Class_P 5 3 J_L9_ Copyright IJ^ 1 3 6 ?v COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr. GETTYSBURG MABEL CRONISE JONES SYRACUSE, N. Y. C. W. BARDEEN, PUBLISHER 1902 THE LiBRAFfY OF CONGRESS, Two Copttis Recciveo OCT. ^1^^1902 CopmtoHT wnrr C«,AS8 O^XXo. No. COPY B. TS3-r /--. ) Copyright, 1903, by Mabel Cronise Jones Dedicated to the children of our pubhc schools, where it is hoped these verses may be found fitting as supplementary reading in the higher grades. (5) CONTENTS Prologue 9 The First Day 17 The Second Day 25 The Third Day 33 Epilogue 47 (7 GETTYSBURG Prologue War is the guerdon of wrong; the guerdon of greed or injustice ; Man through ambition or lust may sin against God — the Eternal, Blood must repay all that wrong, — all the crime of the sons or the fathers ! Heaven exacteth the debt, and payment must swiftly be rendered ; Sin is atoned for through tears; through the anguish of men and of women ! Man cannot trample on man without a sure retribution. Avarice, pride and greed shall gather a harvest of sorrow, — God taketh care of his own — the reaping shall be as the sowing ! Up from the dust cried the blood — the life- blood of slaves lashed and fettered ! Forth from their graves came the ghosts, — the ghosts of a race foully tortured ; (9) 10 GETTYSBURG Womanhood basely betrayed, shrieked loudly to Freedom's defenders, Mothers bereft of their young, held out their hands in dumb anguish, Manhood dragged down and defiled, like the Phoenix, — sprang up from its ashes! Eedly the soil of the south flamed out, like a beacon portentous. Gleaming like fire, with the African blood that had moistened its grass- blades! Liberty bowed low her head — the tears stream- ing down on her raiment, Stained and fettered and wan, she yearned to rescue her children. Quick to her call leaped the heroes,— kneehng they kissed her garments! Hot glowed their breath, — a purpose Divine their bosoms was swelling ; Man for his brother would die, — for his brother enchained and fettered, — Die for his brother sold in the marts like a beast, — damb and soulless! Manhood sprang swift to the summons, — the Northland was teeming with fervor. Liberty's tears baptized them, —christened anew each soldier; Youth became old in a night at the thought of the Nation's peril; PROLOGUE 11 Peril from those that she loved, from the sons of her faithful affection. Loud and fierce roared the cannon, — hke temp- ests shaking earth's pillars. Roaring the scorn of the Nation for traitors false to their country, Roaring the will of the North, that the slave should be freed from his bondage, — Freed from the tyrannous yoke, which the lust for gain had forged on him ! Deadly and long waged the conflict, the North grew faint and despondent, Wrong was triumphant o'er Right, — disaster followed disaster. Trembled the life of the Nation, — patriots paused and turned fearful. Patriots conned their defeats, grew pale and glanced upwards to Heaven. Faltered their faith for a moment, — they prayed in despairing anguish, '' God of our fathers. All-powerful, listen to our petition ! Turn the tide of dread War in our favor ; rebuke Thine aggressors. Hear the voices of slaves, fast hunted by blood- hounds and masters, 12 GETTYSBURG Hear the cry of the children, torn from the arms of their parents, Hear the moans of the weak and defenseless,— the wretched — the heartsick ! Succor the slave and the Nation, Thou God of our fathers, Almighty! " Futile seemed prayers and petitions; the hosts of the southland pressed onward, Onward and onward they came, their pathway was marked with their triumphs. Waiting with bated breath, the Nation was watching in sorrow. Thousands perished in vain, — they fell to succor their brothers — Brothers in truth before God, — though sold as dogs by God's children! Liberty claimed them at last, the Nation yearned to enfold them, Martyrs and heroes would serve them, but died on the field or in prison ; Crimsoned the sod of the land, — all stained by our soldiers that perished, Perished for Liberty's sake, for Justice and Truth and the Nation ! Perished with courage undimmed, with purpose firm and unblenching, Trusting that One, named Eternal, would aid the helpless and wretched. PROLOGUE 13 Dying, they hallowed their country, the land of Freedom's pretensions, Hallowed the country torn with strife and with bitterest hatred. Cried their blood loudly for Freedom, for Free- dom entire and perfected. Bravely they died there and fearless,— knowing their Cause was Jehovah's! * * =!i >}< * * Victory crowned the rebels,— the men that be- trayed their brothers, Crowned the South,— the traitor, that raised her hand 'gainst her Mother ! 