The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-01-10
PoMERoY's RIDE.
a Gallant Exploit by Pennsylvania
Boy During the War.

IN his graduation. Grafton R. c. Ap-
pleby, the son of Comrade T. A. Apple
by, of Mount Union, Pa, took for his
theme the gallant exploit of Stephen
w. Pomeroy at the time of Lees in
Vasion of Pennsylvania. This was an
excellent choice for subject, since
it is the best policy to keep the patri-
otic deeds of our brave men for emula-
tion by the young. Mr.. Appleby, after
speaking of the celebrated rides from
Paul Revere down, spoke of Lees in
vasion of Pennsylvania, and said:
Hooker was superseded by Meade,
who marched his army northward on
a line east of'the Blue Ridge and COW
ering both Washington and Baltimore,
thus separating his corps by long dis
tances. Lee, learning of this, decided
to march rapidly eastward from Cham
bersburg and strike Meade's army,
corps by corps, before it could concen-
trate for battle. This he came dan
gerously near doing, as on July 1 he
struck the first and eleventh corps of
Meade's army at Gettysburg, and, after
the braVest and bloodiest contest this
continent ever saw, drove our men off
the field. Next day the battle ragged
with frightful fury and small advan-
tage to either side, but with dreadful
loss to both. On the third day every
man of both armies was on the field,
and the battle was fought to finish.
AS the close of the battle 5000 men
were dead upon the field and 10000
were wounded.
Lee was defeated. The high-water
mark of the confederacy was reached.
Thence after the rebellion was hope
less, the union was saved. The Old
Flag though baptized in the best blooil
of the land, had not lost single staa.
But the greatest results turn on ac-
tions unseen. When Lees battalionS
came marching down from Carlisle
and the valley through Chambersburg
and filed rapidly out the Gettysburg
pike it convinced Judge Kimmell that
a collision between the two armies
would occur quickly, and that it was
exceedingly important that Meade
should know of the movement at once.
He prepared a dispatch telling of
Lees plans, and asked for a volunteer
to carry it through the confederate
lines to the line of the Pennsylvania
railroad, on the Juniata. A boy from
Roxbury, just discharged from his
regiment, came forward and offered to
try. The Importance of its getting to
Meade was explained, and he started
Young and fleet, he ran the confed.
crate picket lines, and, skirting the
mountains, reached home after trip
of II miles on foot. Meeting a neigh.
Dor on horseback, he secured his horse
and rode on rapid gallop to Beal'
town, in Juniata county, where, get
ting a fresh horse, he galloped away
in the night to Academia, where he
again left his exhausted horse, and
securing another, rode at great speed
to Port Royal, where his dispatch was
at once sent to Gov. Curtin, at Harris.
burg, and by him to the war depart.
ment, which in turn sent it to Meade;
6O IAoC "AICA LAO GUN AOcO OA July
Meade knew that the battle would be-
gin that day, and ordered the concen'
tration of all his troops at Gettysburg
The great surprise which Lee had
planned was defeated
when this Pennsylvania boy was
riding over hill and dale in the dark
ness and night. save by the light his
galloping steed struck out of the
rocks; when the farmers saw the fig
ure pass like a swift clouds shadow;
when the sleepers were awakened only
to hear the fast receding hoof-beats
they little thought of the great results
to come from this strange riders
haste.
you have heard of the rides OF
Paul Revere, Of Paul Venarez, of Jen