Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-02-01

/ AS iearneu be was an experienced
guide asked him to take me where
the 10th Va. Regiment came to the
stone wall of Gettysburg on the 1st
day of July, 1863, so that / could To-
cate the first days fighting ground.
then located the fence we lay be-
hind on the east side of an oak grove
with the railroad-cut some 200 yards
to our left. From the fence we had
charged across field to small marsh
in the edge of an oak grove where we
came to halt, as we were only some
30 yards from the blue jackets, whilst
the smoke was so thick at times that
we could net see them ten steps from
us. When the air raised the smoke we
threw into them another volley, and
all was dark again. l saw or z
men fail within ten feet of me.
John b. Williams was one; Jas.
Ashburn was another. Capt. Edwin
Belts was struck in the head, but af-
terwards charged to the left and
fought hand to hand at the old brick
house. The brick house was the only
place | could not locate, bat learned
that it had been added to, and an
end put on it. There are still aspen
trees in the yard. Some of the larger
ones were just cut when we fought
there. | am sure / went within 10
feet of the spot where l was standing
on July 1st, 1863, when the 10th Va.
Regiment was ordered to charge bay
onets. L was boy of 10 years at
that time and was looking for bet
ter time than / was having. l was
told by Mr.. Luther Diller, w. S.
OILERS only uncle, who is one of the
guards at this place, that remains of
our dead are very often found while
cutting away and building new
monuments and avenues by the
the government. 1t seems that the
different states have borne the largest
part of the expenses on the battle
ground. Mr.. Diller told me that
Uncle Sam had spent $50, 900 yearly
for five years past and paid some
$4,000 to get portions of land to COM
plete the Confederate avenue. There
are seven police on the ground and
no shooting is allowed, hence
rabbits and other game are plentiful
there. As my friend, Mr.. Hilterbrick,
was on the battle ground two days
after our company left he showed
me where Iongstreet's corps fought
on the same day in the wheat field and
the DEVILS Den is where our dead lay
so thick.
We then went to Emmitsburg,
Md. 10 the st. Joseph Academy
and the Home Of the Sisters. The
building covers some five acres by the
side of the Blue Ridge mountains.
They seem to be a happy set and there
is no marrying or giving in mar
riage. Well, Mr.. Editor, that would
not do for me, for indeed some of these
girls looked very pretty. Do you
think they are happy without COM
panion? Never having been a girl,
and single, we can't just answer our
friend.-ED.1 was told by gentle
man that they eat steer weighing
1000 pounds every week. They have
plenty of money. They are taking
out all of the steam engines and the
whole place will be heated by
steam pipes. But, taking all things
into consideration, the Northern
Neck is the home OF my choice. In
deed / hardly could get sleep enough
whilst out there. At all points in
the hotels they rise early, so
L being late sleeper, could not stay
with them long.
saw many curiosities at Gettys-
burg too numerous too mention. Sol
diers go and see, your time will be
well spent. Yours, L. II. GILL.