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Memorable Vision of Gettysburg [1907]
Some years ago an old man with silvery hair
was led into the cyclorama of Gettysburg by a bright -faced little girl. Aged
and feeble, he sat down, while the child described to him the features of the
picture.
Occasionally he asked her a question as in
doubt of the accuracy of her account. She had described the charge of the
Confederate columns and the struggle at the stone wall, when he asked; " But
where's the artillery, May"?
"Do you mean the big guns? They're over there on
the hill in a row". " All in a row"? he asked. " Yes," she said," there are
some more down here, but they are all upset. I think they are bursted". " Is
that where the men are coming over the hill?" " Yes, grandpa". " Is there a
grove of trees ?" " Yes, it seems to be full of men, but the smoke is so
thick you cannot see them ". " O, I see them, " he cried. It was then noticed
by some of the party near him that he was blind. The little girl answered " O,
no, grandpa, you can't see them ." " Yes, I can," said the old soldier. " I
can see the men, the grove and the broken cannon lying about ". The child
looked at him in innocent surprise and said " You are joking, grandpa". " No,
my dear ", answered the old man. " No, that was the last thing I ever saw.
There was a caisson exploded there just this side of the stone wall and that
was the last terrible picture I ever saw, for it was then that I lost my
eyesight, and I have never got the picture out of my mind."
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