The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-01-23
On Road to Gettysburg.

The following exquisitely lyrical and
spiritual passage was written on the
road to Gettysburg:
Our Whole army is now in Pennsylvania,
north of the river There were rumors
that Richmond was threatened from all
sides-Dix from Old Point, Getty from
Hanover. Keyes from Bottoms Ridge, and
so on-and that we might be recalled. It
turned out to be a Munchausen. and we
are still to march forward. Every tramp,
tramp. tramp is thought, thought,
thought Of my darling. every halt Bless
ing invoked, every command loving ca
ress, and the thought Of you and prayer
for you make me strong, make me better,
give me courage, give me faith. Now my
Carissima, let my soul speak to yours
Observation-Disclosures! You hear-I am an
swered!
This was written the night before
the charge Of Gettysburg:
Well. my sweetheart, at o'clock the
awful silence was broken by a cannon
shot and then another, and then more
than 100 guns shook the hills from crest to
base, answered by more than another 100
the whole world a blazing volcano the
whole of heaven a thunderbolt, then dark
ness and absolute silence. then the grim
and grewsome. low spoken commands
then the forming of the attacking col
umns, the hurrying Of the men to the po-
sition assigned to them. My brave Vir-
ginians are to attack in front. Oh, may
God in mercy help me as he never helped
me before!
I have ridden up to report to old Peter
shall give him this letter to mail to you
and package to give you if Oh. my
darling, do you feel the love of my heart.
the prayer, as I write that fatal word
"if?'
Now, my darling, l go, but remember
always that I love you with all my heart
and soul, with every fiber of my being:
that now and forever l am yours-yours.
my beloved. Il is almost O'clock My
soul reaches out to yours-ny prayers.
The following is part of the dramatic
narrative Of the battle of Gettysburg:
All. if I had only had my other two bril-
gades different story would have been
flashed to the world! Poor old Dick Gar
nett did not dismount. as did the others
of us, and he was killed instantly, falling
from his horse Ke1hper was desperate
~ wounded. was brought from the field
and subsequently taken prisoner. Poor
old Lewis Armistead-God bless him!-was
mortally wounded at the head of his COM
mand after planting the flag Of Virginia
within the enemy's lines. Seven Of my
colonies were killed, and one was mortal
ly wounded. Nine Of my lieutenant colo
| nels were wounded, and three lieutenant
colonies were killed. Only one field officer
of my whole command, Colonel Cabel, was
unhurt, and the loss Of my company off,
GERS was In proportion.
I wonder, my dear, if in the light of the
great eternity we shall any of us feel this
| was for the best and shall have learned
| to say, Thy will be done?" No castles
| today, sweetheart. No: the bricks of hap
piness and the mortar of love must lie I'M
| touched in this lowering gloom. Pray.
| dear. for the sorrowing ones.
Writes on Birth of Son.
| This letter was written upon the
news to General Pickett of the birth OF
his son, 1.-The Little General" as he
was known in the whole Confederate
army: --.
God bless you. little mother Of our boy
bless and keep you! Heaven in all it's
| glory shine upon you! Eden's flowers
bloom eternal for you! Almost with ev-
cry breath since the message came reliev-
ing my anxiety and telling me that my
darling lived and that little baby had
| been born to US I have been a baby my
SELF Though l have known all these
months that from across loves enchanted
land this little child was on it's way tc
our twin souls, now that Gods promise