Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-24
On Road to Gettysburg.

SOLDIER.
On Road to Gettysburg.
The following exquisitely lyrical and
spiritual passage was written on the
road to Gettysburg:
Our whole army 10 now in Pennsylvania,
north OF the river. There were rumors
| that Richmond was threatened from all
sides-Dix from Old Point. Getty from
Hanover. Reyes from Bottoms Ridge. and
so on-and that we might be recalled. II
turned out to be Munchausen. and We
are still to march forward. Every tramp.
tramp. tramp il thought. thought.
thought OF my darling. every halt q bless
ing invoked, every command O loving ca
ress, ana the thought Of you and prayer
for you make mo strong. make me better.
CarissimA, let my soul speak to yours.
Listen-liston-listeni You hear-I am an
swered!
This was written the night before
the charge Of Gettysburg:
awful silence was broken by a cannon
shot ana then another. and then more
, than 100 guns shook the hills from crest to
base, answered by more than another 100
the whole world blazing volcano, the
whole Of heaven q thunderbolt. then dark
and grewscme. 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 Wiz.
ginians are to attack in front. Oh. may
God in mercy help me az he never helped
me before!
1 have ridden up to report to old Peter.
shall give him this letter to mail to you
and a package to give you If Oh my
darling. do you feel the love Of my heart,
~ AhnA o. al
''if?''
Now. my darling. l go. but remember
always that love you with all my heart
and soul. with every fber OF my being:
that now and forever l am yours-yours.
my beloved, 1t Is almost o'clock. My
The following Is part Of the dramntic
narrative of the battle of Gettysburg:
All. II 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, rs did the others
Of US. and he was killed instantly. falling
from his horse. Kerflper was desperate
ly wounded. was brought from the field
and subsequently taken prisoner. Poor
old Lewis Armistead-God bless him!-was
MORALLY wounded at the head of his COM
mand after planting the nag Of Virginia
within the enemy's lines, Seven OF my
colonels 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. II 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 un-
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" rs he
was known in the whole Confederate
army:
God bless you. little mother Of our boy
bless and keep you! Heaven IN all tss
glory shine upon you! Eden's flowers
bloom eternal for you! Almost with ev-
cry breath since the message came reltev-
ing my anxiety and telling me that my
darling lived and that a little baby had
been born to VI ] have been baby my
self. Though ! have known all these
months that from across loves enchanted
land this little child was on its way to
our twin souls. now that Gods promise
10 fulfilled and II has come can't believe
1t. AS l think Of It feel the stir Of para
disc in my senses. and my spirit goes up
in thankfulness to God for this, his high
est and best. the one perfect mower in the
garden OF life-love.
Binding tears rolled down my cheeks.
my sweetheart, as read the glad It'd
ings. and feeling SO new. SO strange.
came over me that I asked OF the angels
what IL could be and whence came the
strains Of celestial music which dlled my
soul. and what were the great. grand.
stirring hosannas and tho soft. tender.
sweet adagios that circle around ana
around. warmed my every vein. beat my
every pulse. And. o little mother Of my
boy. the echoing answer came. "A little
baby has been. born TO you, and he and
the new made mother live"
Following the failure Of the peace
conference which preceded General
Lees surrender General Pickett wrote:
On every side gloom, dissatisfaction and
disappointment seem to have settled over
all. men and officers alike. because of the
unsuccessful termination OF the peace con-
ference on board the River Queen on the
fatal Sd. The anxious. despairtnE faces
/. sec everywhere bespcAk heavy hearts.
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