The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-08-27

for another deadly strike. The Con
federate line remained steady. al
though it was exposed to the fire of
the federals, which passed over the
artillery and struck the infantry with
terrible effect.
so they filed by and went down in
to the heavy sea of smoke which hid
them from view. AS the smoke lift
ed they were seen moving in solid
ranks with steady step and with the
harmonious rythm of some grand
CLEAN of their guns and flashed it
back in myriads of sparkling rays.
Behind them was a wall of light
against which their forms were dis
tinctly outlined
"Picketts Virginians were only
5000, but they were the genesis of
America-high bred, earnest, resolute,
Graded in Christian homes, reared
within the sound of church bells, and
when | tell you that the favorite
hymn Of the Virginia soldier who was
to lead them that day through the
tempest of fire, was that old world
lyric, Guide Me, Oh, Thou Great Je-
hovah." the simple lines of which are
touched with the prophetic fire and
its awful imagery, Death of death and
Hell's destruction" it viii help you to
form some conception of him and the
indomitable men who pressed onward
with him in majestic order like NOV
ing wall of granite over the plain. The
battle flag of the South waved over
them, its stars shining as il in prom
Use of victory At the head of each
regiment fioated the dark blue flag of
Virginia like a banner cut from the
sapphire sky.
'Dauntlessly Pickett's men pressed
forward, as grand column of heroes
as ever made a battlefield glorious.
They reached the post-andrail fence
upon the other side of which and par
allel to it an ordinary dirt road ran
through the field across
which they were advancing. The
fence was but momentary obstruc
ton. 1t was the work of a few sec
onds to climb over it and into the
road while a hundred blazing cannon
poured death into their devoted
ranks.
Now and here was given to the
world the grandest exhibition OF dis
cipline and endurance, of GOODNESS and
courage under a whitening fire, ever
recorded in military history-a scene
which has made the story of Picletts
charge the glory of American arms.
There in the road, with the deafening
explosions of unnumbered shells fill
ing the air, their ranks ploughed
through and through again and again
BY the fiery hail which the batteries
from the heights beyond were pour
ng into them, amid all this terrific
roar and the cries of the wounded and
lying, they heard the command of
heir company officers; Halt, men,
Form linel Fall in. Right dress.'
These heroes reformed and align
I'd their ranks while their comrades
dropped in death agony around them,
shells bursting above their heads, an
ron storm beating them to earth. |
Coolly and calmly they awaited the |
Forward" At last it |
,ame: Forward, quick, march," With |
perfect precision, with all the grace
md accuracy of the parade-ground in
stead of the bloodiest of battleffelds /
oickett's division took up its death /
march. The like was never seen be
ore and the change in MILITARY t1c- |
les will prevent its ever being seen |
gain.
Friend and foe looked on in won
Iering awe. A thrill of admiration /
leld the waiting FederaIs silent and |
notionless as they watched this |
,rand and indispensable display Of I
yirginia's vaIor.
'Of the 5000 who had FOLLOWED
where the fash Of Pickett's SWORD
it the way to the glory Of a brave
lefeat, 1876 had gone to the soldiers
death to live forever II
,ur hearts and on the fame crowned
'ages of their couutry's history. o.
he four colonies but one remained:
If the four general officers one re
NAMED.
Looking around him. Pickett, who
lad eourted death by his daring
ound himself alone His men Lar !.
lead in heaps around him. His sal
ant comrades had died IN an unequal
contest. In one short hour the glory
md pride of Virginia had fallen and
he appealing blasts of the Paladin,s
,ugle would echo forever and forever
mong the passes of the hills Walk
Jack from the charge beside kemper
lis wounded brigadier. gently fam
ng him with his cap, Pickett. the