'Gainst her Mother, -her Country, that nourished and succored and loved her! Matricide, traitor and rebel, she prospered and conquered and boasted, — Boasted that soon should this Nation lie dead and lie powerless before her ! ****** Dark were those days and despairing, dark and dreary and hopeless ; Northward the hosts of the south were march- ing in pride and in vigor ; Liberty gazed aghast, at their pathway strewn with th€ dying. Gazed at the hosts that swarmed in the land of just Penn's hills and valleys; 14 GETTYSBURG Swarmed in the State claimed by Freedom, where man stood proudly man's equal! Marched they in arrogant scorn, to wrest this stronghold from Freedom. Men to their country's rescue rushed without parley or question ; Eushed to hurl backward the traitors and rebels that fain would destroy them ! Waited the land in terror, in terror deep and appalling ; Waited and prayed and sorrowed; waited in hope, — almost hopeless! Hung the Nation's life in the balance; if rebels conquered Distant not far was the ending — treason would triumph indeed then ! Treason would sever the country, would glory in evil and malice. Treason triumphant would deal in the barter of slaves and their anguish. Deal in the woes and the life-blood of souls created immortal. ^ ii- ^ ^ ^ ^ Earnestly prayed the Nation. ' ' Jehovah avert this disaster; Arm us with force and with might, to conquer the power of Eebellion, Free the slaves, save our Country, PROLOGUE 15 Father, Supreme we implore Thee! " ^ -^ :)(i ^ ^ ^ Thus, dawned the morning historic ; the sun of July in the heavens, Gazed on the forces opposing, grouped densely by roadside and forest. Gazed on the Crisis of War, the Crisis 'twixt Right and Injustice! Liberty hovering near, with limbs heavy chained and encumbered Girded the souls of the North, filled their hearts with a valor immortal ! Crucial the time and the hour, — the world was watching the contest. Victory, bless thou the North! the Nation's de- fenders, — and Freedom's! II The First Day Nine, rang the village clock and Gettysburg shaking with terror, Saw herself compassed by soldiers, by soldiers determined and daring; Buford's videttes with stern faces, pressed closer and closer the rebels. Closer, until they had met them! the peaceful farm of McPherson Blazed with the carnage and slaughter; with prophecies grimly foreboding. Heth, the Confederate leader, rushed to the aid of his soldiers, Hurried Archer's brigade to the front, with orders resounding; Pettigrew, Davis and others, around the Con- federates clustered, Fighting with zeal high and daring, worthy a standard more righteous ; Fighting till Buford waxed anxious, his men were falling like snowfiakes, Holding their own, but hard pressed, no re- inforcements to aid them. (17) 18 GETTYSBURG Ten struck the village clock; then Eeynolds dashed up by the turnpike, Up the Chambersburg pike — glanced over the field and dashed southward ! There met the head of his columns, cheered and encouraged and formed them ! Hurried them quickly to Buford, still holding the field at great hazard. ^ ^ -^ ^ '^ ■^ Eeynolds, the northern hero, courageous and noble and manly ! Battling 'gainst heavy odds, — he fell, the patriot soldier ; Fell to the earth maimed and dying; a sharp- shooter hid in the branches Singled him out for a shot; a minnie-ball sped on its errand, — Eeynolds lay. dead. Dead almost in sight of his home and his loved ones. Noble and loyal and true, the type of a man- hood pure hearted ; Generous, frank and sincere, he died for the Cause that he cherished; Died for the. country he loved, for the Nation's grand preservation ! Died for the slave of the South! for Liberty's mandate Eternal ! Died for his God and his duty ! died on the field of grim battle. THE FIRST DAY 19 Sacred is Gettysburg's ground; moistened with blood and with tear-drops, Every inch holds its tale, — its story of carnage and bloodshed; Every spot teemeth yet with memories vivid and forceful, Teemeth with thoughts of that time when life was poured freely as water. Heaps of the dead and the dying filled trenches and hollows and meadows; Liberty sprang full-grown, Minerva-like up from those