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Staunton Spectator: July 28, 1863 Go To Page : 1 | 2 |

The Mother's Last Sacrifice
(Column 4)

Summary: A poem about loss and sacrifice.

Pickett's Division
(Column 7)

Summary: Romantic account of Pickett's Charge: "...bullets whizzing as thick as hailstones in winter, men falling as leaves fall when shaken by the blasts of autumn."

Origin of Article: The Richmond Enquirer

Editorial Comment: "We extract the following from a communication in the Richmond Enquirer:"

Full Text of Article:

General Pickett receives the order to charge those batteries at the opportune moment. The cannonade still goes on with intense fury; our batteries are handled with great skill. This battery and that limbers up, advance to the front, wheel into action, and again the roar of cannon becomes deafening. Our shells seem robust with terrible accuracy; now a caisson of the enemy's is blown up--quickly another follows; their fire slackens; the order comes in advance. That flag which waved amid the wild temptest [sic] of battle at Gaine's Mill, at Frazer's Farm, and at Manassas, never rose more proudly. Kemper, with as gallant men as ever trod beneath that flag, leads the right; Garnett, with his heroes, brings up the left; and the veteran Armistead, with his brave troops, moves forward in support. The distance is more than half a mile. As they advance the enemy fire with great rapidity--shell and solid shot give place to grape and cannister--the very earth quivers beneath the heavy roar--wide gaps are made in this regiment, and that brigade; yet they quickly close up and steadily move onward--that flag goes down; but see how quickly it again mounts upward! borne by some gallant man, who feels keenly the honor of his old commonwealth, in this hour which is to test her manhood. The line moves onward--straight onward; cannons roaring, grape and canister plunging and ploughing through the ranks; bullets whizzing as thick as ballstones in winter, and men falling as leaves fail when shaken by the blasts of autumn. In a double-quick, and with a shout which rises above the roar of battle, they charge--now they pour in volleys of musketry--they reach the works--the contest rages with intense fury--men fight almost hand to hand--the red cross and gridiron wave defiantly in close proximity--the enemy are slowly yielding--a Federal officer dashing forward in front of his shrinking columns, and with flashing sword, urges them to stand. Gen. Pickett, seeing the splendid, valor of his troops, moves among them as if courting death by his own daring intrepidity. The noble Garnett is dead, Armistead wounded--and the brave Kemper, with hat in hand, still cheering on his men, falls from his horse into the ranks of the enemy--his men rush forward, rescue their General, and he is borne mortally wounded from the field. Where is the gallant Williams? The First is there, but his clear voice is no longer heard--he has fallen lifeless, and there goes his horse, now riderless. There stand the decimated ranks of the Third; and Mayo, though struck stands firm with his faithful men, animating them to yet more daring deeds; but Calcott, the Christian soldier, who stood unmoved amid this carnival of death, has fought his last battle; no sound shall awake him to glory again, till the summons of the Great Judge, announcing to him the reward of the faithful soldier, who has fought the good fight. Patton, Otey, and Tery, who but a moment since, stood at the head of their respective regiments, are wounded. The brave Hunton here of Leesburg, most worthy successor of the noble Garnett, Stewart, and Galt, lies wounded. Carrington, his gallant regiment shattered, stands firmly, flaunting defiantly his colors in the very face of the enemy. Allen and Ellis killed. Hodges, too, has fallen; and the modest, chivalrous Edmunds lies numbered with with [sic] the noble dead; Aylett wounded, and Magruder has gone down in the shock of battle.--The fight goes on--but few are left, and the shrinking columns of the enemy gain confidence from the heavy reinforcements advanced to their support. They, too, are moving in large force on the right flank. This division, small at first, with ranks now torn and shattered, most of its officers killed or wounded, no valor able to rescue victory from such a grasp, annihilation or capture inevitable, slowly, reluctantly fell back. It was not given to these few remaining brave men to accomplish human impossibilities. The enemy dared not follow them beyond their works.

Charge of Pickett's Division
(Column 7)

Summary: A somewhat less colorful version of Pickett's Charge.

Editorial Comment: "A gentleman, in whose every word reliance may be placed, and who witnessed the desperate struggle he describes, furnishes the following account:"

Full Text of Article:

It is due to General Pickett and his division that the country should know and properly appreciate the service rendered by them in the terrible action of the 3d of July.

The day preceding, the division had made a long and toilsome march. At 8 o'clock of the 3d, they moved forward to the field of battle, and were in position very early on the morning of that event... day. During a considerable portion of the forenoon, the division were exposed to the burning rays of a July sun and the terrible shelling from the enemy's batteries. They very much exhausted by the intense heat, and seriously crippled by the enemy's fire; about 8 o'clock they were ordered to charge the heights. An eye witness testifies that they formed into line of battle as coolly and deliberately as if forming for dress parade. Headed by their gallant officers, the column being led by General Pickett himself, they moved forward to the carnage across a plain, some 500 yards in width, subjected to the action of guns smoking like a hurricane of death all over the field.

