Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-04-02
Civil War Stories


100 Nv men on the field of Gettysburg
knew that Lee would attack that day
by 10 o'clock in the forenoon every one
knew where the blow would fall. Inc
Topography of the field, the bloody
struggles on the wings, the movements
of troops and batteries-thrre were a
dozen signs to indicate what was com
ing.
From daylight 10 . o'clock there was
II sputter Of musketry along the front
rs the sharpShOotcrs and sklr1nlshers
fired at long range. From 9 to ~ the
cavalry on the wings had the fight all
to themselves. From 10 to II a gun
there and there shplled the Confederate
skirmishcrs out of the bitches in which
they were hiding, but there seemed to
be no fighting anywhere. From IL to
II Lee was massing 100 field pieces In
front of Longstrect and Hill to open
on Hancock. Meade posted 100 guns
to reply, but to fire slowly.
At noon 4 few cOuriers were riding
lfuriously In different directions, but not
a gun was being fired. The men In line
ate from their haversacks, and the ar
tillery horses nibbled at the grass as
they were unchecked by their drivers.
Scores Of men had pocket telescopes.
These were passed from hand to hand,
and every gun on the Confederate sid"
was located.
They are going to batter us with
shot and shell and then charge. Lie
close to the ground. Tn shot will fall
short or so over US
SO came the word along the lines.
1t was a wise ~precaution. But for the
caution no one could tell would
have happened. From half past Il to
o'clock seemed an age. At l O'Clock
sharp the boom of a single gun echoed
over the battlefield, and a shell came
screaming over our heads and eXplod-
ed O feet in rear. That was the
signal. Before inc could have counted
twenty there was a roar which can
be compared to nothing n has ever
heard. In two minutes the earth was
trembling. The stones in the wall in
front of us gritted together. Mud had
been used as plaster, and pieces of it
fell out with thinking. One would have
| Salu INA uOlullS Soulo dtt ~ eL"'
awful roar, but the Federal guns
opened in reply, and then men lying
down gasped as they breathed and
clutched sod or stone as If perched on
some dizzy height and afraid Of fall
ing.
For the first five minutes the roar
shut out all seunds-swallowed them
up as a great ocean would another gill
Of water. Thousands Of men closed
their eyes and clinched their teeth.
officers who had been standing up dis
appeared to hug the earth. Now the
roar Is split and slashed and penetrated
by the missiles from the Confederate
guns. They are throwing round shot,
steel bolts, fuse shell, percussion
every form Of missile which portable
runs can take in and belch out again.
They shrek and scream and whir.
They come from in front and from the
right and left. Some fall short. and
exploding In the dry soil throw a cloud
Of dust heavenward to sift down on
our backs. Others sail high above us
and carry death into the ranks Of the
reserve, while now and then one bursts
lust right to wound or kill in our own
ranks.
No living man will ever hearken to
a more terrific ~cannonade. No battle
field of the future will hold men for
two long hours under such a crossfire.
The smoke rose up and hung a dead
cloud in the air until II thought that
night was coming down. Fiery SER
penis darted in every direction. Ex-
ploding shells created sudden great
flames, as if kegs Of powder had been
tossed VI to destroy the heavens.
There was no lull-no interval. Only
those who became unnerved sat up to
look around them. Here and there one
rose up and ran away. He was not a
coward-he was simply unnerved by
the situation. Sometimes he came
creeping back, white faced and weep
ing, and sometimes he was struck down
ness to find shelter from the rain Of
death.
Two hours, they afterward said. We
lying there made no note of the pas
sage of time. 1t was a nightmare, and
yet we did not sleep. Death rode all
along our front-he leaped over us
he raced his spectre steed along the
fences and highways and fields far In
our rear. The cannonade died away
slowly. The last few guns seemed to
give up grudgingly. The very last sent
n screaming shell which fell mons
the wounded and stopped the groans
and cries Of five or six forever.
up, men! They are coming! Fall
|in-fan in!"
Yes, they were coming, with Pickett's
Vireinians in the van, and breaking
along like a huge wav 1t was a re-
lief to know they were coming. It was
grim satisfaction to watch the advance.
| Men shouted in exultation as they came
nearer and the musketry opened. 1t
Twas the reaction. We laughed and
shook hands, and reckoned not Of the
death to come from those advancing
| columrs.-C. 4. Lewis in Detroit Free
press.
Laid Down the FryinE-Pan.
When, at Gaines Mill in 1862 the
5th Texas captured two whole regi-
nieLts of Yankees, the Texan soldiers
were all very proud of their achieve
Imcnt. !. q. Policy was one of them,