trenches. Sprang full-statured from Gettysburg's field of battle terrific ! ^; ^ ;{; 5(; ;}; >f; Hotter the conflict and hotter! Wadsworth slowly fell backward ; Archer was prisoner now, but Fortune had flown to the rebels; Mountain and ridges they held ; — their fire was destructive and deadly ! Poured their shot down on our men, like hail- stones coming from heaven. Ever and ever it poured, on Cooper and Stewart and Stevens ! Poured on their batteries fast, as they sought to hold their positions, Poured on Rowley in front — on Doubleday's own division ; 20 GETTYSBURG Pouring a rain of hell, — a torrent both hot and deadly ! Staunch stood the boys in blue; still firm and unyielding and faithful, True to their Country and Cause, though their comrades were falling around them. ;}; ^ * ^ * >i= Hark! eleven rang now o'er the town, — o'er Gettysburg's meadows. Howard dashed quick to the front, from Emitts- burg, miles to the southward. Saw the First Corps hardly pressed, and sent the Eleventh to aid it ! ■^ -^ -^ ^ ^ -^ Waged the fight fiercely for hours, then Stein- wehr and Barlow and Osbourne Rushed to the aid of our men, to rescue those almost exhausted! Early and Eodes and Ewell, with Confederate forces appalling. Hurled themselves down on our soldiers, upon our patriots sturdy ; Stood the left wing like a wall, before blasts of rifle and cannon ! Standing like adamant firm, erect and unflinch- ing, though hopeless. Doubleday, Eobinson, — Wadsworth, in vain attempted to save them. THE FIRST DAY 21 Vainly attempted to save them from Pender's slaughter appalhng! Back to the south they fell, far back to the Hill of Eefuge; Howard and Steinwehr and Schurz, and Hancock commanding the forces, Eallied the wearied men, then cheered them, and formed them anew there. Pour by the village clock; the Eleventh Corps and the First Corps, Seeing forces gigantic against them, withdrew from the battle, Waited they, heartsick and faint, for the rebel attack that they dreaded, Waited and waited and waited, till darkness fell down like a pall there ! Waited with hearts growing lighter, for the rebels passed not their advantage, — Pressing not to Culp's Hill as expected; — they lingered and parleyed. Into the plans of the leaders had come dissension and discord, Argued and reasoned they long, till God sent His Angel of Darkness, — Shielding us thus from our foes, protecting the Federal Army! 22 GETTYSBURG Swiftly rode Meade to the rescue, — to the field of the slain and the wounded, Looked with sad face on his soldiers, dying by thousands around him. Looked on the havoc of War, — on the gaps in the files of his army. Terror and gloom and foreboding, dropped down with the coming of nightfall, — Dropping down with the dusk like a pall, — all- embracing and gruesome! Quick flashed the news to the North, to the homes of a people loyal. Broken were hearts that night, by the loss of husband or lover, Broken for loss of a son, — for father, for brother for comrade. Dark was the morrow's outlook, — dark for the Union's defenders, Set the tide of the War with the rebels, with traitors and treason! Patriots prayed for help; with the strength of despair were they praying, — Looking on heaps of the slain, on corpses all mangled and bleeding. Heroes gazed sadly around, who to-morrow should lie still and lifeless, Heroes all ready to die for the country they loved and would rescue. THE FIRST DAY 23 Waited our soldiers aghast for the conflict to come with the morrow, Waited the Nation and people, — waited the home and the army, — Waiting the Crisis, fearful, to come with the ending of battle; Waited in anguish, in sorrow, — in dread and in horror unuttered, — Waited in agony ; — speechless ! Waited the Aw- ful To-morrow! Ill The Second Day Quiet came not with the night, the soldiers were watchful and restless ; Meade was arranging his troops, was choosing the places for action ; Hancock selected Gulp's Hill, then sent his men onward toward Round Top, Calling the Fifth Corps and the Twelfth to aid the army exhausted. Sickles' corps coming up staunchly — as gallant as Sickles its leader. Strengthened the places yet more, giving courage to soldiers despondent ! Bravely they toiled through the night, with faith and with zeal all undaunted, Daylight kissed gently the men — our patriots fainting and footsore ! Worn by the long, forced march, the Third and Twelfth Corps were disabled ; Wearied still, the Eleventh