The noble and gallant Pickett, commanding then pressed up to the ugly ramparts of the enemy. It is believed that a more gallant and heroic charge was never made on this continent.--Pickett's division has been in the hardest fighting of this bloody war. The division have borne themselves well and nobly, always and everywhere. But the crowning glory of those patriot heroes was achieved in the assault upon the ironclad crest of Gettysburg. The list of casualties tells, in terms of truer eloquence, the bravery and patriotism of that blood-stained and self-honored division, than can any figures of rhetoric or poetry. Every Brigadier fell, and a long catalogue of Colonels and other officers. The division went in from five to six thousand strong. Three days after the battle but fifteen hundred reported for duty. Well done, noble heroes, officers and men; your country will cherish the memory of your deeds and sufferings with a gratitude and affection which time can never obliterate. Major General Pickett has well earned, and will no doubt receive the meed [sic] of his country's praise. Without meaning to disparage any other officer or division, it is, indeed, a high honor to have belonged to Pickett's division and to have fought under that gallant commander.

T. P.

General Ewell Struck In The Battle Of Gettysburg
(Column 7)

Summary: Recounts General Ewell's injury and courage at the Battle of Gettysburg.

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Notes that the Confederacy lost ten generals and twenty-three thousand men at the fall of Vicksburg.

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: An excerpt from an address by Hon. C. L. Vallandigham: "It is vain to invite the states and people of the South to return to a union without a Constitution, and dishonored and polluted by repeated and most aggravated exactions of tyrannic power--it is base in yourselves, and treasonable to your posterity, these liberties and rights to the creatures whom your own breath created and can destroy."

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Complains about the depredations by Northern troops in North Carolina, who have been stealing slaves and destroying property. The Spectator notes that "The poor negroes when taken are either put into the army, where they are killed by Southern soldiers in the field of battle, or sent north where they are killed by Yankee rioters."

Full Text of Article:

The Yankees have been committing considerable depredations in North Carolina recently, in the way of stealing negroes and destroying property. The poor negroes when taken are either put into the army, where they are killed by Southern soldiers in the field of battle, or sent North where they are killed by Yankee rioters. The best and safest place for the negro is in the South with his master, where he is fed and clothes, and has nothing to dread from Northern or Southern soldiers.

Sixty-Second Regiment
(Column 1)

Summary: Partially details the casualties of the Sixty-Second Virginia regiment at the battle of Williamsport (Company H).

Gen. Lee's Army
(Column 1)

Summary: Account of the sacrifice and tribulation of General Lee's army.

From General Johnston
(Column 2)

Summary: An account of the surrender of Jackson, Mississippi and General Grant's move to Vicksburg.

From Charleston
(Column 2)

Summary: A description of a "spirited engagement" at Charleston, South Carolina.

Cavalry Fight
(Column 2)

Summary: An account of a cavalry engagement outside Shepherdstown.

Huntsville, Ala.
(Column 2)

Summary: Account of General Turchin's occupation of Huntsville, Alabama. "He it was who turned loose his men upon the people of Athens, Ala., telling them, 'I shut mine eyes for one hour,' and on being told by them that one hour was not enough to gratify their pillaging proclivities, replied, 'I shut mine eyes for two hours.'"

The New York Riot
(Column 3)

Summary: Recounts the aftermath of the New York riots. Authorities initially promised to suspend the draft in New York City and Brooklyn, but they subsequently retracted that order. The article predicts further uprisings and enumerates the casualties as follows: "Negroes, killed and wounded, 150; policemen, 32; men, women, and children, 35;--total 218."

Full Text of Article:

The fierce spirit of the rioters of New York has been lulled to sleep by the appropriation of $2,500,000 to purchase the exemptions of those drafted, and the treacherous promise of the authorities that the draft would be suspended in the city. This fierce spirit of resistance to the draft is not dead, but only sleepeth, and will, we opine, in a short time, manifest itself in a more furious and terrible manner. They may be willing to see the administration practicing treachery towards us, but we suppose that they will not submit to have the same dishonorable game practiced upon themselves. Col. Nugent, Acting Assistant Provost Marshal General, announced that the draft was suspended in the cities of New York and Brooklyn. After which Governor Seymour pledged his word that the draft should be suspended. After the rioters became convinced of their triumph in defeating the execution of the draft, they dispersed, became quiet and returned to their homes and avocations. As soon as the rioters had been thus lulled into false repose, the following order was issued from Washington:

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Provost Marshal General's Office,
Washington, July 17, 1863

The operations of the draft lately ordered in the New England and Middle States, though in most instances completed, or now in progress without opposition, have in one or two cites been temporarily interrupted.

The Provost Marshals are informed that no orders have been issued countermanding the draft.

Adequate force has been ordered by the Government to the points where the proceedings have been interrupted.

