The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-07-01
WAR STORIES.
Gen. Gordon Writes Of Battle Of ofGettys1ourg.


A cavalry charge, met by counter
charge Of cavalry, is still, perhaps,
the most terrible spectacle witnessed
in war. If the reader has never seen
such Il charge, he can form little con-
ception Of its awe-inspiring fury.
Imagine yourself looking down from
Getty sburg's Heights upon the open,
spreading plain below, where
five thousand horses are niarshalled in
battle line. Standing beside them
arc five thousand riders armed, boot
ed and spurred and ready to mount
The bugles sound the "Mount" aud
instantly five thousand plumcs rise
above the horses as the riders spring
into their saddles. In front of the
respective squadrons the daring lead
ers take their places. The futtering
pensants or streaming gli1ons, ten to
each regiment, mark the left of thu
companies. On the opposite slope of
the same plain are five thousand hos
tile horsemen clad in different uni
forms, ready to meet these in counter
charge. Under those ten thousand
horses are their hoofs, iron-shod and
pitiless, beneath whose furious tread
abe plain is soon to quiver. Again on
each slope Of the open field the bugles
sound. Ten thousand sabrcs leap
from seabbards and glisten in the sun.
The trained horses chafc their re-
straining bits, and as the buglc notes
sound the charge, their nostrils dilato
and their tanks swell in sympathetic
imp,alse with the dashiny riders.
A'Foyxard" shouts the commander.
Dem tho lines and through the col
a,."s in quick succession ring the
echoing commands, Forward, for
ward!' AS this order thrills through
eager ears, sabres fash, and spurs arc
planted in palpitating fanks. The
madly flying horses thunder across
the trembling field, filing tho air with
clouds Of dust and whizzine pebbles.
Their iron-rimmed hoofs in remorse-
less tread, crush tho stones to powder
aud crash through the flesh and bones
of hapless riders who chance to fall.
AS front against front these furious
riders plunge, their sweeping sabres
slashing edge against edge, cutting a
way through opposing ranks, gashing
faces, breaking arms, and splitting
heads, it is scene Of Widest war,
whirlingstempest Of battle, short-lived
but terrible.
AS We move along the street, lit
Gle girl, probably twelve years Of age,
ran up to my horse and handed me
large bouquet Of flowers, in the centre
OF which was a note in delicate hand
writing, purporting to give the num-
bers and describe the position Of the
Union5forces Of Wrightsyille. toward
whichI was advancing. I carefully
read dhd reread the strange note. It
bore no signature, and contained no
assurance Of sympathy for the South
ern cause, but it was so terse and ex-
Pilot in it's terms as to compel my
confidence. The second day we were
In front Of Wrightsville, and from the
high ridge, on which this note suggest
ed that l halt and examine the posi-
sion Of the Union troops, I eagerly
scanRed the prospect with my field
glasses in order to verify the truth of
the mysterious communication or de-
sect its Misrepresentation. There,
in full view before us, was the town,
just as described, nesting on the
banks Of the Susquehanna. There
was the blue line Of soldiers guarding
the approach, drawn up as indicated,
along an intervening ridge and,across
the pike. There was the long bridge
spanning the Susquehanna and con-
Meeting the town. with Columbia on
the other bank. Most important Of
all, there was the deep gorge or ravine
running off to the right and extending
around the left flank Of the Federal
line and to the river below the bridge.
Not an inaccurate detail in that no to
could be discovered. I did not hesi.
aate, therefore, to adopt its sugges.
slon of mSSipg down the gorge. IN or
Ger to throw my command on tho flank,
or possibly in tie rear Of the Union