and First, by the heat of the battle ! *' Hasten, oh heaven, our comrades! " the soldiers were fervently praying, — (25) 26 GETTYSBURG '^ Speed to our succor each corps, the Fifth, the Sixth and the Second." Listened they sharply in terror, fearing the enemy's cannon. Miracles only could save them, outnumbered and crippled and wearied ! Listened they ever in dread, but the hours of the morning more onward. Batteries belched not their fire, no sound stirred the quiet of summer; Slowly blazed dawning to noontide, no shot from the enemy's rifles! Gazing around him intently, Meade saw his forces advancing; — Joyful the welcome he gave them — they came to rescue — to save us ! Onward the moments were creeping ; the enemy baffled and troubled, Fearing to make some mistake, some irretriev- able blunder. Loitered and wavered uncertain, till three struck the clock of the village, — Dallied till Sickles, our leader, was ordered to change his position ; Sickles — who stood in the Orchard, the Peach Orchard known well in story — Ordered by Meade to withdraw to a place less exposed and less daring — THE SECOND DAY 27 Suddenly felt the rain of the enemy pouring up- on him, Felt the artillery fire of Longstreet faUing upon him, Raining a torrent deadly, of shot and of shell on our soldiers ! Infantry, too, in great masses, hurled them- selves strongly against us, Forming their ranks like a crescent, determined and massive and awful ! — Mowing our soldiers down, hke grain 'neath the blade of the sickle; Wilcox and Perry and Wright poured their vol- leys against Sickles' angle. Meanwhile dashed Hood to the fore, to seize and to hold Little Round Top, General Ward with his heroes, opposed him with courage undaunted. Batteries rained down upon them, — upon the Den of the Devil, Belched and thundered and roared — to shatter and weaken our forces ! Picture that scene if you can ! the scene 'round the Den of the Devil ! Tingles each rock to-day, with loyalty, fearless and noble; Tingles with blood and with groans! with the deeds of those hours grown historic. 28 GETTYSBURG Longstreet bore down 'gainst the angle, that stood in the fragrant Orchard, Training his batteries twelve, to ruin, destroy and undo us ! Backward and back fell our men, — still fighting and falling and cheering, — Wounded and dying and fighting, retreated oui* heroes to Hancock! Mowing our foes with his cannon, Hancock guarded and saved them. Perry fled back to the rear, but Wright and Wil- cox pressed onward, Wright pierced the Federal line — God, of the Nations, preserve us ! Destiny waits on this hour, — the life of our Country's at issue! Deafening, terrible, fearful, pealed the discharges of cannon, Eebels were pressing us closely, pressing us hotly and fiercely ! Into the breach sprang our men, new forces were rushing to save us ; Humphrey soon rallied his troops, on the crest of the hill he had taken, Birney assailed on all sides, receded slowly in sorrow. Sickles wounded and faint was carried away from the battle. Officers galloping fast, swung their swords with clamor resounding, THE SECOND DAY 29 Urging their soldiers again to the field of carn- age and slaughter. Heroes stood firm to their guns, till the enemy pressed to the muzzles, Fearful, in truth, the discharges — the volleys of grape and of cannon ! Eebels were slain by the hundreds, but others pressed forward and onward, Back fell McGilvery's line — retreating with aw- ful discharges ! Backward, still back, fell our men, yet fighting, retreating and falling ; Sweitzer's brigade fell back, — and Tilton's with Barnes then commanding, — History pales at the hours, — at the thought of the Bloody Angle — Pales at the thought of the Wheat Field, — that terrible Whirlpool of battle ! Union and traitor contended, they fought for the Wheat Field's possession ; Every inch was disputed; every inch was con- tested ! Crimsoned the grain of the Wheat Field, red- dened the soil of the Wheat Field — Watered the fatal Wheat Field by blood of our heroes immortal! Nature in sorrow gazed down — on the Orchard, wasted and barren ; Gazed on the Wheat Field all trampled ; — gazed on the grain steeped in carnage ; 30 GETTYSBURG Gazed on the Wheat Field still reeking; — gazed on great heaps of the dying ; Gazed on this \^alley of Death I a harvest trans- formed as bv demons ! Into hell's fury and uproar, fearlessly dashed our defenders, Unto the Shadow of Death ! their