Year: 1863

The THIRD DAYS FIGHr AT GErrYsBURa.-A cor
respondent of the Richmond Sentinel furnishes the
following account of the third days fatal charge at
Gettysburg by our troops:


"The most of the forenoon of the Sd of July was
CONSUMED in msnouvrng and getting batteries iu
position, but from about o'clock till night that day
will ever be remembered by both armies of the
Potomac as day distinguished above all others for
unsurpassed strife and carnage. The fight at this
time opened with that ferceness and desperation
which told that both were battling desperately to
win the victory which had been long, as it were,
poisng in the balance Favorable information comes
from Ewell; he is driving them on the left Hill
presses them in the centre, so as to we'll nigh make
them yield On the extreme right Longstreet is
gaining ground One hill on the right, the strongest
hold they have, must be carried. The undertaking
to carry it by assault is very hazardous but there
is no other way to take it. The hill is alive With
men four lines deep in support Of the powerful bat
teries there This point is the key to the position
of the Federal army. Their Notifications must be
charged and with the support of our artillery we
must silence their batteries and carry their heights.


pickett's division is selected for this work. They
commence steadily and in beautiful line to march
upon the fatal spot the distanceis too far to charge
with the yell and rush that generally characterize
charges. They press on through fields, over fences





ments. and troops are double-quickei up to meet
US. Our noble boys charge on through shot and
shell their ranks melting away as they advance
under the murderous artillery fire q the enemy
Our artillery performs excellently. The batteries
of the enemy are almost silenced; their three rear
ranks are broken and almost anIihilated by our
well directed artillery fire. On we press to within
forty Yards of their breastworks when we received
from their concealed front rank fire to mention
which almost makes the heart to sicken. &urely
none can escape All must perish before such
, murderous volley.


Not SO our men rise, many wounded, from the
cloud of smoke and press on with their ranks sadly
thinned. Some reach the breastworks; mount them
and capture many of their guns A dirk cloud Of
Yankees show themselves; they have been rein
inforced with infantry and artillery. What an sw-
full moment. Where are our reinforcements What
a momentous question: Alas, we have none at
hand! They have either been too slow or basely
skulked their duty, when to do SO was indeed crimi-
nal. No help at hand, we are driven out of their
fortificatons and forced back by Overwhelming num-
bcrs


The fighting Of the day over, our thoughts natu-
rally turned to the wounded and the slain many Of
whom Tin Picketts division, sad to relate were left
IN the enemy's lines, on the field, to anguish, per.
hsps, to die, in a foreign land, with no mothers
hand to sooth the brow !" die amid the shreks and
grosns of their dying comrades the whole scene
rehdred the more ghostly and ghastly by the dim
light of the MOON and the cries of distress the more
pteous by the utter heplesseness of their condition
None but those who have wandered, on moonlit
night over a battle field, and Besrd the w.iliugs
there, and the halfstied cry for wate, can really
imagine its horrorsr'