Provost Marshals will be sustained by the military forces of the country in enforcing the draft, in accordance with the laws of the United States, and will proceed to execute the laws heretofore given for the draft as rapidly as shall be practicable, by aid of the military force ordered to cooperate with and protect them.

JAS. B. FRY,
Provost Marshal General.

The surprise and indignation which would be naturally excited in the bosoms of the rioters by this order can be readily imagined. Governor Seymour promised that the Constitutionality of the draft should be tested in the civil courts of the State. If the draft shall be executed in spite of these fair promises on the part of Seymour, and in violation of the announcement made by Colonel Nugent, these people will arise with redoubled fury in opposition to its execution, and their example will be followed in various parts of the North. The draft will be of no benefit to Lincoln, but may be of immense value to us.

Before the riot was over the New York Herald reported the casualties as follows: Negroes killed and wounded, 150; policemen, 32; men, women and children, 35;--total, 218.

On the 21st, the 19th ward station House, burned during the riot, fell upon a number of people, mostly children, picking wood and coal from the ruins.

Twenty-five to forty people buried in the ruins.

Death of Brigadier-General Armistead
(Column 3)

Summary: Notice of Brigadier-General Armistead's death as a result of wounds suffered at Gettysburg.

Origin of Article: The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Florida at Work
(Column 3)

Summary: Recounts the exploits of the ship The Florida off Bermuda.

Yankee Plunder
(Column 3)

Summary: Expresses satisfaction that there are "nine thousand head of very fine cattle of every description, taken from the Dutch farmers of Pennsylvania" grazing in the Valley. The paper also adds the reflection that "The Dutch Yankees begin to see the War doesn't pay."

Conscription
(Column 3)

Summary: Explains the President's latest proclamation on conscripts to the readers.

Full Text of Article:

The late proclamation of the President, in relation to Conscripts, refers only to those persons between the ages of forty and forty-five years of age; and to conscripts between the ages of eighteen and forty who have not been exempted heretofore, either in consequence of physical disability or other causes. All persons who have been examined by a military board, or have been exempted by the enrolling officer, are not called upon to report themselves.

Yankee Raid Upon Wytheville
(Column 4)

Summary: A long account of a raid in southwestern Virginia that resulted in the repulsion of a "Yankee" attack by the Confederate forces.

The Murder of Two Confederate Officers Proposed
(Column 4)

Summary: Reports that Union generals have threatened to execute two Confederate officers if the proposed execution of two Union prisoners is carried out.

The Call for Conscripts
(Column 5)

Summary: Reports that the government has modified the conscription policy in order to broaden the available pool of recruits.

Anecdote
(Column 5)

Summary: Recounts a dialogue with the moral that "'those who are foremost to bring on a war, are not always foremost in the fight."

Full Text of Article:

Capt. A. being at home, slightly wounded, called at the house of his neighbor Mr. B. Miss B., daughter of neighbor B., made her appearance, when, after the ordinary salutations, the following dialogue ensued:

Where is your brother John now, Miss B.?

He is at home.

Ah! I thought he was in the army.

Oh! no. Brother John was an original secessionist!

MORAL.--It is not always the case that those who are foremost to bring on a war, are foremost in the fight. Wonder if there are any "brother Johns" in these parts! K.Y.E.

[No Title]
(Column 5)

Summary: A report on the deteriorating conditions of rebel prisoners at the Fort Delaware facility.

Origin of Article: The Delaware Republican

Full Text of Article:

The Delaware "Republican" states that there are now several thousand prisoners at Fort Delaware, their number having been greatly increased within the present week. "The rebels suffer immensely, many of them being sick. On Thursday last no less than seventeen were interred, having been conveyed to the adjacent shore of New Jersey for that purpose. By the great addition to the number of prisoners, the mortality will be proportionately increased."

Patience And Perseverance
(Column 5)

Summary: Encourages the populace to stay the course in the war effort.

Lieut. Wm. F. Allen
(Column 6)

Summary: A tribute to Lieutenant William F. Allen, who died on July 3rd on the battlefield of Gettysburg at the age of 22. Lieut. Allen had been serving with the 14th Va. cavalry.

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: Notice of the marriage of Mr. Larrick of Fredrick County to Miss Frenger of Augusta on the 9th of June, 1863.
(Names in announcement: Rev. William H. Love, Mr. David W. Larrick, Miss Rebecca E. Frenger, John Frenger)

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: Married on June 23, 1863, both of Augusta County.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Mr. Dice, Mr. Abraham C. Ruebush, Miss Angelina Britton)

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: Married on July 18th at the residence of the bride's mother in Staunton.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Mr. Catane, Wm. T. IglehartC.S.A., Miss Kate Spotswood, Dr. E. Berkeley)

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: Married on July 23, 1863.
(Names in announcement: Rev. C. S. M. See, Mr. George W. Griffin, Miss Martha Jane Thompson)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: Notes the death of William Hay Wilson, infant son, on July 21, 1863.
(Names in announcement: William Hay Wilson, Wm. H. Wilson, C. Wilson)