courage bound- less and royal! Rattled the musketry loud! there was bursting of shells, roar of cannon! Yelling of devils let loose! the smoke and the dust of the battle ! Surged the troops backward and forward ; surged in confusion and terror. Surged the troops ever unyielding; surged like the waves of the ocean ! Warren dashed down from his post ; seized Yin- cent's brigade, and detached it; Hurried the men up the mountain; up Little Eound Top he hastened ! Forward! no loading of rifles! Forward! with bayonets swinging! Reaching the crest just in time, to save it for God and the Union ! Onward the enemy dashed, like whirlwinds, to capture the mountain! Sounded the blasts of their cannon! but Vin- cent cheered forward our soldiers. THE SECOND DAY 31 Waving his sword high in air, on a rock leaped Vincent, our hero! Crying aloud, " Never yield ! " he fell, our patriot soldier. Gallant, heroic and true, he sacrificed life foi' his country ! Fiercely the storm waged around him, men grappling with men in close struggle! Ghastly Death's Carnival awful, a Carnival fate- ful and deadly. Eolling like billows the smoke, with billows of flame was commingled; Charges and desperate yells made the field seem a battle of demons; Steadily rained rebel fire, — a fire all infernal and fatal. Over the rocks rushed the traitors, — rushed to secure Little Round Top, Desperate now waxed the battle, but Longstreet at last was defeated ! Slowly retreated the rebels, slowly but surely retreated. Leaving our men on the mountain, wounded and crippled but joyous ! Leaving the flag of the Union in triumph above Little Eound Top! Softly fell Night from the heavens, to cover the wounded and dying. 32 . GETTYSBURG Hiding the mounds of the dead, and stretches of Orchard all gory ; Covering Wheat Field and Den, with their tragedies never recorded. Covering Round Top — now ours ! though another such triumph would slay us. Round Top was won! — but the cost! oh the heroes that gallantly perished! Thousands and thousands had died; had fallen in Gettysburg's trenches. Gloomy the outlook that night; uncertain, the issue of battle; Brooded dark gloom like a bird, — like an ill- omened bird o'er the Army, Brooded and nestled and hovered, in the hearts of the Nation and Army, Darkening the souls that were praying, praying in grief to Jehovah ! IV The Third Day Actively passed the night; the rebels massed all their forces, Pickett's division came forward, — near to the Federal center, Daniel's brigade and O'Neill's reinforced the division of Johnson; Anderson, Heth and their aids beneath the guidance of Ewell, Planned to capture Gulp's Hill, of the Baltimore Pike take possession ; Longstreet, — assisted by Hill, — on the left of the Federal center, — Planning to dash forth at dawn, had stationed his batteries safely. Rebel and Northern alike, knew the dawn must herald the battle, Herald the final conflict! herald the fateful struggle ! Earnestly labored our men, though wearied and wounded and fainting, Toihng to fortify Round Top — to make the mountain a bulwark ! (33) 34 GETTYSBURG Heavy artillery there made the spot as secure as Gibraltar, Cannon swept all of the field, from the lofty summit of Eound Top. Geary's division returned from the heat and pur- suit of the contest, Joining their forces to Green — to Green, the strategic soldier. Whaler's and Wheaton's brigades and the famous brigade of Lockwood Stationed themselves by the Twelfth to hold that doubtful position ; Batteries quickly were placed on every promi- nent hillock. Fearful the conflict approaching, fearful the ter- rible waiting ! Liberty's life was in peril, it hung on the issue of battle! Freedom and Country and Home awaited the swift-coming issue. Breathless the Nation watched, to-day must de- termine her future — Dealing a death-blow to treason, or crowning the traitors with laurel ! Morning dawned terribly soon, ere our men had recovered or rested ; Five rang the village clock I no loitering, none — no delaying; THE THIRD DAY 35 Promptitude only might win, decision only might save us! Quickly the Federal orders rang over the hills and the meadov^s ; Waiting no rebel attack, we volleyed forth with our cannon ! Johnson led Stonewall's brigade, rushing for- ward on Geary's division. Direful and fatal the slaughter, the deadliest of the Eebellion ! Sweeping along Slocum's line, the battle drew all his division. Raging through six dreadful hours — a conflict appalling and bloody ! Scorning all terror of Death, the rebels rushed forward like madmen, Hurling themselves on our line, in solid phal- anxes coming! Yelling like fiends in despair, they charged on the Federal forces. Slocum's soldiers stood firmly — stood firmly by batteries awful, Firmly — hke walls of fire, — they mowed the rebels by hundreds ! Blazed out their cannon for hours, from five till eleven that morning ! Obstinate — reckless, the rebels ! reckless of death and of slaughter! Ten by the village clock ! and Johnson slowly retreated. 