CHAPTER 1

Cemetery Hill

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

July 2, 1863 9:05 P.M.

A series of destructive volley fire were already commencing as the rebels continue approaching in at a
hundred yards from where the Union troops are stationed, in between Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill,
on their carefully laid blocks of stones and wood, forming a defensive wall.
Their commander, General Albert Hohenzollern, a fine young warrior, brazen enough to position
himself at the front lines, withstood a series of bullets, whizzing through the air, from the
counterattack of rebels, riding on his horse, slowly along that ripped and thundering crest, chatting
through puffs of smoke and showers of dirt to the men behind the wall, scanning the horizon for any
unusual activity of the rebels and issuing orders to hold the line.
"Steady boys, keep them firing! hold your ground!"
He exclaimed, keeping his soldiers in line and in high spirits. there was an orderly formation of three
men on horseback behind him and one beside him, carrying the flag of his division. four horses
moved slowly, unconcernedly along an incredible sight. They moved on up the line, untouched.
Approaching the front line, he called up the attention of a colonel, supervising the men to hold out and
defend.
"Colonel! bring some men over there and close that gap. we don't want some Rebs taking that
position."
Hohenzollern exclaimed loudly with an imperative tone.
"Yes general, sir!"
The colonel complied with a snappy salute, then a long roar, as of the whole vast rumbling earth
beginning to open, Union guns from Captain Greenlief Steven's Maine battery, beginning to open up,
forms moving into smoke, a whole line fired at once.
"Adjust your guns and concentrate your fire at the center boys! Don’t let them near or guns"
Steven's remarked, as he continued on supervising the guns and concentrating their firing at the center
of the rebel assault.
From a distance, a young lieutenant, from one of Captain Steven's battery approached him as their
cannon's continued heavy enfilade fire.
"General sir, it's too dangerous out here! you should get off your horse, we can't spare you at this
critical moment."
the young officer exclaimed worriedly but nervously, as if though, brazen enough to reprimand a
high-ranking officer.
"Lieutenant, I credit you for your concern, but there are times a division commander's life does not
count."
Albert replied calmly to the young lieutenant and moments later, a corporal on horseback, hurriedly
sent by General Bertrand Krueger of the Third Brigade of his Fourth Division, delivers a message to
him.
"Sir! rebels are about to take over our redoubt on Lower Culp's Hill. General Krueger requests
immediate reinforcements at his location."
The corporal reported to Hohenzollern, gasping for air moments after an intense ride.
"Send word to General Bellamy, that his Fourth Brigade will reinforce Krueger's brigade
immediately."
As he finished giving the instructions, the corporal salutes and rode off hurriedly to the direction of
Baltimore Pike, south west of Culp's Hill.
Together with his flag bearer of his division, and two other members of his staff, one of which is a
close aide and assistant to him, Major Thomas Schulze, a fine young man in mid twenty's, blonde
haired, and brawny postured. A recent graduate from West Point, he rode off slowly with
Hohenzollern, along behind the soldiers crouched on the walls, yelled at the men words of
encouragement, praising they did well holding out.
"With due respect sir, I think the lieutenant was right", Schulze said, in a respective manner of voice.
"You should get off the horse, it's too risky out here."
"Not now Thomas", said Hohenzollern in arguing tone.
"Now's not the time for this. we've got a war to win."
"I understand sir, we really admire your courage, but it's too risky out here! there's too many goddamn
annoying gunfire from those sniper rebs. It will make you an easy target."
Thomas arguably replied him. Ignoring Thomas's plea, he continued trotting slowly, he continued
encouraging the soldiers to keep up their firing, yelled at those officers on the ground to firmly secure
the gap.
"We really can’t afford to lose you at this critical moment sir! General Reynolds' fall at yesterday's
engagement was a big blow to us."
He expressed his worries, but Hohenzollern didn’t pay him attention as the general continued on what
he was doing.
"But sir!"
Thomas exclaimed then Hohenzollern was suddenly annoyed, he replied angrily, but in a low, calm
manner of tone.
"Thomas, that's enough, and that's an order. whether you like it or not, you can continue on-foot, but
I'm not getting off my goddamn horse. understand?"
There was a brief silence there, as the Major slowly comprehends the situation between him and
Hohenzollern. He thought he would be reprimanded.
"... Yes sir,"
Thomas saluted and complied hesitantly, but he got no other choice and obey his command.
Baltimore Pike

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

July 2, 1863 9:10 P.M.

Down at Baltimore Pike, swaths of blue uniformed federals, from the Third Brigade of Hohenzollern's
Division, disgruntled and blabbering when would they be deployed on the front. All they could do is
just wait for that orders, while their brothers are falling off one by one, like a domino, tipped. All they
could hear are a series of gunshots whizzing, cannons roaring.
Meinrad Bellamy, their commander, stood in front of them, waiting anxiously, when would that order
be given, to proceed and reinforced Krueger's nearly battered men.
Bellamy imagined how Krueger's men are holding out desperately, like gasping out for air, as if
they're drowning slowly, from the continuous, fierce attack from those nasty Rebels.
"Damn it, we're wasting too much time here! What's Al up to? When would he give his go signal?"
He said angrily, and thought for a moment that the longer they wait, the more the enemy would
embolden its attack.
Just in time, as he kept on blabbering and cursing, the soldier that carried the orders on reinforcing
Krueger, arrived in front of the general, snappily halted the horse and hurriedly went down. As the
soldier approached Bellamy, salutes the general and give the orders to him.