GDG- Sue Elizabet Stoever

[Ginny Gage]

At dawn on Friday, July 3rd, our artillery opened upon the enemy.  Then came
the attack of the infantry and the battle was raging furiously.  With
terrible slaughter the Union forces drove back the Confederates. Between 1
and 2 p.m. came most awful cannonading, such as was never equaled by the
most terrible thunder, and the air was filled with whizzing, screaming,
bursting shells and solid shot.  Then followed Picket¹s memorable charge.
³On to death² rode that brave brigade.  They thought they were charging upon
the Pennsylvania militia, but in amazement they exclaimed, ³The Army of the
Potomac!²  One of the wounded officers, when he was able to rise and look
about him, found the whole division had disappeared, as if blown away by the
wind.  Nearly all were slaughtered or captured.

            The tide had turned.

            The Pennsylvania Reserves were ordered to charge on the enemy¹s
battery.  The attack was successful; the Confederates were driven back; and,
to quote the Comte de Paris, who was one of the corps commanders, and whose
account of the battle is acknowledged to be the best:

            ³When the sun set over this bloody field for the third time the
decree of the God of Armies has been irrevocably pronounced.²

            The enemy seemed uneasy and fearful. They sent the wounded to
the rear, and, after a hasty supper, formed in two ranks under arms, ready
for a charge from their successful foes.  How different their state from
that of Wednesday night, when they entered exultant and confident!

            All Friday night General Lee was hastily removing his men from
the exposed position and strengthening breastworks for resistance, while the
main body of the army was retreating that night and the following day, so
that when Sunday came only a few Rebel pickets, with a number of stragglers
and wounded men, remained.

            Meanwhile, what had been developing in Dr. Godfrey¹s home?  The
systematic living was in a measure interrupted.  During the heavy
cannonading the family sought safety in the cellar, and the soldiers hiding
there must have been comforted by the sound of human voices, and rejoiced
even in captivity that they were among kindly friends. Caspar brought them
regularly their food and was proud to share their confidence.


Ginny Gage