36 GETTYSBURG Slowly withdrew 'neath our fire with the Stone- wall Brigade wholly shattered — Shattered and wrecked hke the Tigers, who fell on the previous evening. Fell in that frenzied assault on the Hill they dashed upward to capture. Slowly retreating before us, they felt the tre- mendous discharges, Cutting them down by the score, with terrific thunder of cannon ! Back past our breast- works they went, — reluc- tantly, slowly, but surely. Mangled and wounded by shells, their corpses disfigured and awful. Headless and armless they lay, and torn into fragments by cannon ; Torn into fragments by shells — exploding around them, beside them ! Broken the Stonewall Brigade by the pow'r of the Federal Union, Broken the strength of their arm by the might of Freedom's defenders! Backward the rebels went — left the Federal line unbroken ; Presently ceased the firing; the village clock struck eleven ! Awful the silence now I the silence of prepara- tion — THE THIRD DAY 37 Lasting througli two anguished hours, — a silence horrible, pregnant! Over the slain sang the birds, yes over the mead- ows and orchards, Mingling their melodies sweet with the agonized groans of the dying. Softly the breezes of summer blew over the stretches of carnage. Kissing the maimed and the dying, kissing the Union and Eebel. Sunshine in splendor gleamed down, gleamed down on the dead and the dying, Oilding the battle-field gory and gilding the peaceful meadows ! Silence through two pregnant hours; a silence more dreadful than cannon, Aw^ful and fateful the silence, — appalhng, terrific and direful! 4f •«■ -jf -jf •«• ^^ One by the village clock ! Lee massed his artil- lery forces. Into the woods fchey withdrew, a hundred and twenty pieces ! Listen ! the silence is broken. The Ridge a sig- nal is pealing ; Swiftly an uproar terrific burst forth from the enemy's cannon. Training their fire upon Hancock, sending their shells down upon him ! 38 GETTYSBURG Down on the First and the Third, upon the Eleventh and Second! Eighty the guns, we numbered — eighty Federal cannon. Eighty alone belched reply and roared the Union defiance ! Whizzing and Screaming and bursting, the shells made confusion appalhng! Heaven seemed rent asunder, its batteries crash- ing earthward. Uproar unequalled in story, unequalled in any conflict. Prelude, fearful and dreadful, Pickett's prelude o ' er whelming — Pickett's artillery prelude, his infantry charge to herald ! Deafening, maddening din ! and lasting without intermission, Lasting for two endless hours, while shells were constantly falling; Shrieking and whirling and moaning, they whistled and wrathfully fluttered. Splintering rocks and trees, and blowing horses to atoms; Furrowing hollows and ledges, — bursting over our soldiers, Heroes in Federal blue were torn into shapeless pieces ; Every species of shell was whirling over our army; THE THIRD DAY 39 Orchestra frightfully grand, a tempest of orchestra fearful ! Boundmgand skipping and racing — chasing and hissing and moaning Dashed the shells on through detachments, scat- tering Death in their pathway. Heavy the air with dust, with sulphurous fumes of the cannon, Death with pinions out-spread was brooding over the armies, Brooding over those fields and holding a Festival awful. Suddenly ceased the firing, the horrible cannon- ading. Lasting through two deadly hours, it suddenly sank into silence. Quiet again for a space, for the lapse of some thirty minutes ! Rapidly formed the rebels, in double lines speed- ily forming. Pouring from woods and from hollows, out from ravines and from valleys ! Pickett's division was ready, the flow'r of the rebel army, Ready to charge up the Hill, to dare the Federal rifles. Kemper's and Garnett's brigades stood first in the line quickly forming, 40 GETTYSBURG Eeady to dare and to die, determined to follow Pickett, Eeady