The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-07-07

July AT 6 q. m. ! rode to the field
with Col. Manning, and went over that
portion of the ground which, after a fierce
contest. had been won from the enemy
Yesterday evening. The dead were being
buried, but great numbers were still lying
about: also, many mortally wounded, Tor
whom nothing could be done. Amongst
the latter were q number of Yankees
dressed in bad limitations OF the Zouave
costume They opened their glazed eyes
as | rode past in a painfully -imploring
manner.
We Joined Gems. Lee and Longstreet's
staff They were accommodating and max
ing preparations for renewing the attack.
AS we formed a pretty large party, we
often drew upon ourselves the attention
of the hostile SharpShoOterS, and were
two or three times favored with a shell.
One of these shells set brick building
on fire, which was situated between the
lines. This building was filled with
wounded, principally Yankees, who. ]
am afraid, must have persisted miserably
slightly wounded yesterday, but still did
duty. Mai. Walton's horse was killed,
but there were no other casualties amongst
my particular friends.
The plan of yesterdays attack seems
to have been very simple-first a heavy
cannonade all along the line, followed by
an advance of Longstreet's two divisions
and part of Hills Corps. In consequence
of the enemy'S having been driven back
some distance LOngStreet's Corps part OF
it, was in much more forward situation
than yesterday. But the range of nights
to be gained was still most formida bic,
and evidently strongly intrenched
The distance between the Confederate
guns and the Yankee position. e., be-
tween the woods browning the opposite
ridges-was at least a Tnile-quite open,
gently undulating, and exposed to artil-
4 &t,o
ground which had to be crossed in to-
days attack. Pickett IS Division, which
had Just come up, was to bear the brunt
in Longstreet's attack, together with Heth
and Pettigrew in Hills Corps. Pickett's
Division was weak one (under $1,000,
owing to the absence of two brigades.
At noon all LOngStreetS dispositions
were made; his troops for attack were de-
plOyed into line, and lying down in the
woods; his batteries were ready to open.
The General then dismounted and went
to sleep for a short time. The Austrian
officer and 1 rode off to get, if possible,
into some commanding position from
whence we could see the whole thing
without being exposed to the tremendous
fire which was about to commence. After
riding about for half an hour without be-
ing able to discover so desirable a situa
ton, we determined to make for the
cupOla, near Gettysburg. Ewells head
trance to the town, the cannonade opened
with a fury which surpassed even that o.
yesterday.
Soon after passing through the toll-gate
at the entrance Of Gettysburg, we found
that we had got into heavy cross-fire;
shells, both Federal and Confederate, pass
ing over our heads with great frequency
At length two shrapnel shells burst quite
close to us, and "a ball from one of them
hit the officer who was conducting US
We then turned round and changed ouI
views with recard.tosthe cupola-the fire
able to that of both Sides. A small boy o.
~ years was riding fifth us at the time.
This urchin tooksa diabolica, interest in
the bursting of the shells, and screamed
with delight when he saw them take effect.
never saw this boy. again, or found out
who he was. kS.4
The road at Gettysburg was lined with
Yankee dead, and as they had been killed
on the LIST, the poor fellows had already
begun to be very offensive. We then re-
turned to the hill | was on yesterday.
ButsfindIng that, to see the actual fight
ing, it was absolutely necessary to go into
the thick of the thing ] determined to
make my way to Gen. Longstreet 1t was
then about 2:30. After passing Gen. Lee
and his staff, | rode on through the
woods in the direction in which had left
LOngStreet.
i soon began to meet many wounded
men returning from the front: many of
them asked in piteous tones the way to a
doctor or an ambulance. The further
got, the greater became the number of the
wounded. At last | came to perfect
stream OF them fiocking through the woods
in numbers as great as the crowd in Ok
ford street in the middle of the day Some
were walking alone on crutches composed
of two rifles, others were supported by
men less badly wounded than themselves,
and others were carried on StretcherS by
the ambulance corps; but in no case did
j see sound man helping the wounded
to the rear, unless he carried the red
badge of the ambulance corps They
were still under heavy fire; the shells
were continually bringing down great
limbs Of trees, and carrying further de
struction amongst this melancholy pro-
ceSSion.
| saw all this in much less time than it
takes to write it, and although astonished
TO meet such vast numbers of wounded, |
had not seen enough to give me any idea
OF the real extent of the mischief
When got close up to Gen. LOnpStreet
saw one OF his regiments advancing
through the woods in good order: so.
| was Just in time to see the at
tack, | remarked to the General that IL
wouldn't have missed this for anything"
LongStreet was seated at the top of q
snake fence at the edge OF the woods. and
looking perfectly calm and impertIIrbed
He replied, laughing, "The devil you
wouldn't | would like to have missed it
very much; we've attacked and been re-
pulsed. Look thcrc."
For the first time | then had a view of
the open space between the two posi-
tons, and saw 1T covered with Confcder-
ates slowly and sulkiiy returning towards
us in small broken parties, under a heavy
fire of artillery. But the fire where we
were was not so bad as further to the
rear; for although the air seemed alive
with shell, yet the greater number burst
behind us.
The General told me that Pickett's Di
vision had succeeded in carrying the
position and capturing his guns,
but after remaining there 20 minutes If
had been forced to retire on the retreat of
Heth and Pettigrew on its left No per
son could have been more calm or self
possessed than Gen" Longstreet under
these trying circumstances. aggravated
as they now were by the movements OF
the enemy, who begin to show a strong
to advance / could now
appreciate the term bulldog.
which | had ni h heard applied to him by the
other impression upon him than to make
him little more sftvasc.
Mai. Walton was THE only officer with
him when | came 'hpl-all the rest had
been put into the charge. In a few min
utes Mai Latr0be arrived, on foot. carry
ing his saddle, having ijust had his horse
killed. Col. SorrellWaS also in the same
predicament, and Capt Goree's horse was
wounded in the north
The General was making the best ar
in his power to resist the
threatened advance, BY advancing some
artillery rallyin9 the StraprlerS atc