Expressing a mutual wish that fortune would favor us in the coming fight, we separated, not to meet again for many months.
Soon after reaching the battalion Capt. W. H. Murray, of whom I have before spoken in this narrative and of whom I have yet to speak, joined us. He was one of my dearest friends, and his was a friendship I was proud to boast. With Colonel Herbert we had started out early in ’61 as privates in the First Maryland; arose to the rank of Captain almost simultaneously; first saw fighting at the battle of Manassas; and had together participated in most of the battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia from that time to this. A thorough disciplinarian, brave as a lion, calm and collected amid the roar of artillery, the rattle of musketry, and the carnage of battle, I regarded him as one of the very best officers I ever saw. By his men he was almost idolized, whilst by the battalion he was universally beloved. The companies he commanded in the First and Second Infantry were model ones, and I question whether throughout the whole Confederate Army two such could have been found. As an evidence of their discipline and fighting qualities, and the tenacity and desperation with which they stood to their work at Gettysburg, I would state that out of ninety-eight men that he took into the fight, but thirty-one reported after the battle.
“Anything to be done to-day?” was his inquiry as he took a seat by our side.
“General Walker seems to think so,” was Col. Herbert’s response; “but his opinion is based upon no positive information. This long silence betokens a dreadful battle when it does commence, and I am getting tired of the suspense. By-the-by, Captain, now you know perfectly well that I am not at all superstitious, but I’ll be hanged if I havn’t a presentment that I am to be hit in this affair. You and myself have escaped so far without a scratch, but we won’t this time, mark my words. With G. there it has become so common a thing that nothing else is to be expected.”
“And for that very reason I shall escape,” said I. “You know the old saying that ‘it is a long lane that has no turning;’ well I think I am around the bend, whilst you two have not yet commenced the trip.”
“There it comes,” exclaimed Murray, suddenly springing to his feet as the sound of a single piece of artillery was wafted to us on the evening’s breeze from away down to our right. “And there, and there, and there!” as three more distinct discharges were heard.
For a moment all was still as death. Not a sound to break the same quiet that had preceded the four explosions. It was but a moment, however, for these were Lee’s signal guns to commence the battle, and the thunder of two hundred pieces of artillery burst forth from our lines. The enemy replied with as many more, and the earth shook and trembled as though riven by an earthquake. The air was filled with exploding, crashing, screaming shells. “Lay down!” is the command, and every man was flat on his face.
Perhaps nothing in battle is so trying to an infantryman’s nerves and patience as the preliminary artillery fire that precedes it; and the same effect is produced upon the artilleryman by the whistle of the minnie ball; although the destruction of human life by musketry is at least five hundred per cent. greater than by artillery; and an old soldier will contend a battle has not fairly begun until he hears the rattle of small arms, when he will exclaim to the recruit: “Now somebody is getting hurt; all this thunder was only for its effects.”
The brigade on our right being in a more direct line with the shots fired at the batteries of Latimer on the hill in front, begin to suffer severely, and the litter bearers are busily engaged carrying off the wounded. Latimer is working his guns savagely, but is being terribly handled, for three times his number of guns are concentrated upon the two little batteries, rending and tearing him to pieces. Caisson after caisson shoot high up in the air as they are exploded by the enemy’s shells.
“He can’t stand that pounding much longer,” remarked the Colonel; “and for all the execution he is doing I wish General Johnson would order him away. Here comes a litter from that direction with a wounded man. Let us see who it is.”