congrega-
tional church last evening, General
Joshua L. Cham berlain, Ex-Governor Of
ing the lecturer, and the battle of Get
tysburg the subject. The church had
been decorated with flags and bunting
for the occasion, and special seats had
been set aside for members of the Grand
Army.
The audience was large and very apprs-
oiative. Before the lecture Rev. e. p.
Wilson, who presided, announced that
the next lecture would be on the eve
ming OF Thursday. December 10, when
Miss Charlotte Thorndike Sibley will
speak.
Mr.. Wilson then introduced General
Chamberlain. who was received with
loud applause.
He began by saying that he was to
speak of great battle. War belongs to
another rank than the street fight and
tavern hrawls. There is something more
than self, jealousy and resentment in
volved. There IL a broadnoss of interest
in those who contend. Great sentiments
are stirred. Truth, justice, right, mingle
in this electric atmosphere. Men give
all they have, all they live for and love
because they belong to something great
or than themselves.
A celebrated writer has called war a
divine institution; ana certainly man
kind must hold war as final refuge of
his maniiness against oppression in
trenched In right.
The causes and consequences of Get
tysburg were of too great.amplitude to be
taken in at single glance. So also for
the three days of the great conflict, no
human sense could tell the result. No
man chose thesplace or ordered the fight.
would occur, but all unknown was the
whom. the where, the whittier. The
fated columns met upon the march.
The lecturer narrated how Lee sudden
~ left the Rappahanock. and started up
the Shenandoah, behind the mountains,
on mission which was unknown to the
Union armies. The Union general was
hampered. Hooker had wisely planned
| to strike the army of Lee whenever he
could find it. But the authorities at
| Washington held him first to the defence
| of that city.
Finally he crossed the Potomac and the
Union army followed. spreading out
fan-like in order to feel for Lee, with
skirmisherssand fankersyout.
The lecturer remem bered well how the
advance brigade Of the Fifth Corps
| arrived at Hanover, Pa, with all its
senses alert and it's nerves at high
tension. as it had all day been confront
ing Confederate scouts.
The men were getting their evening
supper, when suddenly,
A MYSTERIOUS WHISPER OF DIS
ASTER
spread among the men. The left column
NJ
nolds had been killed, Howard was hold
ing his own until help could come. Such
was the uniformed rumor that ran through
the ranks
Then suddenly the bugle rang out from
the Generals tent:
"To the march,
Aids flew in every direction. We must
march to Gettysburg by night. Forgot
ing supper the Corps took the road. The
banners were unfurled and the bands
played at the heads of the columns
And ever and anon laughter would
break out as mishap would befall
some tired marcher.
| AT the turn of the road come staff
officer, sent by whom we do notEknow.
| whispered to every colonel in tone
that could be heardsby the men, that Nc
| Clellan had como bark and was Cd the
| field. Aud it was wonderful to see how
this quiokened the steps and cheered
the countenances. There was also a
rumor, erotesque now, hut serious then,
that the august spectre of Washington
had bsen seen at nightfall riding over
the hills.ofsG ettysburg,
Thereawere other scenes not usual to
US. For the first time we were out of
the enemy s country, and in our own.
Bevies of girls gathered along the line of
march, bearing banners, presenting gar
lands or glasses of water.
After an early morning nap of an
hour the Corps at a. m, marched into
the field Of Gettysburg and were massed
behind Round Top.
Other corps were coming upon both
sides. We had a few moments to study
| the field. A heart-shaped range of hills
lay south of Gettysburg, and our troops
were forming along the crests, from
Culps Hill towards the Round Tops, two
rugged hills ON the left. But our lines
ct first did not reach to the Round Tops.
General SickIes, with characteristic
boldness, had pushed his third CORPS far
out on the left centre, and his left wing
terminated under the height OF Little
ROuu6 Tim AT a DIana "a lJe3 Dox;l. ~.