The Washington times., 1912-07-03

oSoaull tne IHle OF the Union feeIeO.
All through the hot forenoon and far
into the declining sun the .assaulting
columns stormed trench and breast
work, taking and re-taking now this,
now that, position, successful here, re-
pulsed there, until, with the close of
the day, the Confederate general with
MS last reserve powerless to resist
the dogged attack of the Man of Fate
on the Day Of Fate. surrendered his
In twain; In the words Of Lincoln, The
Mississippi now rolls unvexed ITO the
sea-"
And this was on the Third Of July.
Deciding Fight.
At the same hour that Grants de-
termined columns beat their way into
the trenches of Vicksburg, there was
taking place upon another stage Of the
drama of war a conflict no less vital.
After the disastrous defeat of Hooker
at Charlottesville, in May, the vic
torious army Of Lee, with slight re-
spite. marched triumphant across the
Potomac river into Maryland, and even
flung it's impudent brigades into the
towns OF southern Pennsylvania. WASH
dent had even given orders looking to
the removal of the Government ar
chives to a place of safety.
On the LIST of July the hastily march,
ing van e: the Union forces collided
with the victorious army of Lee In
Maryland, near the Pennsylvania line,
and suffered bloody repulse; on the
I'd, the armies of both sides, now COM
ing up In full strength, fought san
culinary battle which resulted in a VIC
tory for the Southern arms and COM
PEELED the Northern army to retreat
to a defensive position.
On the next day there occurred that
most famous of charges on American
soil--the charge of Pickett's Division at
Gettysburg. Through a storm of shot
and shell that devoted line of Southern
ers won lie way to the There, crest Of the
through a fifJeen-minute hell of cannon
ball and bullet poured down upon them
until ewept away into nothingness by
the counter-stroke Of Meade's battaiions.
and with them was swept away the hope
Of the Southern cause.
That was the Sd of July, 1858.
Historians all agree that this charge
of Picketts Division was the turning
they been able to hold their position un-
til e-enforcements came up the COIN
plete defeat of the Northern army was
assured and, that swept from the path,
the road to Washington was clear.
On the crest Of Seminary Ridge, the
heights whittier Picketts Carolina-Vir-
| ginia troops directed their attack, is a
tablet marking the spot where North
Carolina regiment pushed Its way ana
held its ground for one tremendous
quarter of an hour as "the high-water
mark Of the Southern Confederacy.
That was reached the Sd of July.
Back to Cuba.
Just thirty-fve years after this famed
J affair of Gettysburg the American arms
were abroad In the cause OF Cuban
liberty. Late in the month Of June, 1888
the army landed on the southern coas'
| of Cuba, bent upon the capture or san.
| tiaRo the chief city of the southern anc
| eastefn end of the island. Some time
before the Spanish fleet, consisting o.
four powerful cruisers, had sougn
refuge from the he. American G1,T navy "''n~
On the 1st of July the army mao
its approach to Santiago and engagee
in several bloody conflicts, which, whli'
they resulted in success for the Ameri
can arms, left the soldiers in a mos
dangerous position--a situation that was
on the End Of Jolly. so hazardous
by reason Of the numerical superiorit!
OF the Spanish troops, thot Genera
Shafter who commanded the American
forces, sent a dispatch to the War De
partment declaring that he would b.
Compelled to withdraw his troops tn
following day-the 3rd OF july.
of this fateful ard OF July. and befor
that is what his withdrawal. reail;
meant-the Spanish squadron, steamih'
liberty, was within a gloriously shor
space of time, completely annihilate
by the guns Of the American feet hoV
ering al the entrance to the harbor.
J That ended the defense OF Santiago
Il also ended the Spanish war And
took place on the 3rd OF July.
Why is 1t that SO many decisiV
American victories have thus take
. place upon this date? Cannot the ans
wer be read in the fact that the an
following is the Glorious Fourth ?
, That the American citizen. with hi
, heart surcharged with enthusiasm an
5 love for his country, and dwelling !
his mind upon the approaching natf
l day of the nation, Is ripe and ready &c
any deed Of prowess? That he prefer
! death, II need be, before he will see tn
! sun OF the Fourth of Jul:' dawn upo
t the defeat OF the American arms?
May Il not be that the troops OF Graf
1 at Vicksburg rushed to death the moi
the morrows GLORIOUS Fourth" d.
not the soldiers of Meade at Gettysburl
defeated on the LIST and the
e days Of July, and, on the afternoon {
:. the 3D. driven from their guns by tt
:, impetus whirlwind OF Ptcketts brigade
. | pause in their retreat to think that tn
l was the eve of the Fourth of July-ar
e then return to conquer?-nerving then
s selves with a daring they had n
: known before. for the very shame of d
h feat on the eve Of the Fourth Of July
ii marked itself in glory upon the histol
n of the nation. and though II has I
i celebration of waving flags and speec
8 flying politicians, II should ever occur
n a niche in the heart of every true Anne
q lean.