The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-07-01

beneath ourlfeet, and the hills ant
the rocks seemed to reel like a
drunken man. For one hour and a
half this most terrific fire was con-
tinued, during which time the
shrieking of shell, the crack OF fell
ing timber, the fragments of rocks
flying through the air, shattered
from the cliffs by solid shot, the
heavy muttering from the valley be-
tween the opposing armies, the
splash of bursting shrapnel, and the
fierce neighing of wounded artillery
horses, made a picture terribly
Grand and Sublime"
Into this scene OF death moved
out the Confederate column of as
sault. Pickett's division proceeded
to descend the slope of hills and t.
move across the open ground. The
front was thickly covered with sklr-
mishers; then followed kemper'S
and Garnetts brigades, forming the
first line, with Armistead in support.
On the flanks were Heth's division
commanded by Pettigrew Of Hills
corps and Wilcox's brigade of Nc
Laws corps, the former on the left.
the latter on the right Of the Vlr-
ginians. Pickett led the attack. The
five thousand Virginians descended
the hill with the precision and reg
ularity of a parade. AS they reached
the Emmetsburg road .=
The Confederate Guns
which had fired over their heads t6
cover the movement, ceased, ana
there stood exposed these deNotr'
troops to an uninterrupted fire o.
the enemy's batteries, while The
fringe of musketry fire along 6
stone wall marked the further
boundary Of death to which they
marched. No halt, no Wavel
Through half a mile of shot ana
she'll pressed on the devoted col
umn. It was no sudden impetus. OF
excitement that carried them OH
through this terrible ordeal; it was
no thin storm of fire which a dash
might penetrate and divide. In eV-
cry inch of air was
The Wing of Death.
Against the breath Of every
mans body reared the red crest O.
Destruction.
''Steadily.the Virginians pressed on
The name of Virginia was that day
baptized in fire, and illuminated for
ever in the temple of History. There
| has been no such example Of devo-
ton in the war. Presently wild cries
ring out; the smoke-masked troops
J are in the enemy's works; there is 8
Hand 20 Hand Conflict
and again and again the Confeder-
ate flag is lifted through the smoke
over the shrinking columns of The
enemy. Garnett is dead. Armisteae
lis mortally wounded. Kemper is sho
down. Every brigadier of the divis:
| ion is killed or wounded, but Picket
| is unscathed in the storm. His flash
ing sword has taken the key of tht
/ enemy's position and points the pat!
of the conflict through his broker
column; glad shouts of victory ar
already heard; and, on the dlstan
hill of observation, where littl
group of breathless spectators ha
watched the scene, Longstreet turn
to General Lee to congratulate hin
that the day is won.
/ vain! Vain! Overlooking the fell
| General Lee saw the troops Of
! PettigreW Had Wavered.
| Another moment and they had fallel
! back in confusion, exposing Pick
i ett's division to attack both froI
front and flank. The courage OF tn
| IVirginians could do no more. Over
whelmed, almost destitute of officer
| and nearly surrounded, the magnlfi
j cent troops Of Pickett gave wa
j Slowly and steadily they yielde
ground; and, under the heavy fl
which the artillery poured into th
: broken ranks, they retraced the
steps across the fatal valley.
Al General Lee was never known
: betray on any battle field a sign I
, leither exultation or disappointment
AS he witnessed the last grand e1
s forts of his men and saw il fail, I
was seen for moment to place
finger thoughtfully between his up
Presently he rode quietly IN fro1
eI of the woods, rallying and encou
nj aging the broken troops, utterl1
e words of cheer and encourageme1
y To foreign military officer Of RAJ
: lwho had come to witness the bait
el he said very simply: This has be-
'et A Sad Day for Us,
fi Colonel-a sad day; but we can't g
II pect always to gain victories.