Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-02-28

battery from New Orleans oa those
heights. ] observed CORPORAL charles
Weingart, who had charge OF one Of
the guns In 1870, five years after
Z the war, and seven years after this
incident, met and recognized him in
the city of New Orleans. We became
friends and have had many reheaY-
sails Of that scene and drink from the
same canteen.
We then proceeded TO Salem
church. On May /, 1863. we ran up
against Lees entire army, leaving the
Sixth Corps to stand against this over
whelming force Lee attempted to
surround us; We fought him on three
sides, checking him. Under the COW
er of the night, sacrificing n few can
non and our skirmish line. we passed
out on the fourth side so quietly as
not to expose the movement.
1t was here that | observed and
learned the fighting mettle of the
Sixth Corps. To cover their retreat
three lines of battle were formed on
side hill SO each could fire over the
heads of those in front. 1t was a
grand position. Every soldier was in
fighting spirit and prayed that the
enemy might put in an appearance on
that beautiful moonlight night. This
spirit prevailed to such an extent we
were afraid they would fight among
themselves.
When body of troops has to throw
away ten days rations and sixty
rounds of ammunition it is calculated
to bring about just such a state of af-
fairs.
Now comes the great unloading of
winter clothing, blankets, ETC., enough
to stock up the enemy's quartermas-
ter's department. The roads for fifty
miles were strewn with such goods
cast off by the soldiers as being bur
densomhe on the march and left for
the enemy to gather them in.
On the famous march of the Sixth
Corps from Fredericksburg, Va, to
Gettysburg, Pa, they made an aver
age of twenty-seven miles per day for
ten days in succession and forty miles
on the eleventh day and night, reach
ing or arriving at Gettysburg on July
2, 1868, just In time to check the en-
emy as they broke the lines of the
Third Corps and were making an eff
fort to gain possession of the old
stage road leading direct to Balti-
more. 1t was critical moment, as
possession of this road would have
caused the surrender of Baltimore
and philadelphia. But Prov
idence willed it otherwise. To show
how close a shave 1T was in Westmin-
ster. Nd, only twenty-seven miles
from Baltimore, on the tenth day of
that famous march we encountered
Stuarts cavairy in strong force and
why he did not ride into Baltimore is
a great wonder as he was completely
detached from Lees army and Bal
timore. Instead he marched to York.
Pa, Philadelphia and York being his
objective points where he doubtless
expected to dictate terms which
meant the independence OF the con-
federate states. He aimed too high
and did not reckon on the ability OF
New York and philadelphia with their
militia as being ready for such an
emergency.
At this time there were many anx-
ious hearts and many prayers Went up
to heaven by those who had never
before felt any of the terrors of war
with the army of the enemy invading
their state and homes.
At Gettysburg, on the third day OF
that memorable battle, July 8, 1868,
the Sixth corps did effective service.
The Second brigade of the First diyi-
sion at daybreak reached Culp's hill,
the extreme right of the army's lines.
They marched in relieving only to be
relieved again in a few moments,
countermarching then marching in
again, going through the same man
euvers, apparently to deceive the en-
emy. This was done under scatter
ing and occasionally volley firing on
the part of the enemy Then that ia
nous and greatest of artillery duels
lasting from IL to 2 pm. took place,
and when 1t ceased a painful silence
fell upon us. We were wondering
what next was coming to rack our
nerves. Just then Pickett, at the
head of his veterans as an assault
ing column in great numbers, moved
out over the fields. Our artillery
poured terrible and most destruc-
tive fire into their ranks, thinning out
the columns in view, only to be filled
from reserve columns following close
ly until they reached our lines. 1t
was here Pickett's famous command,
"Now, boys, give them the cold steel
was uttered. Having used up their
reserve force and having no support,
those who did reacn our lines being
completely exhausted, they were un-
able to cope with the swoop made up
on them by the Sixth corps. They
simply had to ground arms, and be
marched to the rear as prisoners OF
war. Not 10 per cent. of that brave
lot of fellows ever reached their own
lines again. This pickett charge" as
1t is known in history, must rank as
the greatest on record.
T,,lx, 4 waS snnnt hnryino tha daad