A Daughter of Maryland — page 187: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ed Ps — - py ._—- y" : ¢ 164 A DAUGHTER OF MARTLAND. wounded and his troops routed in disorder, though not until Hancock the superb had fallen before the fire of the enemy. Perchance he was nearer the summit, when he will tell you how the Union defenders staggered back and brave Gibbon fell before the wedge-like onset of Pickett’s men. 7 Already it was shown that Lee’s confidence in the men he had reserved for this desperate work had not been mis- placed. Though the intrepid Garnett had been shot down, and the equally brave Kemper wounded and a _ prisoner, though the brave fellows were falling like rain on every hand, Pickett led his men across the Emmitsburg road and attacked the Union troops hand to hand! General Armistead, with plenty of front now, led his brigade toward a little clump of forest trees standing on the very summit of the ridge, and charged on Cushing’s battery. So desperate was this assault that the Union commander was slain and the guns captured. But at the very moment of victory, while one hand rested on the captured cannon and the other waved over his head his sword crowned with his hat, still cheering on his men, the brave old soldier fell on the field of honor. At sight of his sudden fate Colonel Edmonds shouted: ‘‘Forward, boys! once more for old Virginia’s hero.’’— With the words upon his lips he threw up his arms and fell beside his chief. A shell at that instant struck one of the trees and burst- ing shattered the sturdy oak into-shreds, long, yellowish ribbons of wood flying hither and thither like so many serpents writhing in the air. The shrieks of shots and yells of men deafened the hearing, while the earth trembled beneath the~- fearful pounding of missiles and shock of battle. Already the ‘Confederate flag waved inside the Union . fortifications; two lines of guns had been taken; two lines of infantry been dashed back, and all that they needed then was the promised support. But that could not come. cComicboo