The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-03
BRIDGEPORT MEN WHO WERE HEROES OF THE FIGHT THE
 LAST DAY AT GETTYSBURG

O1 the last CaAyS at OOIGy ySOuFS just as the war correspondent saw it. The news flashed to Bridgeport, that Lees advance invasion of the north had been checked, his army defeated and turned back once more toward the south, caused great rejGic- ing here. At points on that field where history was made that day. men from Bridgeport took a prominent part in the making process.
 In the battles of the two prev ious days Lee having unsuccess- fully tried to turn on Meade's right and left Hanks now deter mined to try the center and to make 9 daring, smashing assault on the whole front in hope that he might break through at some point and sweep the Union army from its position
 Cemetery hill was now the key to the Union position. On this en1inence was the local burying ground, it's entrance a huge arch of brick visible for miles around. Near this gate there stood during the battle z this sign:
 t'A1I persons using firearms in these grounds will be prosecut- ed with the utmost rigor of the Iaw.''
 Many a soldier must have smiled gr1n1Iy at these words for thds gateway became the very center of the most cruel use of firearms yet seen on this continent One hundred and twenty Confederate cannon were turned against it on that last afternoon.
 Shortly before noon on July 3rd the Confederates directed at the Union line a terrific can nonade from 159 guns. From about 80 available cannon Meade's men replied and for two hours the hills fairly shook with the awful thunder and up- roars Sometime before the Con- fedeEate fire s1ackened, the U1a- ion gunne1S were ordered to cease firing and reserve their ammunition for the infantry charge which Meade knew was certain to come.
 Then the Confederate fire ceased and then came Pickett's charge. The Marshal Ney of Gettysburg was a slender, dap per man with long black hair and a waist like a woman. He looked more like a dancing master than a soldier but from an obscure officer he had arisen by sheer merit to the command of division. His division all Virginians had been swe1led to more than 14,OOO men by the addition of North Carolina and Tennessee troops. Some, had no uniforms, some were even with out coats or shoes but all had guns and knew how to use them and finer infantry soldiers never followed any flag.
 Up to the very gums on Ceme- tery hill Pickett led them. Gen. eraI l.. A. ArInistead, in the cen- ter, his cap on the point of his sword like the Helmet of Ma Varre, leaped the wall into Cushf1g's battery. Placing his hand on gun he called out sgThis battery is ours.'' Then he fell dying beside Gushing, the gallant Union commander of those guns. Into the lines at this point the ConGederates penetrated about 100 yards
 Part of the Union infantry support who faced them at this point was the 42nd New York regiment Its color bearer was Michael Cuddy, brother of Pat rick Cuddy, one of the personal tax collectors of Bridgeport. In
 1881 at the outbreak of the war Michael Cuddy went to New York and enlisted. Here he was at Gettysburg. As Ar11li- stead and his men mounted the wall, Michael Cuddy waving his flag with his comrades ad- vanced to meet the Confeder- ates. PicEett's men shot him down. MortalIy wounded he arose once more to wave the flag and then fell dead the col ors wrapped around him like a shroud.
 Then the men of the 14th Conn. on the left poured in a fierce enfilading fire and the little group of Confederates were shot down or. made prison CTS. While this had been talk ing place Sergt. Major William NA SVOE0 in hand, had Ieaped the wall and gone into the Confederate line and captured the flag of a Tennessee regiment. The 14th Conn. took five Confederate bat tie flags that day.
 These are but few of the stirring events which transpired fin that part of the field. By night the cemetery was d slaughter field. On Nov. 19 of the same year this cemetery and 3 large portion of the fields sur.- rounding 1t was made a national cemetery for the burial of those who fell at Gettysburg. Here at its dedication President Lin coin made his immortal Gettys- burg address.
 The news of the last day at Gettysburg as reported by an eve witness was published in The Farmer fifty years ago. You can read the story tonight as perhaps your mother. your dad dy or some one else who was near and dear to you. read it in the long, long ago. when they eagerly watched for news of the one who was there whom they loved.