The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-07-07

The smoke still hung over the plain.
and the echo was yet rolling along the
dehles and gorges, when the whole line
was ablaze, and the thunder and crash
of a hundred guns shook the hills. An
other hundred guns flashed an instant
reply, and the greatest artillery duel
of the western continent had begun
The two ridges, about fourteen hundred
yards apart. We're like blazing VOL
canoes. The valley was filled with
clouds of dust and suffocating smoke
A rolling sea of white and blue-g
mist tossed its pillows between the
heights. Fiery fuses shot across the
field, leaving death and mutilation in
their track. Shreiking shells burst a.
bove the troops, or, striking, tore up
er deadly blow. The Federal chief OF
artillery declared that never had such
Il sight been seen before.
Picktt was beside Longstreet, watt
ing for orders, when a courier rode up
with a note from Alexander, saying:
IF you are coming. come at once; but
the enemy's fire has not slackened at
all. At least eighteen guns are still
firing from the cemetery ITSELF"
Shall 1 go forward, General Long
street," Pickett asked.
Longstreet looked at him with an
expression that seldom comes into any
face. The friendship of years flooded
his soul. He remembered q time long
before when he fell on the stormy slope.
of Chapultepec, and his boy-lieutenant
Pickett took his place and bore the
battle flag. the Stars and Stripes, in
triumph to the flame-crowned height
He held out his hand and bowed his
head in assent; but not word of COM
mand did he speak.
Pickett gave the orders to his staff
officers and brigade commanders and
rode down the line. his men springins
to their feet as lie told them what was
expected of them. At a quarter past
three the order Forward" rang along
the line. The supreme moment had
come. With the gaze of thousands of
both armies riveted on the long line
moving with all the precision of z
grand review, the five thousand Vir-
pin 1,ni to
Pickett took the lead, mounted on his
Spirited charger, gallant: graceful, ARD
courageous as knight .: chivalry. his,
long, dark auburn hair floating back
! upon the wind as he led the way down
,he slope Of death, into the heavy sea
of smoke which sometimes hid them
from view.
Pickett's men We're only five thous-
and; but they were from Virginia, the
genesis Of America, earnest and reso-
lutte, Graded in Christian homes, rear
ed within the sound of church bells.
When tell you that the favorite hymn
Of the Virginian who led them through
the tempest Of fire was the old world
lyric. Guide Me, Thou Great Je-
hovah." with its lines touched with
prophetic fire and its awful imagery,
death of deaths and Helrs destruc-
:ion.' it may help to form a concep-
ton of him and the man who followed
him like a moving wall over that plain,
with the dark-blue flag of Virginia
floating before each regiment-Kemp-
er on the right, Garnett on the left,
Arrnistead Immediately In the rear,
there not being room for all in ex-
tended line of battle. Garnett had been
i'll for days, travelling in an ambu-
lance: but though too weak to mount
his horse, he insisted. upon being lifted
into the saddle, that he might lead his
| brigade.
The moment they passed the crest
the Federal batteries opened fire upon
| them. AS they descended the eastern
slope Of Seminary Ridge, they ell
countered the combined fires from
Round Top and the batteries in front
| and as they reached the marshy trac,
line of infantry advanced on the left
| flank, and soon a destructive fire from
Federal sharp shooters. This was fol-
lowed by terrific fire of musketry
from the front, and deadly enfilade
from the rifled guns ON Round Top
Halfway over the field Picketts
| order Left Oblique!" rang out clear
and firm above the roar. Coolly and
| beautifully the movement was execut-
ed. though the direct fire of one hun
dred Federal guns was now concen-
trated upon them like the sweep of the
scythe of Death; and Pickett's men fel,
like grain before it. But the surviv-
ors pressed on with force which
| seemed to grow stronger with the con
| centration of the will and courage OF
| all who had fallen.
Presently Pickett commanded. From,
forward" and the column resumed Its
old direction, straight upon the cen
ter of the enemy's position, the whole
fury of the Federal shot and shell and
infantry fire filling the air, till every
breath seemed to carry its DEATH deal
ing missile. Kemper went down, man.
l p1ed and hleadinp. h,,f Garnott atil