Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/451

 The Maryland Confederate Monument at Gettysburg. 445

" The fire slackens, and their veteran experience tells them that the infantry is now to be called into action. The command is given, and steadily the line moves on, closer and closer still, to the fooj. of the heights, where are the serried lines of infantry and the numberless batteries posted too far above our own to be engaged with pros- pect of advantage. The balls begin to tell before Rock creek is gained. Crossing that the difficult. ascent begins; the fire thickens and the shrieking shells fill all the air with horrid sound, but still the line moves on over the huge projecting rocks, men falling at every step, till at last, bv nine at night, the position is reached that is to be marked by the stone we rear to-day. Herbert is down, and the line is fearfully thinned ; but it is no time to count the losses — only tmie to think of the enemy in front and upon the flank. For the tired men there is to be little rest or sleep, for, wedged in as they are in dan- gerous proximity to the very vitals of the Federal line, the position must be held, no matter at what hazard, and scarce a man can be spared from the active watch. They know, too, that the work before them when the morning dawns is to be of more trial still, and so they pass the night, not knowing when the fierce rush may be made in the attempt to hurl them from their place, knowing nothing of sup- port to the right or to the left, trusting that all is well and ready when the command is given for further sacrifice.

"When the daylight comes they find themselves almost alone. They stand upon the extreme left of the line, with only the fraction that remains of the Tenth Virginia further on. The position seems scarcely tenable when, after having lain for hours under a withering fire of infantry and artillery, the order comes for a charge upon the works to the right and front. The men are no novices in the art of war, and they know that the move is desperate. But the order is imperative, and it is not their part to question — only to obey. Our gallant brigadier, with a full heart, passes along the line, changes the direction, sees that all is ready, then, with bright blade waving high, with clear command, cries, 'Forward!' and leads the way.

" It was but a little way to go. As the line, well preserved, passed into the opening just beyond, a burst of flame and shot and shell seemed to sweep the devoted band from earth. To advance was im- possible — the odds ahead were too fearfully apparent ; to remain was simple madness. There was no alternative, and so the order to retire was given, and when the little handful was assembled, under the com- mand of the gallant Torsch, further down the slope, the survivors