Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-06-10

They leaped from the haze Of low ly-
ting smoke like lightning. Straight
across great fields long lines of men
moved until the guns on the top OF
the hills vomited fire. Then the lines
wavered, swayed uncertainty and dis
appeared in the woods from which
they had emerged.
They came out of the woods ia even
lines. They sought cover again in rag
ged, disordered masses. Sometimes
they came out again, advanced, were
torn apart and melted away in a haze.
The battle ragged all around her. As
far as eye could see the flash and
sound of bursting shells met the eye
and smote the ear. Gazing now wild
eyed at the rain of missiles thai filed
the air, shrinking, clingmg to the rock
In the midst of that chaos of terror
spreading sounds unparalleled in his
tory, the widow stared as one who saw
not, who heard not, like one to whom
all sounds were terror.
The struggle had been In progress
five mortal hours when mass of men
and horses emerged from a fringe of
woods just below her. The guns near
the widows house belched fire, the
mass of men and horses advanced
steadily. Another and another mass
came after them until the entire slope
was covered. An arc of fire from the
batteries above them smote the seeth-
ing, surging waves of humanity. men
and animals dashed against each other
seen through veil of smoke, seemed
to hang motionless in the west as the
wavering, mutilated lines of assault
faded away in mist.
Then silence, a grim silence as fear
full as the uproar of all the battle
sounds, fell on the scene. The stiffness
was oppressive. Birds notes were
hushed; the shrilling of insects ceased.
All the earth was as silent as a burned
out planet.
AS far as the eye could see the wild
ow looked on broken fences, crushed
wagons, horses lying in uncouth
shapes, vague specks that looked like
broken and twisted fence posts. These
last lay singly and in groups far apart
from each other and at all angles.
They covered the slopes whichever
way she looked.
She was gazing now across the hill
where Gettysburg lay when another
gust of musketry swept up the slope.
Another followed and yet another
fainter still. Something pattered on
the bare rock. The leaves of the tree
near her trembled, then the rain that
came to quench the thirst of the
wounded and dying descended.
Was it the sweet relief from the
steady roar, the confusion, the multi
plicity of shifting scenes and sounds
and from that crushing silence that
sOothed and calmed the widow or did
nature send solace and blessed sleep
with the rain?
AT all events the widow slept.
When she awoke with start the
earth was dripping. She rose on the
instant, all her faculties sharpened.
There was no rain of iron or lead now.
1t was Gods merciful gift to man that
refreshed and sweetened the slopes
once more
She experienced no difficulty in pass
ing the weary, battle worn guards.
They scarcely turned to look at the ST.
lent figure fitting past them.
She turned bend in the road
There, not 200 yards distant she saw
her house. A dull gleam of dying en-
bers told her some one was lying there
Perhaps it was Battery b. AS she
neared the house shadowy forms re-
solved themselves into tired men
buried in sleep, the embers into neg
lected camp fires.
But where We're her sweet peas?
Great rents were cut through the vines;
half at least had been trodden into the
ground by mems and horses feet.
Yes, and there was cap She picked
it up and beheld the letter B.
Now she was seized with horrible
trembling. She put hand over her
heart and pressed on, ON through her
ruined plots and vines Not sound