Vivid description of Alexander's Battalion moving forward to the Peach Orchard

EJ Zander

Sergeant Major
Joined
Aug 23, 2011
Location
Gettysburg, PA
Came across this while trying to find the mystery civilian teamster. Vivid description of Alexander's Battalion moving forward to the area of the Peach Orchard. It is from the July-August 1923 edition of the Field Artillery Journal. Her is the link to it.
http://sill-www.army.mil/firesbulletin/archives/1923/JUL_AUG_1923/JUL_AUG_1923_FULL_EDITION.pdf
It has several other interesting reads in it. This description is from pages 351 and 352.

"The finest artillery manœuvre on the field of battle known to Lee's army was, perhaps, the charge of Alexander's Battalion of six batteries across the fields at Gettysburg from its original position to the Peach Orchard, when that position was seized by the Confederates. It is probable that no more superb feat than this was ever performed by so large a body of artillery on the battlefield under fire. For five hundred yards the foaming horses dashed forward under whip and spur, the guns in perfect alignment, the carriages fairly bounding over the fields. Every officer and noncommissioned officer rode at his post; not a team fell or swerved from the line, except those which were struck to earth by the blizzard of Federal shell that was hurled upon them by fifty guns. Most of the enemy's projectiles overshot their mark, and as the great line of twenty-four guns and over four hundred animals reached the position abandoned by the enemy, "action front" was executed as if by a single battery. Hardly had the teams wheeled and the pieces cleared their pintle-hooks when again a sheet of flame burst from the line of guns as Alexander's magnificent battalion went into action. Few artillerymen have experienced the sensation that must have come to the battalion commander at this moment. Never had he seen such a perfect manœuvre, even at the United States Military Academy, where he had formerly served as Instructor of Artillery. Surely there could be nothing more thrilling than that of galloping at the head of such a line of artillery, with the awe-inspiring rumble of two hundred wheels and the clatter of innumerable feet close behind. The momentum of that great mass of men, animals, and carriages must have almost forbid the thought in Alexander's mind of checking the force which he had set in motion. But with his mount bounding along as if borne on the breeze of the pursuing storm, and his quick eye searching the terrain for his position, with hundreds of breathless men and horses watching his every movement, what must have been his feelings as his right arm shot upward! No words from him were necessary, and if uttered would have been useless in the dull roar of the onrushing mass. No voice but that of Jove himself could have been heard. And yet, the swoop of the hawk is not more graceful nor more sudden than what followed. Every man and every beast knew his part and performed it joyously. Mistakes at such a time would have been fatal. And then, out of the orderly chaos which ensued, the dark warriors came to rest as if, 351 THE FIELD ARTILLERY JOURNAL in the ominous silence, gathering breath with which to shout a new defiance while the attending men and animals were springing to their accustomed posts. But now the joy of the charge is forgotten, though every hand and limb is still trembling with the old thrill. A greater joy is in store for all, for flash! bang! scre—e—ch * * * bo—om!—a shell has burst among the flying foe. In a few seconds the fifty Federal pieces which had opposed Alexander's advance across the fields, are joined by many others in a stupendous but vain effort to crush him in his new position, and then the artillery of both armies rends the air with the deep notes of the guns and the crescendo of bursting shell, while the earth trembles as if Jove has placed his feet upon the pedals of his mightiest organ. Truly might Mars have applauded the tremendous throb, and looked down with delight from his Olympic seat upon the fire-wreathed arena of Gettysburg, for never in this world had such a war-like scene been set before. Small wonder that Alexander cherished no regret at having declined the command of an infantry brigade. Surely there was glory enough for any soldier to be found at the head of the command he led across the fields and into action in front of Little Round Top, and under the eyes of a hundred thousand men, and ample reward, too, for on that momentous day the young Georgian, at the age of twenty-six, won the star of an artillery brigadier! One more incident in connection with Alexander's Battalion should be recounted. While Taylor's or Eubank's old battery was charging with the battalion, Corporal Joseph T. V. Lantz was struck from his limber by a shell which broke his legs above the knees, and soon died. To one of his comrades who came to his aid, he said: "You can do me no good; I am dying; follow your piece!" Nearby lay the lifeless body of a young cadet, Hill Carter Eubank, who, only a few days before, left the Virginia Military Institute to serve with the guns of his father's old battery! Of such calibre were the enlisted men in Lee's Artillery."
 
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