The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-05

one than that contemplated, he should so
advise the commander, and the army
would be ordered up. But ON his arrival
he found more pressing duty forced
shattered masses of the First and Eley-
enth Corps was not stayed. a great dis
aster must follow. The sole nucleus of
stability was presented by single bfi
gade of Steinwehr's Division which Gen
Howard. on arriving, had left in reserve
on Cemetery Hill, and the cavalry of Blu
ford. which. deployef on the plain to the
left OF the town. and in front of the ridge
presented bold and firm front. Every
where else was confusion, and the enemy
| coming on.
In such an emergency it is the personal
qn2lfIes or the commander alone that tell.
IT. happily. there is in him that mystic
rions but potent magnetism that calms
subdues. and inspires. there results one of
those sudden moral transformations that
are among the marvels of the phenomena
OF battle. This quality Hancock possessed
IN a high degree. and his appearance soon
restored order out of seemingly hopeless
| confusion-a confusion which Howard. an
efficient officer. but of IA rather negative
nature, had not been able to quell Nor
fortunately. could there be any question as
to the right position to be taken up. for
nature had already traced il out i'm a bold
relief of rock. On the ridge of Gettys-
bnrg-the ridge Reynolds had mentally
| marked as he impetuously hurried for
ward to buffet the advancing enemy. and
which. by the rich sacrifice of his life. he
purchased for the possession of the army
and for the possession of history forever
-lIancock disposed the remnants of the
| two corps.
| CHARACTER OF THE GROUND.
| The Gettysburg ridge is an irregular. in
| terrupted line Of nights and hills running
| due south from the town of Gettysburg
AT the town the ridge bends back. east
| ward and southwark. in crOtchet formed
by Cemetery and culp's Hills. The for
mer is SO called from the burying place of
the town situate thereon. 1t commands
the positions available for the enemy on
| the north and northwest. The latter form
ing the right knob Of the line is in rough
and rocky ground much wooded and very
nnfavorable to the use of artillery. Along
its eastern base runs Rock Creek, one of
the tributaries of the Monocacy. From
Cemetery Hill the line runs southwark for
| about three miles. in a well-defined ridge
which may properly be termed Cemetery
Ridge. and which terminates, at that dis
| fance. in IL high. rocky. and wooded peak
| named Round Top, the less elevated pOr-
ton near where the crest rises into Round
| Top being termed Little Round Top. .(3D
il rough and bald spur OF the former. The
broken character Of the ground in front of
| the southern flank Of the line renders it
| siiSo uHIdSoTdDlc I'D the Use OF afIliIefy.
The general position is thus about four
miles in extent; but while Cemetery and
culp's Hills require the formation of a line
of battle to face Dorthward, the direc-
tion of Cemetery Ridge (north and south,
causes the line to front westward. Tie
crest. mainly in cultivated fields, but with
occasional frnges of woods, has, through
out. a good slope to the rear. affordng
excellent cover for the reserves and trains.
To the west, the ridge falls off in a cul-
tivated and undulating valley. which it
commands. and at the distance of q mile
or less is parallel crest which hns al-
ready been marked as Seminary Ridge.
and which the Confederates occupied dur
ing the succeeding battle. In the valley be-
tween these two ridges the ground rises
into an intermediate swell of land. along
which runs the Emmitsburg road
| UNION LINES PLANNED AND PLANTED.
| Such was the ground destined to form
the scene of the approaching shock of the
two armies; and on which Hancock, as
sisted by Gems. Howard Warren, and
Buford. now disposed his preliminary line
Of battle. Cemetery Hill was already par
TALLY held by HOward's troops. On the
right of these, and occupying the import
ant position Of Culps Hill, was placed
Wadsworth's Division. of the First Corps
and his line completely commanded the
approaches from the town Of Gettysburg
now held by EwelI. The remaining two
II -