Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-11-06

movements of the Federals. Seeming az
yet undetermined what to do, they rode to
the rear and engaged in earnest converse
ton. Finally they rode to our front and up
and down our line again. This was omi-
nous and showed plainly how hazardous
they regarded the undertaking.
"The suspense was intense, continuing
from 10 a. m. until p. M, when tho sig
nal, two shots from the Washington artil-
lery, was given. Our artillery, consisting
of 40 pieces, then opened and was prompt
~ responded to by what seemed an equal
number from the Federals. 1t appeared
as though the solid ground was being
shaken to it's foundations. The sultry air
thickened with the smoke rushing from
the lannon's mouth. Amid the incessant
booming of artillery the sharp sound of
small arms could be distinguished occa-
sionally. The barns and dwellings between
the two armies were made the targets of
sharpshoOters and cannOneers of both, each
side fearing the other might find shelter
behind their walls. Grim visaged war;
had never before assumed more hideous
face. 1t seemed as though the demons of
demolition were turned loose, but no i'm
aRination can adequately conceive of the
magnitude of that artillery duel. 1t sur
passed the ordinary battery fire as the
earthquake surpasses the violence Of an Or
binary thunderstorm. As If to heighten
the scene of terror and dismay, out from
the doomed farmhouses rushed old men,
women and children. 1t was unaccounta-
bic that they had been neglected by the
contending armies, but that they had re-
manned at all after the fighting Of the two
days previous was still more singular.
This is clear fact. was q witness to the
frenzied flight of some of them, and Cap
tain Harris, commander of the sharpshoot-
ers of Heth's division, told me that he was
forced to order the occupants to fly for
safety, and in one house little stranger
was shortly to make an appearance, to be
baptized In storm of shot and shell the
like of which had never before been wit
messed on this continent.
1.-THE artillery fire was kept up about
an hour; then our batteries ceased, and
there seemed to be, as If by mutual con-
sent, pretty general cessation. In this
interval of comparative quiet the order
was given to advance, and the charging
column promptly responded. In an instant
we reached the crest of the ridge upon
which we had formed and were then with
In full range and view of the Federal bat
teries on Cemetery ridge. After part Of
Heth's division had emerged from the
woods no part Of the column was protect-
ed. The ground over which we marched
was little undulating, but nowhere suffi-
GENTLY abrupt to afford the slightest shell
ter. Before we could reach the enemy we
had to cross Emmitsburg road, which to
me appeared to be lane with its two
fences The bed Of the road was perhaps
two feet below level and afforded proteo-
ton to men lying down. s.
"The rebel yell was started on our
right. Previous to this and afterward We
never failed to increase our speed when the
yell was started. Moreover, as remem-
Der, we never failed to drive the enemy
when we started q lusty yell. suppose
that the reason our speed was not increased
in front Of frowning Cemetery ridge was
that the yell was started much farther