to follow Lee's orders, though knowing the venture was hopeless, Knowing defeat and disaster must follow the charge from the hollow. Out from the wooded crest, moving swift toward the Federal center, Steadily poured the lines, three massive lines of the rebels — Thousands and thousands of rebels! fifteen thousand they numbered Moving grandly across, a column imposing and stately ; Moving along toward our men and barely a half- mile from them, — Pickett and Pettigrew — Lane — and Scales' and Wilcox's forces. Crashyd on their ears the thunder of cannon they thought they had silenced. Crashing out doom and destruction, tearing the rebels to pieces — Crashing came Union shot, then shells, then canister charges Coming from Northern guns, — from guns they imagined disabled! Deathly the pathway before them; the rebels paused not nor retreated, Steadily dashing onward, onward to hell and de- struction. THE THIRD DAY 41 Forth from the summit of Round Top, poured Federal batteries on them — Little Round Top rained shells, rained shells on the enemy coming. Howard, from the Hill, turned his guns upon the rebels advancing; Ploughed were their ranks, through and through — but on they rushed yelling hke demons ! Twenty thousand of muskets blazed on them with frightful slaughter — Furious, deadly, the greeting, the greeting from Northern rifle. Volley and volley of grape from Federal guns double-shotted, Raining lead on the foe — on the foe still reck- lessly coming! Armistead cheered on the rebels, dashing ruth- lessly forward. Pressing our men back before him — seizing a Federal cannon! Waved the Confederate banner, over the Union army. Reached was the high water-mark — the high water-mark of Rebellion! Gushing, Gibbon, and Webb repulsed the south- ern invaders. Gushing, the dauntless, fell dead — both Gibbon and Webb being wounded — 42 GETTYSBURG Wounded, but Armistead fell — fell dead on the spot of his triumph. Never would traitor press further, — broken the pow'r of Rebellion! Shielded by stonewall and copse our soldiers rained bullets upon them. Hall and two regiments gallant rushed on the rebel invaders; Hotly the conflict was raging, the Union muskets touched rebels ! Conflict infernal, terrific ! the last and the dead- liest struggle! Pickett looked down from the Ridge — from the Ridge he briefly was holding ; Saw the Federals rushing upon him — resist- lessly, breathlessly rushing. Rebels were fighting with stones, — clubbed muskets, banner-staves, — rammers! Pettigrew's forces fell back — his men had sur- rendered in masses ; Pettigrew, weeping, despairing, hopelessly, sadly,, retreated. Leaving two thousand of soldiers, prisoners- there of the Union, — Leaving a score of flags, of bat tie- flags there by our ramparts ! Regiments hurled down their arms and Pickett lost half of his soldiers. THE THIRD DAY 43 Fifty guns hurling our fire just three times a minute upon them ! Blazed out the Hill with flame, like Sinai thun- dering, smoking — Thundering newly God's wrath, God's wrath from our Sinai loudly. Bayonet thrusts, sabre strokes and pistol shots loudly were ringing — Curses and yells and oaths, hurrahs and shout- ings and groanings. Spinning like tops fell the men, and gulping up blood in their death-throes. Seconds were centuries then! but the rebels were surely retreating — Minutes seemed ages to us, but the rebels sur- rendered their colors ! Fleeing over the field, all broken and shattered — defeated ! Fleeing over the field so thickly covered with clover, Covered with clover and blood and ghastly heaps of the dying. Nine brigades had gone forth to rout the Federal forces. Mangled and shattered and wrecked they fled from the red field of carnage. Long-street's soldiers fell back — the assault of Pickett was fatal. 4:4- GETTYSBURG Sweeping past Runimel's place, fled Stuart from our cavalry charges. Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee fled from the charges of Custer. Grandly our cavalry fought, yes grandly and fiercely and bravely ! — Forcing the enemy back — back into Gettys- burg's forests, — Won was the field from the traitors, our cavalry halted in triumph ! Holding the field all the night, Gregg watched with his cavalry forces, Honor and laurels to them — oar cavalry — gal- lant defenders ! Evening was drawing upon us ; there came the last charge of the battle ; Shielded by forests and copse the rebels fired constantly on us. Ordered by Meade, the Eeserves dashed forward with Colonel McCandless ; Into the forests they dashed, the Confederates fleeing before them ! Backward the rebels retreated, back for a mile to the southward, Glorious, brilliant, the charge, the charge so gal- lant and fearless ! Won was the fateful battle, won for our God and the Union! L.cfC. THE THIRD DAY 45 Gettysburg's field was ours, but the price of our triumph was fearful. