The National tribune., 1908-07-16

freshcd with slumber to pursue their
march. There was so little "precurse
= of fierce events there, so little of the
'harbingers preceding still the fates''
In the dew-gemmed fields sparkling
under the rising sun, that from a farm
mouse beyond Willoughby Run a girl
Started out to bring in the cows from
The field for the morning milking as
was her daily custom, unconscious of
any change in the peaceful character
of her surroundings. As she reached
the crest of the ridge her young eyes
were startled by the sight of the road
as far as she could see filed with
- Harry Heth's dust-brown ranks of
-Confede.ates marching at a swinging
route-step toward Gettysburg to get
: those shoes. ClUtching her sun-bonnet
about her face as an alarmed girl
does. she sped back as fast as her bare
brown legs would carry her TO tell
the startling news to her father. He
5 knew that the night before the Sth H.
Cav. had set a picket post on the next
hill east of his house, and he ran with
e all speed to alarm the post. The Cor
poral in charge rode forward with one
man to reconnoiter. Passing the house
of the farmer, he rode up on the ridge
from which the little girl had fed,
and there verified her report Sending
d boy VINO was with him back to the
POsh WIKI t!lt Ills
carbine and, like 4 good soldier, wait
ed minute or two to see. il possible.
the end of the column and Judge its
strength before retiring. There seemed
2 no end to the column, and its head was
coming entirely too near, so lust to
show his feelings in the matter, and
aecentuate the alarm sent back, he
lexeied his carbine and fired three de-
DELIBERATELY aimed shots ints the head
OF the column before galloping back to
the picket post.
The battle of Gettysburg was on.
Ruford's Dispositions.
Skilled old cavalryman that he was,
Gen. John Ruford had made the best
dispositions possible to watch the
enemy, give due intelligence of his
1novemens. and to make such resist
ance as would further the plans of his
Commanding General for thwarting
the Confederate designs. BY daylight
of July l he was. by means of his adj
msrable scouts. put in possession of
fun information as to the position
of the enemy and his probable inten-
tions. He made his dispositions. as be-
fore said, for entertaining him until
Gen. Reynolds could reach the scene +"
Both Ruford and Reynolds seemed TO
have been thoroly awake to the de-
sirablity of holding Gettysburg to pre-
FtItN J<+t > concentration OF mis- forces.
Col. William Gamble, an excellent SOL
der, who commanded the Sth ILL., cav,
was in command Of the First Brigade,
consisting. besides his own regiment
of the sth n. Y. Cav, three squadrons
of the Sd Ind. Cav, and two>ssquad-
rons of the 18th Ind. Cav, in all about
1000 electives. With them was It'd
balls noted battery of the I'd u s.
Art CANDLES Brigade had been
placed in lire about one mile in front
of the Seminary. with its right resting
on the railroad track and its left near
the Fairfield Road The Cashtown
Road. upon which Heth's Division was
advancing. passed thru this line near
its center. TidbalFs Battery. under
Lieut. Calcf, who was destined to win
high reputation that day as an ar
: fillerist. WAS put In advantageous posi-
ton behind this line. There was one
section On either side of the Cashtown
Road. while a third section was over
near the Fairfield Road. Buford's Sec
ond Brigade was commanded BIZ Col.
Thos. c. Deyin, 9Th n. Y. Cav, and
consisted. besides his regiment. OF the
: 18th Pa. Sd W. Va, and 9th N Y
On the goth this brigade had secuted
toward Carlisle, Harrisburg and York,
taking a number of prisoners, from
whom important intelligence was Sc
--cared At the sound of the firing in
front OF the First Brigade, Dcvin went
Into position on the crest of q hill to
the right of the unfinished railroad,
and thence extended his line north
east to the Johannesburg Road,
throwing out videts and piciets to
watch all the roads as far as that to