The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-07-02
War Sketches
By Those Who Took Part In the War of the Re-
beIOn.
teltl sburg on the Third Day.

Although tu6 III oH llt lISl dllti
second days at Gettysburg had been Sc
we're in the extreme it was destined to be
eclipsed in heroic daring during the third
and last day. AS the morning sun threw
her first streaks above the eastern hills
the carnage began. The enemy not only
held their advanced position within our
lines, bat they charged through the woods
again and again i'll the very teeth OF a
storm of shot and shell that would seem
to destroy any force of flesh and blood.
But the Iron Division was made Of stuff
as stern and unyielding as that of their
brave assailants, and they held their
ground with unwavering tirmness. Our
right had become wall of adamant against
which the bravest surges of the enemy
broke in vain. For six hours the battle
ragged with undated fury. The contested
ground was piled with dead and dying.
Heroes in blue and gray lay side by side,
their life blood pouring down the hillside
in one crimson stream. At no time during
the war was there more horrible carnage,
or a greater display of bravery. As the
day advanced heavy clouds of smoke hung
ovel the field The ali grew thick with
dust, and the heat became oppressive.
The Twelfth Corps had arrived, re- en- fore
ing the Union line, and they, too We're
ready to meet the foe. 1t was about 8
o clock that the firing ceased and the
cheering OF our men told that the enemy
had been driven out and that we We're
again i'll possession of the field.
Then came perfect calm All along
Hancock line not a shot had been fired
that morning The tate Of war had re-
selved Hancock to bear the terrible brunt
Of the final desperate assault on which
was to depend the result of the great bat
tie, But this quiet was soon to be broken.
About noon there could be seen from
lIancCck's line Confederates moving
along Seminary Ridge. Battery after bat
tely APPEARED along the edge OF the
woods. Guns were numbered and the
Lolsts etnj to the rear. Our officers were
louugin- about in groups watching the
enmy and wondering What was coming
next. : oltly after one o'clock we all
knew what it meant. our headquarters
wagons lad come up. Gen. tiibbon, our
division commander, had invited Gen.
Hancock and staff to dine with him. AS
tie oldoriy was passing the grub around
4 shell Gu, him in two. Instantly the air
Vas tull Of bursting shells. A hundred
Guns opoued from Seminary Ridge as if
discharged 10y electricity. For nearly two
houls the storm of death went on. No
enough to describe this awful storm. The
air was full of missiles. Shot and shells
screamed and Missed everywhere 1t
seemed as if nothing could live under that
fire. Men and horses We're torn limb from
limb. Caisons exploded one after another,
blowing the gunneIs to pieces. Our men
Rugged the ground for safety. The men
Of The old Second Corps, who had been in
every battle of the Army of the Potomac,
had never seen anything ike it before.
Hundreds and thousands We're stricken
down. Still this destruction of death
went on as though it W ould never cease.
1t was then our army witnessed one of
the glandest sights ever seen on this con-
tinent suddenly our band struck up the
star Spangled Banner and Hancock.
mounted and accompanied by his staff,
with the Corps flag flying in the hands of
brave llishman, Private James Wells of
the 6tA New York Cavalry, came riding
down the line in front Of the md Corps.
Every soldier held his breath expecting to
see theil general fall from his horse pierced
by a dozen bullets. 1t was a gallant deed.
As Gen. Hancock passed down the line in
front OF his nen he set them ap example
which an hour after bore good fruit and
nelYed Il cir stout hearts to win the great
est and most decisive battle ever fought
on American soil. Every soldier felt his
heart thlill as he witnessed the maeniti
cent courage of his general and re solved
TO do something that day which would
equal 1t in daring. Turning his horse he
rode slowly back along the line, holding
his hat in his hand, bowling and smiling
10 his men as they lay flat ON the ground
soon Pickett with fifteen thousand men.
the flower of the rebel army, came out in
fall view. grander sight was never wit
messed on this or any continent. AS they
came in range our artillery, double shot
ted, opened upon them with grape and
canister, cutting down whole battalions
and strewing the ground with mutilated
men. Not once did this MAGNIFICENT
charging column WAIVER or turn, but clos
ing up its broken ranks it pressed on up
20 the cannon's mouth and hurled itself
with almost irresistible force upon our
thin lines Of infantry-the Second Corps
For mC ment the lines met; there was a
clash OF hayonets, confused struggle of
desperate men, until human endurance
could hold out no longer The men turn
ed and fled, our men charging in turn and
diving item back to their own lines: and
the battle of Gettysburg was Won
j i