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Slowly the sun sank to rest above the stretches of carnage, Over huzzas of the North, above the despair of the rebels! God of the Nations be praised, for Justice and Freedom have triumphed ! Triumphed in tears and in sorrow, but triumphed over the traitors ! Victory's garments are stained by the blood of the pathwa}^ trodden ; Victory clasping Grief, is weeping over the dying!— Weeping for heroes, for voices eternally silenced, Weeping for patriots noble. Sorrow and Victory meeting — Meeting after the battle, above the stretches of slaughter, Meeting over the slain, and over the mounds of the dying! V Epilogue Justice forever must triumph since God is the Lord of the Heavens, Triumph o'er greed and o'er mahce, o'er enemie& powerful and subtle ! Hurled from a throne to a dungeon, her fetters are speedily broken. Solemnly Justice comes forth, her grand resur- rection proclaiming, Coming from out of the Valley from out of the Valley and Shadow. Evil beholds her in terror, — her enemy cruelly tortured ! Evil beholds her regnant, her countenance peaceful, majestic! Claiming her throne with command, with com- mand — imperious, stately ! Swiftly clutching her robes, glides Evil into the Darkness, Justice returns to her own, to the scepter she righteously wieldeth ! Eeigneth God ever and always! His Justice is sure and eternal; (47) 48 GETTYSBURG Tarry it may for a while, when men are wilful and cruel, Yet, with the morning it cometh! God's Jus- tice sent earthward from Heaven ; Mortals are pow'rless to slay it, although they fetter and bind it I Justice will gain her dominion, — will reign and triumph and conquer ! Slowly the sun of July rose after the battle terrific, Rose on the Fourth of July, on the day of our Independence! Rose on the birthday of Freedom, with radiance keener and brighter, Yielding the day greater luster, a luster holier, purer ! Griving the slaves their birthright, giving the slaves Independence; Wrested from treason their yoke, and broken the chains of their bondage. Gettysburg witnessed their triumph, witnessed the birth of their Freedom. Doubly we honor that day, we honor our Na- tion's birthday. Fourth, all-glorious, hail! ye heralded joy to the bondmen ! Memories sacred and dear, shall cluster around you forever. EPILOGUE 49 Day of all days in this Nation, — the Dawning and Noontide of Freedom! -X- -jf ^ -jf * -H- Wearily passed the night, in grief and in sorrow surpassing, Union and Rebel ahke, lamented the brave who had fallen; Mourning the heroes grand, and mourning the soldiers so dauntless. Morning wore slowly to noontide; Nature had shaded her features. Grieving over the dead and over the picture be- fore her; Heavily fell her tears, the rain falling down on the dying. Falling on wounded and dead and hiding the blood of the battle ; \¥ashing the blood from the Orchard, from Wheat-field and mountain and valley, Steadily, heavily falling till streams were swol- len to torrents ; Nature had hidden her face, lamenting over the carnage. * -jf * * * * Rebels — terrified wholly, — without ammunition, — despairing. Silently, stealthily left — withdrawing beyond the Potomac! 50 ' GETTYSBURG Won was the Cause of the Union, won for our Country and Freedom ; Loosened the bonds of the slave, the cords of his serfdom all broken ! Broken the might of the Eebels, — disabled, dis- heartened and shattered, — Kindled the Union anew, with hope and with courage unbounded ! Gettysburg, heavy with fate, on thee was Des- tiny hanging. Hanging upon thy issue, upon the end of thy battle!' Freedom victorious, boundless, proclaimed that men were all equal, — Equal the planter and slave; yes, equal, before our Country ! Right must evermore triumph since Right is the Cause of Jehovah ; Nerves He the arm of the weak, and His Spirit gives valor immortal. Gettysburg's Cause was the Lord's — the slaves were His trusting children — Out of that terrible field He brought their human redemption. '^' ^U ii^UZ